1The judgment of Moab, 7for presuming upon her wealth, 11her uninterrupted prosperity, 14and her strength for war, 26and for her contempt of God, and insult toward his people. 47The restoration of Moab.
1AGAINST1 Moaba thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Woe unto 2Nebo! for it 3is spoiled: Kiriathaim is confounded and taken: 4Misgab is confounded and dismayed.
1 Or, Of Moab. Compare Isaiah 15 and 16; Jer. 25:21; 27:3; Ezek. 25:9; Amos 2:1.
a Jer. 25:21; 27:3.
2 This city and those that follow were all situated beyond the Jordan in the land of the Moabites. See Num. 32:34, etc.
3 That is, it shall certainly be spoiled; also in the sequel.
4 Or, the city of the high place. Some conceive this to be Heshbon, situated upon a great high mountain, of which the Moabites especially boasted, as follows; or, one of the most important fortresses. Others understand Bamoth, from Isa. 15:2, and below verse 35; others the rock Selah, from verse 28.
2There shall be no more praise of Moab: in 5Heshbon 6they have 7devised evil against it; come, and let us cut it off from being a 8nation. Also thou shalt be cut down, O 9Madmen; the sword shall pursue thee.
5 A royal city, Deut. 2:24, etc., rebuilt by the children of Ruben, Num. 32:37. Other, there is no more boasting of Moab, at Heshbon they have, etc.
6 The enemies have determined to destroy Heshbon.
7 This is ingeniously applied in the Hebrew to the word hesbon. Hebr. chesbon, that is, thought, imagination and chaschab is to think, to devise. Thus in the sequel to the city of Madmen is applied tiddommi. Madmena, Isa. 25:10 (where also mention is made of Moab) is taken for dung, excrement, and the Hebrew word from which this tiddommi is derived, signifies to cut off, to cut down, to be destroyed.
8 Compare verse 42; Jer. 33:24.
9 See of another Madmena, Isa. 10:31.
3A voice of crying shall be from Horonaim, spoiling and great 10destruction.
10 That is, desolation, murder, etc. See Jer. 4 on verses 6 and 20.
4Moab is 11destroyed; 12her little ones have caused a cry to be heard.
11 Compare Jer. 17:18; 22:20, etc.
12 In the feminine gender. In this prophecy is spoken of Moab sometimes in the feminine and sometimes in the masculine gender; also in the next chapter of Ammon, Edom, etc., and further of Babel, Media, etc. Sometimes respect may be had to the land, and sometimes to the people; also the Hebrew word that signifies land or earth, is used in both genders, but most of all in the feminine. Compare Jer. 51 on verse 28.
5For in the going up of Luhith continual weepingb shall go up; for in the going down of 13Horonaim the enemies have heard a 14cry of destruction.
b Isa. 15:5.
13 Where men go down from Luhith to Horonaim, situated in the low grounds, close to Luhith.
14 Hebr. cry of a breach, or of breaking, that is, a cry of murder or wailing of the Moabites, crying to one another as follows. Also Isa. 15:5. Other, the enemies, that cried breach, were heard.
6Flee, save your 15lives, and be like the 16heathc in the wilderness.
15 That is, save yourselves (as we would say) or your persons.
16 As dry, waste, bare and solitary as the heath or a tamarisk shrub in the wilderness. See Jer. 17 on verse 6. Hebr. Aroer, which also suits to the city of Aroer, whereof verse 19.
c Jer. 17:6.
7¶For because thou hast trusted in thy 17works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and 18Chemosh shall go forth into 19captivity with 20his priestsd and his princes together.
17 Thus we also use the word works for all manner of buildings, serving for fortifications; whereof Moab, as inhabiting for the most part a plain and level land, seems to have been well provided, and to have trusted therein against all invasion, as is here expressed.
18 Hebr. Chemosch, the idol of the Moabites; see Num. 21:29; as also of the Ammonites, Judges 11:24.
19 Or, among the prisoners, or those who are carried away captive. Also verse 11. Compare Isa. 46:2 with the annotation.
20 His, namely, of the idol Chemosh, that honored and adhered unto this idol as their lord and king, to whom his princes are also added. Also Jer. 49:3. Compare Ezek. 43:7; Hosea 10:5.
d Jer. 49:3.
8And the 21spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape: the valley also shall perish, and the 22plain shall be destroyed, as the LORD hath spoken.
21 The king of Babel.
22 Or, flat land.
923Give wings unto Moab, that it may flee and get away: for the cities thereof shall be desolate, without any to dwell therein.
23 Spoken in a deriding manner. Instead of making resistance (will the prophet say), they shall seek to flee away with all speed, like a bird.
