The lamentable state of Moab.
1THE1 burden of Moab.a Because in the night 2Ar of Moab 3is 4laid waste, and brought to silence; because 5in the night 6Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence;
1 That is, the sore judgment that would come upon the Moabites, namely by the Assyrians, in the time of king Shalmaneser. See Isa. 16 on verse 14.
a Jer. 48:1; Ezek. 25:8; Amos 2:1.
2 That is, Ar situated in the land of the Moabites. This was the capital city of the Moabites, Num. 21:28; Deut. 2:18, 29.
3 Other, when Ar of Moab was laid waste, he, namely, Moab, was cut off, because when in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, it is cut off. The sense is: The Moabites were utterly undone the same night, when both most important cities, with other strongholds of their land, were taken and laid waste by their enemies.
4 That is, it shall surely be laid waste, namely, by the king of Assyria. See Isa. 16:14. Both here and elsewhere by the prophets often mention is made of a thing that is to be done, as if it were already done, and that by reason of the certainty of the predictions.
5 That is, suddenly, unexpectedly, unawares. Otherwise as it is recorded in annotation #3.
6 Otherwise called Kir-haresh, Isa. 16:11; Jer. 48:31, 36. Also Kir-hareseth, Isa. 16:7. One of the most important cities of the Moabites. There was also in Media a city or region called Kir, as appears 2 Kings 16:9.
27He 8is gone up to 9Bajith, and to 10Dibon, 11the high places, to weep: Moab shall 12howl over 13Nebo, and over 14Medeba: 15on allb their heads shall be baldness, and every beard cut off.
7 Namely, Moab.
8 Other, Bajith and Dibon are gone up, namely, to Bamoth, or to the heights to lament there.
9 This city is otherwise called Beon, Baal-meon and Beth-Baal-meon, Num. 32:3, 38; Joshua 13:17. It was famous for the idolatry which was committed there. The Moabites, when they were in distress, used to address themselves to an idol that was there, and to other cities where there were idols, to seek aid and counsel of them, and to disclose their troubles before them.
10 A city allotted to the Reubenites. See Joshua 13:17. In verse 9 it is, according to the opinion of some, called Dimon.
11 Otherwise called Bamoth-baal, Joshua 13:17. Other, to the high places, or, upon the high places, to weep there before the images of their gods, and to move them with tears to help and succor them.
12 Namely, because those cities were destroyed, or would be suddenly destroyed.
13 This city was allotted to the Reubenites, Num. 32:38.
14 A city in the land of the Moabites, Num. 21:30; Joshua 13:16.
15 The sense is: There shall be grief and sorrow throughout the entire land of the Moabites. This, and what follows, must be understood according to the custom and practice of the Moabites, and some other nations, who, unto a sign of grief and sorrow, made cuttings and lacerations in their flesh. They plucked out the hair of their head, and cut off their beard clean. But in Lev. 19:27 and Deut. 14:1 God forbad His people to do this.
b Jer. 48:37; Ezek. 7:18.
3In their streets they shall gird themselves with 16sackcloth: 17on the tops of their houses, and in their streets, every one shall howl, 18weeping abundantly.
16 That is, mourning garments.
17 Intimating that when they prayed, they did it on the housetops, Zeph. 1:5.
18 As they went up to the tops of their houses weeping, as such they likewise come down again weeping, having received no comfort at all.
419And 20Heshbon shall 21cry, and Elealeh: their voice shall be heard even unto 22Jahaz: therefore 23the armed soldiers of Moab 24shall cry out; 25his life shall be grievous 26unto him.
19 Hebr. And Heshbon and Elealeh.
20 Of Heshbon and Elealeh see Num. 32:37; Joshua 13:17.
21 Namely, for anguish and fear.
22 See Num. 21:23.
23 Or, the prepared ones. The meaning is: The cry of the citizens shall terrify and affright the armed soldiers.
24 Or, shall make a cry.
25 That is, they are all discontented. Other, their life is ill-disposed, or, is grievous unto them.
26 That is, in himself; and understand here Moab, together with all those who side with him.
527My heart shall cry out for Moab; his 28fugitives shall flee unto 29Zoar, an 30heifer of three years old: for by the mounting up of Luhith 31with weeping shall they go it up; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up 32a cry of destruction.
