Jeremiah 48:34

34 Of the cry of Heshbon unto Elealeh and (unto) Jahaz they gave their voice, from Zoar unto Horonaim (like) a cow calf of three years; forsooth the waters of Nimrim shall be full evil. (The people of Heshbon and of Elealeh cry out, and their voices have gone unto Jahaz, and unto Zoar, and unto Horonaim, and even unto Eglath Shelishiyah; for the waters of Nimrim have become evil, and have all dried up.)

Jeremiah 48:34 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 48:34

From the cry of Heshbon [even] unto Elealeh
Two cities in the land of Moab; of which see ( Isaiah 15:4 ) ( 16:9 ) . Heshbon being destroyed, a cry was made by the inhabitants of it, which either reached from thence to Elealeh; or the destruction being carried on to that city, the cry was continued there: [and even] unto Jahaz, have they uttered their voice;
another city of Moab; see ( Isaiah 15:4 ) ; which also was laid waste, and where the Moabites uttered their voice of lamentation on account of it: from Zoar [even] unto Horonaim, [as] an heifer of three years old:
that is, as the destruction should go on to Zoar, and so to Horonaim; of which places see ( Isaiah 15:5 ) ; so the cry of the distressed, and of those that flee, should also go from place to place; and be as loud, and as strong, and heard as far, as the lowing of a heifer of three years old. Naturalists F12 observe, that the voice in all female creatures is smaller and shriller, excepting the ox; for the voices of the females of that creature is stronger than in the males; and also that the taming of these creatures is when they are three years old, that is the proper time; before it is too soon, and afterwards too late F13; and then it is their voice is fuller, and their strength firmer, to which the allusion here is; (See Gill on Isaiah 15:5); for the waters also of Nimrim shall be desolate;
being disturbed by the Chaldean army, their horses treading them with their feet, and so fouling them; or being mixed with the blood of the slain, and so unfit to drink. A sad case this, to have neither wine nor water; (See Gill on Isaiah 15:6); to which may be added, that Jerom also makes mention of a village in his time called Benamerium, to the north of Zoar; and seems rather the place intended.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 Aristotel. Hist. Animal. l. 4. c. 11. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 11. c. 51.
F13 Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 45.

Jeremiah 48:34 In-Context

32 Of the wailing of Jazer I shall weep to thee, thou vine of Sibmah (Thou vine of Sibmah, I shall weep for thee more than my wailing for Jazer); thy scions passed (over) the sea, those came unto the sea of Jazer; a robber fell in on thy ripe corn, and on thy vintage.
33 Full out joy and gladness is taken away from Carmel, and from the land of Moab, and I have taken away wine from [the] pressers; a stamper of [the] grape shall not sing a customable merry song. (Rejoicing and happiness is taken away from the plentiful land, and from the land of Moab, and I have stopped the flow of wine from the winepresses; yea, a stamper of the grapes shall not sing the customary happy song.)
34 Of the cry of Heshbon unto Elealeh and (unto) Jahaz they gave their voice, from Zoar unto Horonaim (like) a cow calf of three years; forsooth the waters of Nimrim shall be full evil. (The people of Heshbon and of Elealeh cry out, and their voices have gone unto Jahaz, and unto Zoar, and unto Horonaim, and even unto Eglath Shelishiyah; for the waters of Nimrim have become evil, and have all dried up.)
35 And I shall take away from Moab, saith the Lord, him that offereth in high places, and him that maketh sacrifice to the gods thereof. (And I shall take away from Moab, saith the Lord, those who offer at the hill shrines, and who make sacrifices to their gods.)
36 Therefore mine heart shall sound as a pipe of brass to Moab, and mine heart shall give (the) sound of pipes to the men of the earthen wall; for it did more than it might, therefore they perished. (And so my heart shall sound like a brass pipe for Moab, and like funeral pipes for the people of Kirheres; for all their riches have perished.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.