10Cursed be he that doeth the work of the 24LORD 25deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from 26blood.
24 Namely, the cutting off the Moabites, which was commanded and enjoined by God unto the Babylonians.
25 Hebr. with deceit, that is, slothfully, slowly, so that he does not perform his master’s charge, Compare Prov. 10 on verse 4; 12:24, 27.
26 Of the Moabites, which he would not shed it by the sword. Compare Jer. 47:6, 7.
11¶Moab hath been at 27ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his 28lees,e and hath not been 29emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste 30remained in him, and his scent is not changed.
27 That is, secure and careless, living at ease and in pleasure (compare Amos 6:1), not fearing any violence. Compare Prov. 1:32, 33; Jer. 46:27, where another kind of quietness is promised unto the people of God.
28 Or, dregs.
e Zeph. 1:12.
29 Or, let off, drawn off the lees from one vessel into another. A similitude taken from wine. The sense is: that Moab, having continued in his own land from the beginning, was grown rich, luxurious, mighty and insolent, as the following words declare.
30 Hebr. stood.
12Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will send unto him 31wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and 32break their 33bottles.
31 Or, walkers, strange guests, who shall cause him to wander and to roam abroad in strange countries. Compare Jer. 2:20 with the annotation.
32 Or, scatter. See Judges 7 on verse 19.
33 Understand wine-bottles. See Jer. 13:12.
13And Moab shall be ashamed of 34Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of 35Beth-el 36theirf confidence.
34 See verse 7.
35 That is, for the idolatrous golden calves of Bethel and the idolatry which they committed therewith. See 1 Kings 12:28, 29, etc.
36 That is, wherein they put their confidence.
f 1 Kings 12:29.
14¶How say ye, We are mighty and 37strong men for the war?
37 Hebr. men of valor or courage.
15Moab 38is spoiled, and 39gone up out of 40her cities, and his chosen young men are gone down to the 41slaughter, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.
38 That is, whereas Moab must suddenly be destroyed; and so in the sequel.
39 That is, broke up, gone away. Other, her cities are gone up into smoke, that is, burnt. Or, the spoiler hath scaled her cities.
40 Or, his. Hebr. her. See Jer. 48 on verse 4.
41 To be slain. Compare Jer. 50:27.
16The 42calamity of Moab is near to come, and his 43affliction hasteth fast.
42 As Jer. 46:21.
43 Of punishment, that is, ruin.
17All ye that are about him, bemoan him; and all ye that know his 44name, say, How is 45the strong staff broken, and the beautiful rod!
44 Who knew how famous and renowned he has been. See Gen. 6 on verse 4.
45 Hebr. the staff of strength, the stick of beauty or of ornament, that is, that mighty and magnificent people or kingdom.
18Thou 46daughter that dost inhabit 47Dibon, come down from thy glory, and sit in 48thirst; for the spoiler of Moab shall come upon thee, and he shall destroy thy strong holds.
46 Compare Jer. 46:19 with the annotation.
47 Also a city of the Moabites, situated on a mountain. See Isa. 15 on verse 2.
48 That is, in dry places, in want of all things.
19O inhabitant of 49Aroer, stand by the way, and espy;g ask him that fleeth, and her that escapeth, and say, 50What is done?
49 Situated by the brook Arnon, Deut. 2:36.
g see, perceive
50 Because ye flee thus amazed? A lively description of what is done at such times, and what would be done there.
20Moab is confounded; for 51it is 52broken down: howlh and cry; tell ye it in 53Arnon, that Moab is spoiled,
51 Hebr. she.
52 Or, afraid, astonished.
h Isa. 16:7.
53 A city situated by the mountains, where was the origin of both the brooks of Arnon, having the same name.
21And 54judgment is come upon the 55plain country; upon Holon, and upon Jahazah, and upon Mephaath,
54 That is, punishment. See Deut. 19 on verse 6; Prov. 19 on verse 29. Also verse 47.
55 That is, the flat land; such a region was in Moab, so named; the following names are all of them names of cities of the Moabites. It is conceived that the Moabites took them all again by force, or with the consent of the king of Assyria after that the ten tribes were carried away captive; for, they, being subdued in David’s time (2 Sam. 8:2) and afterwards rebelling, were conquered again by Joram, etc., 2 Kings 3:4, etc.
22And upon Dibon, and upon Nebo, and upon Beth-diblathaim,
23And upon Kiriathaim, and upon Beth-gamul, and upon Beth-meon,
24And upon Kerioth, and upon 56Bozrah, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near.
56 Not of the Edomites (as Jer. 49:13 and elsewhere often), but of the Moabites. Some conceive it to be Bezer, Joshua 21:36.
25The 57horn of Moab is cut off, and his 58arm is broken, saith the LORD.