27 As if the prophet said: The misery that shall befall the Moabites shall be so great, that I cannot forbear crying excessively when I think upon it. See Isa. 16:9; 21:3; Jer. 48:5, 31, 34, 38. Some take it thus, that the prophet here represents in his own person, which Moab would do in his own misery and suffering.
28 Or, bars, that is, the chief and mighty men of Moab, who are compared unto bars, because they are the strength of the land. Other, his fugitives flee, etc. Other, My heart crieth for Moab and for his bars unto Zoar, as an heifer of three years old. Unto Zoar, that is, so that it may be heard even unto Zoar, although it is situated in the outermost borders of the land of the Moabites toward Judah.
29 See Gen. 19:22.
30 That is, strong, wild and wanton. This may be understood of Zoar or of Moab. In Jeremiah it is spoken of Horonaim. See Jer. 48:34 with the annotation.
31 Or, he goeth up weeping.
32 Or, they lift up a broken cry. Other, a cry of destruction. Hebr. a cry of breaking or of breaking to pieces, that is (as some take it), such a cry as those make, who are cruelly broken to pieces and destroyed by their enemies.
6For 33the waters of 34Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing.
33 That is, the low and watery grounds at Nimrim, or about Nimrim, shall lie dry, waste and desolate. The sense is: The entire land of Moab shall be brought to extreme ruin, so that even in those places where abundance of water was wont to be, there shall be great drought.
34 Called Nimrah and Beth-nimrah in Num. 32:3, 36. This place was given to the sons of Gad, Joshua 13:27, 28.
7Therefore the abundance 35they 36have gotten, 37and that which they have laid up, shall they carry away 38to the brook of the willows.
35 Namely, the Moabites. Hebr. he, namely, Moab.
36 Hebr. have made.
37 The Hebrew word is derived from to visit or to lay up.
38 Or, toward the brook of the willows, namely, to hide it there. Other, into the valley of the Arabians. And then the sense is this: The Arabians, who shall join themselves to the Assyrians, shall help to pillage the treasures of the Moabites, and shall carry them away.
8For 39the cry 40is gone round about the borders of Moab; the howling thereof 41unto Eglaim, and the howling thereof 42unto Beer-elim.
39 That is, that cry and howling of the fugitive Moabites, of whom mention is made in verses 1, 2, 3, 4, shall go through all the borders of the Moabites, from one end to the other.
40 Or, goeth round about, or, is gone round about, and so in the sequel.
41 Or, unto the two brooks running together, namely, unto the brook or well of Arnon (of which mention is made, Num. 21:14) and unto Beer-elim.
42 Other, unto the well of Elim; or, unto the well of the mighty, so called, because the princes of the Israelites had dug it, or had caused it to be dug, Numbers 21.
943For the waters of Dimon 44shall be full of blood: for 45I will bring more upon Dimon, 46lions 47upon him that escapeth of Moab, and upon the remnant 48of the land.
43 Or, Even are the waters, etc.
44 Namely, of the slain and wounded Moabites, whom the Assyrians would slay.
45 Hebr. I will add or set additions upon Dimon, that is, I will punish it yet more.
46 Understand herewith: and other cruel ferocious beasts, to tear and rent them in pieces. Hebr. a lion, whereby king Nebuchadnezzar may be understood, who is likewise elsewhere compared to a lion. Of ferocious lions sent by God among people who were disobedient, see likewise 2 Kings 17:25.
47 The sense is: The Moabites, who shall escape and get away from their enemies, they shall be rent and devoured by lions, and whatsoever shall be left in all the land, the same shall be confounded and destroyed. In brief, God the Lord threatens here that the enemies of His church shall be by no means go unpunished.
48 Namely, of the Moabites.