Jeremiah 48 Study Notes

48:21 The Moabite Stone mentions the towns of Jahzah . . . Dibon . . . Beth-diblathaim, Kiriathaim . . . Beth-meon, Kerioth, and Bozrah, even though the identification of some of these towns is uncertain. Likewise, the locations for Holon and Mephaath (a Levitical city in Jos 21:37) are unknown. Beth-gamul may be Khirbet el Jemeil, eight miles east of Dibon. Kerioth is referred to in Am 2:2. Bozrah may be Bezer (Dt 4:43; Jos 20:8; 21:36), but not the Edomite city by the same name in Jr 49:13,22.

48:25 The horn and arm are OT metaphors for strength and military might. “Horn” is used of one’s descendants in Ps 132:17.

48:26 Drunkenness is another metaphor used by Jeremiah in 25:15-29. Those under the wrath of God were made to drink from the wine cup of God’s wrath. This is an apt figure for the Moabite wine-producing industry. It is also an apt allusion given the origin of Moab in Gn 19:30-38.

48:27 The translation of this verse is uncertain.

48:28 The only wise course would be to try to hide.

48:29-30 Jeremiah piled up several synonymous terms to depict Moab’s pride: insolence, arrogance, and haughty heart.

48:31-36 In these verses four different Hebrew verbs are used for the Moabite weeping and wailing.

48:31 Kir-heres (lit “city of potsherds”) is probably the Kir-hareseth of 2 Kg 3:25 and Is 16:7 (cp. Is 16:11). It may be identified with el-Kerak, about seventeen miles south of the Arnon River and eleven miles east of the Dead Sea.

48:32 God would weep more for the vine of Sibmah than for Jazer. Sibmah’s branches reached down to the Dead Sea with its famous vineyards and gardens, but her destruction would include all its renowned vegetation and grape vineyards. The destroyer, a recurrent theme in this chapter (vv. 8,15,18), will fall on Moab’s summer fruit and grape harvest.

48:33 The shouts heard are not those of the joyous grape treaders, but the shouting of warriors who have come to conquer Moab.

48:34 Another seven towns of Moab are mentioned in this verse along with the eleven Moabite towns in vv. 21-24. The mention of the cities here seems to move from north to south. A cry and an uproar go up from the humiliation of the destroyer.

48:35 God himself will put an end to Moab’s idolatrous worship.

48:36 The wailing of Moab will be like that of a flute or a reed pipe. Flutes were used at funerals; they signified mourning.

48:37 On these four symbols of mourning, see note at 47:5.

48:38 The phrase like a jar no one wants was used of King Jehoiachin (22:28).

48:39 Their brokenness is a disgrace to them.

48:40 The image of the eagle is similar to Ezekiel’s use of the figure to depict Babylon, who would swoop down and take the top of the cedar tree (Ezk 17:3-5). In Ezk 17:7-8, the eagle stands for Egypt.

48:41-42 By exalting themselves over Israel, Moab had exalted themselves over the God of Israel.

48:43-44 A good example of triple assonance can be found in the three Hebrew words behind panic, pit, and trap (Hb pachad, wapachath, wapach; see note at Is 24:17-18).

48:45-46 Some believe these verses may be a free quotation from an old Hesbon song mentioned in Nm 21:28-29 and 24:17. If so, the words of Balaam the prophet seem poised to be fulfilled.

48:47 In spite of all the dire predictions against Moab, God will restore its fortunes in the future. The prophecies of restoration are not limited to Israel and Judah.