This prophecy is against the Moabites, who, though they derived their origin from Lot, and were of the same blood with the Israelites, had yet been inimical to them. This prophecy would be uninteresting, were we not to remember the history on which the application and use of what is said depends. We... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet, as before, does not speak in an ordinary way, but declares in lofty terms what God had committed to him, in order that he might terrify the Moabites; not indeed that they heard his threatenings, but it was necessary that he should denounce vengeance in this vehement manner, that the Jew... [ Continue Reading ]
By naming many cities, he shews that the whole land was doomed to ruin, so that no corner of it would be exempt from destruction. For the Moabites might have suffered some loss without much injury had they been moderately chastised; but the Prophet shews that they would be so reduced by the power of... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet speaks again generally of the whole country. It is said that the land of Moab was afflicted; not that it was so then; but to make certain the prophecy, he speaks of the event as having already taken place; for the prophets, as it is well known, speaking in the person of God, relate thing... [ Continue Reading ]
Here Jeremiah uses another figure, that the weeping would be everywhere heard in the ascent to Luhith. It is probable, and it appears from the Prophet’s words, that this city was situated on a high place. He then says, that men would go up with weeping _in the ascent to Luhith_; literally, In (or wi... [ Continue Reading ]
Then he adds, _Flee, save_: this is the crying of distress; for miserable men, as the case is in extreme evils, mutually exhort one another, _Flee, save your lives _He then compares them to a tamarisk. The word ערוער,_oruor_, designates a country, as it is probable, and there were also two cities of... [ Continue Reading ]
Jeremiah assigns here the reason why God would take vengeance on the Moabites; but we shall hereafter see other reasons why God had been so much displeased with them. Let us then know that we are not here taught avowedly why God determined to lay waste and destroy the land of Moab; for there is here... [ Continue Reading ]
He confirms the previous verse; nor ought he to be deemed too wordy, for this prophecy was not announced, that it might cherish the hope and patience of the faithful only for a few days; but it was necessary for them to rest dependent for a long time on this promise, which God had given them many ye... [ Continue Reading ]
Here is a bitter derision; for it was necessary not only to goad the Moabites, but also to pierce them through, because they were inflated with so much pride, and also because they cruelly raged against God’s people, as we shall more fully see hereafter. When the Israelites were conquered, these ung... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet here encourages the Chaldeans to severity, so as to make no end until they destroyed that nation. We have said that the prophets assumed different characters, so that what they said might be more impressive. The Chaldeans were not indeed the disciples of Jeremiah; nor was this exhortatio... [ Continue Reading ]
Here he expresses more clearly what we have before seen, that Moab in vain promised to himself perpetual impunity, because he had for a long time been prosperous. Then the Prophet says that he would be suddenly destroyed, when God ascended his tribunal to execute his judgment. He first says, that he... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet said in the last lecture that the Moabites, as long as they lived prosperously, were very hardened, as impunity becomes an incentive to sin; for the ungodly, while God spares them, think that they shall never be called to an account. He now adds, that the _days _would _come_, in which Go... [ Continue Reading ]
We may see more clearly from this verse, that the Prophet does not so much address the Moabites as his own people; for he was not a teacher to the Moabites to promote their safety; on the contrary, he intended his doctrine for the benefit of the Jews, as in the present instance. _Ashamed_, he says,... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet here reproves the pride of the Moabites, because they trusted in their own strength, and derided God and what the Prophets announced. We indeed know that ungodly men, when all things prosper with them, are moved by no fear, divest themselves of every feeling, and become so sunk in indiff... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the Prophet expresses something more, that the vengeance of which he spoke was near and hastening. It served to alleviate the sorrow of the faithful, when they understood that the Moabites would shortly be punished; for it was a grievous and bitter trial, when God severely chastened his own chi... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet seems indeed to exhort all neighbors to sympathy; but we have stated for what purpose he did this; for it was not his object to show that the Moabites deserved pity, so that their neighbors ought to have condoled with them in their calamities: but by this figurative mode of speaking he e... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the Prophet turns to address the city Dibon, which was renowned among that people. The mode of speaking is well known; he calls the people of the city the _daughter of Dibon_; and he calls the daughter an _inhabitant_, because the Moabites, as it has been said, ever rested in safety and quietne... [ Continue Reading ]
We have stated elsewhere why the prophets in describing calamities spoke in so elevated a style; for their object was not to seek fame or the praise of eloquence. They are not these rhetorical ornaments which the prophets used; but they necessarily spoke in a lofty style of the punishments which awa... [ Continue Reading ]
We have stated why the Prophet describes so fully the ruin of the Moabites, and dwells so long on a subject in no way obscure; it was not indeed enough merely to teach and to show what was useful to be known, but it was also necessary to add goads, that the Jews might attend to these prophecies; nay... [ Continue Reading ]
By another metaphor he expresses the same thing. By _horn _he means power, as all who are in any measure acquainted with Scripture well know that by this word is set forth power, strength, or any defense for the protection of a nation. He then says that the _horn of Moab was cut off_; and he adds af... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet now addresses the Chaldeans, who were to be the executioners of God’s vengeance: hence he says, _Make him drunk, because he has magnified himself against Jehovah_, that is, raised himself in his pride against God. Then the Prophet, as God’s herald, encouraged the Chaldeans, fully to exec... [ Continue Reading ]
