Bible Commentaries

Against Moab

Moab, in recompense for its pride and security, and for its triumphing over Israel in the day of her calamity, shall itself be laid waste and taken captive: cp. the 'burden of Moab 'in Isaiah 15, 16.

1. Nebo] not the mountain, but the Reubenite town (Numbers 32:38), which had been annexed by Mesha, king of Moab (about 895 b.c.), according to the 'Moabite Stone 'records. Several places mentioned in this chapter have not been certainly identified.

2. Heshbon] an Ammonite town on the border of Moab, where the Chaldean invaders would lay their final plans. Madmen] a place unknown.

5. RV 'For by the ascent of Luhith with continual weeping shall they go up.'

6. The heath] see on Jeremiah 17:6.

7. Chemosh] the god of Moab's national worship.

8. The valley] of Jordan, bounding part of Moab on the W.

10. Deceitfully] RV 'negligently.'Moab's foe must not be slack in executing God's command.

11. Settled on his lees] i.e. like wine which has remained undisturbed and not lost its flavour. Lees means sediment. Moab had retained its strength, but it was not to last.

12. Wanderers, that shall cause him to wander] RV 'them that pour off, and they shall pour him off.'The figure of jars of wine is continued. They are emptied by being tilted on one side, an operation that was performed slowly and carefully, that the jars might be safe and the wine run off clear, while the sediment was left. This work, however, in the case of Moab, shall be done roughly.

13. Bethel] the southern seat of the idolatrous worship introduced by Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:29).

15. And gone up out of her cities] RM 'and her cities are gone up in smoke?

18. Come down] Dibon stands on two hills.

25. Horn] symbol of strength and pride.

27. Was he found among thieves] that he merited such treatment. Since] RV 'as often as.'

30. But, etc.] RV 'that it is nought; his boastings have wrought nothing.'

32. Cp. Isaiah 16:8, Isaiah 16:9. with] RV 'with more than.' Plants] RV 'branches.'Sibmah seems to have been famous for its vineyards. Over the sea] as far as the W. shore of the Dead Sea. Jazer] N. of Heshbon. Near its ruins are two large ponds.

33. Their shouting, etc.] The vintage shout shall be changed to the cry of panic.

36. Pipes] They were used at funerals, so that the word is appropriate to express mourning.

37. All shall have the usual emblems of mourning: cp. Jeremiah 47:5.

38. Vessel] see on Jeremiah 22:28.

40. He shall fly] i.e. the Chaldean power.

45. They that fled.. force] RV 'They that fled stand without strength under the shadow of Heshbon.'While the fugitives of Moab wait in hope of aid under the walls of the Ammonite city, there bursts forth from it a flame kindled by the Chaldean foe like that which in old days was kindled at the same place by Sihon, the Amorite conqueror (Numbers 21:28).

Tumultuous ones] the fugitives.

47. For the note of comfort at the end of the prophecy cp. Jeremiah 46:26; Jeremiah 49:6-39.