57 See Deut. 33 on verse 17, and in particular Psalm 75:10.
58 See Job 22 on verse 8, and in particular Psalm 37:17.
26¶Make 59ye him drunken: for he 60magnified himself against the LORD: Moab also 61shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in 62derision.
59 Ye Babylonians, namely, out of the cup of God’s wrath. See Isa. 63:6; Jer. 25:15, 16.
60 Has carried himself haughtily against God and His people both in words and deeds. Compare Psalm 35:26, 27 with the annotation, and below verse 42.
61 Or, shall clap with the hands, etc. As mad drunkards, who, falling down to the ground, clap their hands and keep a stir in their own vomit. Other, wallow themselves.
62 As he formerly did use to deride the people of God, as follows.
27For was not Israel a 63derision unto thee? was he found among 64thieves? for since thou spakest of him, thou 65skippedst for joy.
63 Yea, certainly, the Lord wants to say. Understand: when Israel was punished and carried away captive.
64 Discovered and taken in the very act of thievery, who are wont to be derided? See Job 30:5; Jer. 2:26.
65 Or, didst shake for joy, when thou didst talk of him, mocking at his miseries, as Edom did at Judah.
28O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the 66rock, and be like the dove that maketh her nest in the 67sides of the hole's mouth.
66 Some conceive this to be a fortress situated in the south-end at the wilderness of Moab, which was also mentioned, Isa. 16:1, and is meant in verse 1. Others take it to be meant in general of rocks or cliffs.
67 Or, in the passages, that is, in the cliffs, crevices, holes.
2968We have heard the pridei of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart.
68 Compare Isa. 16:6, 7.
i Isa. 16:6.
30I know his 69wrath, saith the LORD; 70but it shall not be so; his 71lies shall not so effect it.
69 Or, rising, overflowing anger.
70 Compare Isa. 16:6. Such a manner of speech we do also use in our language of a man who presumptuously intends to go through with his own design: Not so, he shall not go through with it so, it will not be done so, lies will not do it, etc. Other, (because the Hebrew particles ken and baddim also admit other signification) thus: but there is no firmness, his bars (whereon he relied) make no firmness. Both in a good sense, namely, that Moab with all his pride and vain confidence shall find himself deceived in the end.
71 That is, his vain, empty counsels, all his imaginary confidence. Compare Psalm 7:14.
31Therefore will I howl for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab; mine heart 72shall mourn for the men of 73Kir-heres.
72 Or, mutter, mumble under one’s breath, peep; as men use to do in an unexpected mishap, grief, astonishment, etc. Other, mine heart shall sigh.
73 Some conceive this to be the name of another city in Moab, thus called, because it had a wall made of tiles. Compare Isa. 16:7, 11.
32O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for thee 74with the weeping of Jazer: thy 75plants are gone over the sea, they reach even to the sea of Jazer: the 76spoiler is fallen upon thy summer fruits and upon thy vintage.
74 That is, more yet than Isaiah wept for Jazer. See Isa. 16:9. Other, from or above the weeping of Jazer, that is, as Isaiah did, I will take my weeping from him, join myself with him in it, etc.
75 Or, young shoots, sprigs, plants, as men are wont to deal with noble or excellent vines. Thus the prophet speaks, because there were many vines in the regions of the city Sibmah, and not far from there was situated the city of Jazer by the brook Arnon, which from there ran along through the sea, that is, the lake of Jazer, between Jazer and Aroer. And beyond this lake in the north-east, some say that there are also many vineyards, which plants peradventure were carried over thither from Sibmah, or else transported out of the land.
76 The Babylonian.
33And joyj and gladness is 77taken from the 78plentiful field, and from the land of Moab; and I 79have caused wine to fail from the 80winepresses: none shall tread with 81shouting; their shouting shall be no 82shouting.
j Isa. 16:10.
77 Hebr. gathered. See Psalm 26 on verse 9.
78 Hebr. carmel. See Jer. 2 on verse 7.
79 That is, I will make that there shall be no wine. These are God’s words.
80 Or, wine tubs. See Joel 3 on verse 13.
81 Hebr. hedad. See Jer. 25 on verse 30.
82 But rather like a cry of murder.
34From the cry of Heshbon even unto Elealeh, and even unto Jahaz, have they 83uttered their voice, from Zoarkeven unto Horonaim, as an 84heifer of three years old: for the waters also of 85Nimrim shall be desolate.
83 Hebr. given.
k Isa. 15:5, 6.
84 Of which cities the inhabitants are so full-bodied, fat, lusty, strong and wanton as a young lusty heifer of three years old. Compare Isa. 15:5; Jer. 46:20.