But the higher cause for the drunkenness mentioned here ought to be observed, even because Moab exalted himself against God. For after having spoken of the pride through which he exulted over God, he adds an explanation,_Has not Israel been a derision to thee? _See then how the Moabites acted proudl... [ Continue Reading ]
Here Jeremiah denounces exile on the Moabites; as though he had said, that such would be the desolation of their land, that they would be forced as wanderers to flee here and there. That he bids them to _leave their cities, _this is not done in the same way as when God commands his people what is ri... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the Prophet intimates by anticipation, that how much soever the Moabites might boast, they could not, by their boastings and their pride, so succeed that God should not appear against them as a Judge. We have said already, that as the Moabites had been long in a quiet state, what the Prophet de... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse is variously explained, at least the second clause. Some render it, “His indignation, and not what is right;” then they add by itself, “his lies;” and lastly, “they have not done rightly,” or as others, “they will not do anything fixed,” which is more suitable, and comes near to the rende... [ Continue Reading ]
Some think the last word to be a proper name, though, according to etymology, it is “the city of potsherd.” They therefore give this rendering, “the strong city.” But Isaiah calls it “Kir-hareseth,” קיר-הרשת; he extends the word by adding a syllable to it; but the word, however, is the same. Then he... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the Prophet shews more clearly what he had said generally before, that Sibmah would weep for her vines, after having wept for Jazer. These were cities in the land of Moab, as it appears from other places. Some give this rendering, “In comparison with the weeping” or mourning, etc.; and מן, _men... [ Continue Reading ]
He pursues the same metaphor or comparison; for he says that all places would be laid waste and desolate, which before had been valuable and highly regarded on account of their fruitfulness. _Cease _then _shall all rejoicing from the land of Moab_, however fruitful it might have been. And then he ad... [ Continue Reading ]
He continues the same subject; and by many and various expressions confirms the same thing, in order that the faithful might know that the destruction of the Moabites was really foretold, and that they might feel more assured that God announced nothing but what he would presently execute. _At the cr... [ Continue Reading ]
In this verse the Prophet expresses what he had before referred to, that God would become in such a way the avenger of the pride and cruelty of the Moabites as to punish them for their superstitions. They had descended from a pious father, for they were the posterity of Lot; but they had renounced t... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the Prophet, as it has been before stated, does not mourn the calamity of the people of Moab, but assumes the character of others, so that the event might appear more evident, it being set as it were before our eyes; for as we have said, the wealth of the Moabites was so great at that time, tha... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet describes at large a very great mourning. They were wont in great sorrow to pull off their hair, to shave their beard, and to put on sackcloth, or to gird it round their loins, and also to cut their hands with a knife or with their nails. As these things were signs of grief; Jeremiah put... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet at the beginning of the verse continues the same subject, that the Moabites would weep and lament throughout _all their houses _and in _all their streets _The reason is added in the second clause, because God would bring a severe judgment on that nation. By saying that there would be _la... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet still speaks in the person of others, and according to their feelings and not his own. He then says, that _howling_, they would say, through wonder, _How is it that Moab has been so broken_, that all had turned their backs, that Moab had become ashamed? He indirectly intimates, that thou... [ Continue Reading ]
Here again he introduces God’s name, for it was necessary to confirm an incredible prophecy by his authority. “God is he,” he says, “who declares that enemies will come, who will fly through all the land of Moab.” He now compares the Chaldeans to eagles; and there is here a name understood which is... [ Continue Reading ]
I have already reminded you, that the Prophet is not using too many words in this extended discourse, for it was necessary to confirm at large what all would have otherwise rejected. He then says, that _the cities of Moab were taken, _that _strongholds were seized _He mentions these things expressly... [ Continue Reading ]
He repeats what we have before observed, that the calamity of Moab would be a just reward for his pride and indeed his sacrilege. The Prophet then says that though God’s vengeance might seem extremely grievous, yet it was most just, because the Moabites had not only been cruel against their neighbor... [ Continue Reading ]
By these words the Prophet skews, that though the Moabites should adopt many means of escape, yet they should be taken, for God’s hand would everywhere entrap them. He mentions _terror _first, then the _pit_, and thirdly, the _snare_, (24) that is, “Thou wilt be so frightened that terror will compel... [ Continue Reading ]
Now all this has not been expressed without reason, because we know with how many flatteries men are wont to delude themselves when God summons them to judgment; for they immediately look around here and there, and promise themselves impunity, and then they hope for light punishment, as though they... [ Continue Reading ]
He confirms what is said in the last verse, that the Moabites would in vain resort to their strongest cities, even _Heshbon _and _Sihon_; because a flame would thence break forth, which would consume the whole land. We hence see that God took away from the Moabites all their vain confidences, and sh... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the Prophet, as he comes to the end of his prophecy, suddenly exclaims, _Woe to thee _! as though he had said, that words failed him to express the grievousness of God’s vengeance. There is then more force in this single expression, than if he had at large described the miseries of that nation.... [ Continue Reading ]
Here, as we see, God gives place to his mercy, so that the Moabites should not wholly perish. At the same time, things which seem to be contrary agree together, even that destruction was nigh the people of Moab, and yet that some would remain alive, who would afterwards renew the name of the nation,... [ Continue Reading ]