Jeremiah 48:45
Read Jeremiah 48:45 Using Other Translations
What does Jeremiah 48:45 mean?
They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon, because
of
the force
Heshbon was a strong city in the land of Moab, to which many of
the Moabites betook themselves in this time of their calamity;
thinking they should be sheltered, under the protection of it,
from the fury of the Chaldean army; hither they fled, and here
they stood, imagining they were safe, "because of the force";
because of the strength of the city of Heshbon, as Kimchi; or
because of the force of their enemies, for fear of them, as
Kimchi's father; or for want of strength, because they had no
more strength to flee, and therefore stopped there, so Jarchi and
Abarbinel: but the words should rather be rendered, "they that
stood under the shadow of Heshbon"; thinking themselves safe, but
now perceiving danger, "fled with strength" F18; or as
swiftly as they could, and with all the strength they had, that
they might, if possible, escape from thence: for a
fire
F19 (for so it should be rendered, and
not "but a fire") shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a
flame from the midst of Sihon;
the same with Heshbon; so called from Sihon, an ancient king of
it; the meaning is, that the Chaldeans should make themselves
masters of Heshbon, this strong city, in which the Moabites
trusted; and from thence should go out like a flame of fire, and
spread themselves all over the country, and destroy it: what was
formerly said of the Amorites, who took the land of Moab out of
the hands of the king of it, and it became afterwards a
proverbial expression, is here applied to the Chaldeans; see (
Numbers
21:26-28 ) ; so the Targum, by a flame of fire, understands
warriors: and shall devour the corner of Moab;
the whole country, even to the borders of it. The Targum is,
``and shall slay the princes of Moab;''so great men are sometimes called corners; see ( Zechariah 10:4 ) ( Numbers 24:17 ) ; and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones;
not of the common people that were tumultuous and riotous, but of the great ones, who swaggered and boasted, and made a noise about their strength and riches; but now should have their heads broke, and their pride and glory laid in the dust. So the Targum,
``and the nobles, the children of noise.''
F18 (Myon xwkm) "ex virbus (soil. suis) erunt fugientes", Schmidt.
F19 (va yk) "quia ignis", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius, Schmidt.