85 See Isa. 15:6. Some place the city of Nimrim with these waters at the Dead Sea, between the brook Arnon and the brook Zered, in the south end of Moab. Compare also Num. 32:3, 36; Joshua 13:27.
35Moreover I will 86cause to cease in Moab, saith the LORD, him that offereth in the 87high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods.
86 That is, make that they shall be no more.
87 The idolatrous temple of Baal-peor was upon a high mountain, at its foot was situated the city of Bamoth-baal, that is, Baal’s high places.
36Therefore mine heart shall sound for Moab like 88pipes, and mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kir-heres: 89because the 90riches that 91he hath gotten 92are perished.
88 Or, flutes, on which they played lamentations.
89 As such are the Hebrew particles also elsewhere suitably taken for because or for that. See Gen. 38:26; Num. 10:31; 14:43; Psalm 42:6. See also Psalm 45 on verse 2 and Psalm 45 on verse 7.
90 Or, the plenty, namely, of all kind of riches which he had obtained.
91 Namely, Moab.
92 Hebr. are lost, namely, goods plentifully obtained, or plentiful riches, which is included in the meaning of these words.
37For 93every headlshall be bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands shall be cuttings,m and upon the loins sackcloth.
93 Hebr. every head is baldness. Likewise beard, etc. These were all signs of grief and mourning. See Gen. 37 on verse 34; Jer. 16 on verse 6.
l Isa. 15:2, 3.
m Jer. 47:5.
38There shall be lamentation 94generally upon all the 95housetops of Moab, and in the streets thereof: for I have broken Moab like a 96vessel wherein is no pleasure, saith the LORD.
94 Hebr. altogether.
95 Which were flat in those countries. See Deut. 22 on verse 8.
96 As Jer. 22:28.
3997They shall howl, saying, How is 98it 99broken down! how hath Moab turned the 100back with 101shame! so shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all them about him.
97 Other, Howl, or, They howl, saying: How is she smitten! Or, How is she smitten! How do they howl!
98 Moab. Hebr. she.
99 That is, beaten in pieces, crushed, or dismayed, astonished.
100 Fleeing from the enemy.
101 Other, how hath Moab turned the neck! He is ashamed, or, How is he ashamed!
40For thus saith the LORD; Behold, 102he shall 103fly as an eagle,n and shall spread his wings over Moab.
102 The enemy, the Babylonian, shall suddenly come upon you.
103 See Psalm 18 on verse 10, and compare Jer. 4:13; 49:22; Ezek. 17:3; Hosea 8:1.
n Jer. 4:13.
41104Kerioth is taken, and the strong 105holds are surprised, and the mighty men’s 106hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her 107pangs.
104 Hebr. The cities is gained or taken, that is, each one of the cities shall be, etc., as follows. Other, Kerioth, as verse 24.
105 Or, towers, castles.
106 Also Jer. 49:22.
107 Of childbearing, that is in travail, as Jer. 22:23; 49:22, etc.
42And Moab shall be destroyed 108from being a people, because he hath 109magnified himself against the LORD.
108 As Jer. 33:24, and in this chapter verse 2.
109 See verse 26.
43110Fear, and the pit, and the snare, shall be upon thee, O inhabitant of Moab, saith the LORD.
110 Here are three words in the Hebrew that are very similar to one another, pachad, pachath and pach, which ingenuity we cannot imitate in our language. Also Isa. 24:17.
44He that fleeth 111from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.
111 Hebr. from the face of the fear.
45They that fled 112stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a 113fireo shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame 114from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the 115head of the tumultuous ones.
112 That is, took their refuge in the royal city of Heshbon, thinking there to be safe or protected.
113 See Num. 21:28. The sense is: As at that time the subjugation of the land of Heshbon began, so shall it now likewise happen, so that none shall be able to hide himself there.
o Num. 21:28.
114 That is, from the midst of the city, which Sihon had taken from the Moabites and had reigned there as king, Num. 21:26.
115 Of the Moabites, who made such a great tumult, and boasted and bragged so highly. Compare Jer. 46:17, with the annotation.
46116Woe be unto thee, O Moab! the people of 117Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives.
116 See Num. 21:29, and above, on verse 7.
117 See verses 7 and 13.
47¶Yet will I 118bring again the 119captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the LORD. 120Thus far is the judgment of Moab.
118 This indeed may in some sort also be applied to some temporal or corporal restoration, but it has principally respect to the spiritual redemption, of which they, by the preaching of the Gospel, would with other nations be made partakers. Compare Jer. 49:6, 39.
119 Or, bring again the captivities of Moab.
120 That is, (as we say) thus much be spoken of the punishment of Moab. See on verse 21.