Jeremias 48
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Jeremias 48
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS This is a lengthy condemnation of Moab (cf. Isaiah 15-16) made up of several different poems and comments about their judgment. Moab, Ammon, and Edom were relatives of the Israelites. Moab ‒ judged in Jeremiah 48 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: MOAB) Ammon ‒ judged in Jer. 49:1-6 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: AMMON) Edom ‒ judged in Jer. 49:7-22 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: EDOM AND ISRAEL) There are many (17 or 18) IMPERATIVES in this chapter. Several of them involve the text of the MT. However, there are several Qere suggested readings. The Masoretic scholars (see SPECIAL TOPIC: MASORETIC TEXT) recognized about one thousand places in the OT where one form is in the text but another is suggested in the margin. There are five of these in this chapter and three are related to the gender of the IMPERATIVES. Jer. 48:18, "sit" (BDB 442, KB 444) Qal PARTICIPLE MASCULINE PLURAL (Kethiv) Qal IMPERATIVE FEMININE SINGULAR (Qere) Jer. 48:20, "wail" (BDB 410, KB 413) Hiphil IMPERATIVE FEMININE SINGULAR (Kethiv) Hophol IMPERATIVE MASCULINE PLURAL (Qere) Jer. 48:20, "cry out" (BDB 277, KB 277) Qal IMPERATIVE FEMININE SINGULAR (Kethiv) Qal IMPERATIVE MASCULINE PLURAL (Qere) This same "FEMININE" vs. "MASCULINE" issue is also involved in Jer. 48:27. Niphal PERFECT FEMININE SINGULAR (Kethiv) Niphal PERFECT MASCULINE PLURAL (Qere) The issue involves the proper gender when addressing a nation or inhabitants of a city. Notice how many cities are listed in this chapter. Nebo, Jer. 48:1, 22 (cf. Isa. 15:2) Kiriathaim, Jer. 48:1, 23 (cf. Ezek. 25:9) Heshbon, Jer. 48:2,34, 45 (cf. Isa. 15:4; 16:8,9) Dimon/Dibon ("Madmen"), Jer. 48:2, 18, 22 (cf. Isa. 15:2,9) Horonaim, Jer. 48:3, 5, 34 (cf. Isa. 15:5) Luhith, Jer. 48:5 (cf. Isa. 15:5) Aroer, Jer. 48:19 (possibly Jer. 48:6, cf Deut. 2:36; 3:12; 4:48) Holon, Jer. 48:21 (possibly Horon, cf. Isa. 15:5 and same as #5) Jahzah, Jer. 48:21, 34 (cf. Isa. 15:4) Mephaath, Jer. 48:21 (cf. Josh. 13:18; 21:37) Beth-diblathaim, Jer. 48:22 Beth-gamul, Jer. 48:23 Beth-meor, Jer. 48:23 Kerioth, Jer. 48:24, 41 (cf. Amos 2:2) Bozrah, Jer. 48:24 Kir-heres, Jer. 48:31, 36 (one of Moab's capitals, cf. Isa. 16:7, 11) Sibmah, Jer. 48:32 (cf. Isa. 16:8,9) Jazer, Jer. 48:32 (cf. Isa. 16:8,9) Elealeh, Jer. 48:34 (cf. Isa. 15:4; 16:9) Zoar, Jer. 48:34 (cf. Isa. 15:5, RSV and NEB have it in Jer. 48:4) Eglath-shelishiyah, Jer. 48:34 (cf. Isa. 15:5) Sihon, Jer. 48:45 (name of an Amorite king who lived in Heshbon, #3)
Jeremias 48:1-10
48:1 "Moab" The etymology of the name (BDB 555, KB 554) is uncertain. Genesis 19:37 seems to connect it to Lot's daughter, linking the child to her father, "from my father" or "water of my father." This is the type of popular etymology so common in the OT. Lot's incestuous child becomes the designation of a nation (as does the other daughter's son, Ammon (cf. Gen. 19:38). Their territory was between the Zered and Arnon Rivers on the eastern side of the Dead Sea. ▣ "Nebo" This term (BDB 612) has several biblical orientations. a Babylonian deity (cf. Isa. 46:1), sometimes spelled "Nabu." He was the eldest son of Marduk. a mountain in Moab just east of the top of the Dead Sea, in the plains of Moab from which Moses was allowed to view (but not enter) the Promised Land (cf. Deut. 32:48-52). He died there and was buried by God (cf. Deuteronomy 34). The mountain was also known as Pisgah (cf. Deut. 34:1). a city on the plains of Moab (cf. Num. 32:3,38; Isa. 15:2; Jer. 48:1,22) SPECIAL TOPIC: NEBO ▣ "Kiriathaim" This city (not to be confused with Kiriath-Jearim) is located on the eastern side of the Jordan River on the plateau of Moab (cf. line 5) in the tribal allocation of Reuben (cf. Num. 32:37; Josh. 13:19; Jer. 48:1,23; Ezek. 25:9). The name itself (BDB 900) means "double city" (see MacMillan Bible Atlas, p. 210). ▣ "the lofty stronghold" "the high stronghold" NRSV, NET "the fortress" "its mighty fortress" "the citadel" REB, JPSOA footnote "Misgah" "Hamasagab" "the stronghold" This word (BDB 960, KB 640) basically means "high refuge" (cf. Isa. 33:16). However, it has the ARTICLE which is unusual—"the fortress"—unless it is referring to all of the plateau of Moab (cf. Jer. 48:8d). Also, the NOUN for fortress is MASCULINE in gender, but all the VERBS used in Jer. 48:1 (except for the first one, "say") are THIRD PERSON FEIMININE SINGULAR. There are two other cities listed in Jer. 48:1. These FEMININE forms fit a place name (cf. LXX and REB). Unfortunately this place name appears nowhere in ancient literature. 48:2 "Heshbon" This city (BDB 363 II) is in northern Moab but it was in an area contested by Ammon (cf. Num. 21:25). Apparently it is involved in a conspiracy against Moab, possibly by the Ammonites. However, it is probably better to see it as a reference to a campsite of the Neo-Babylonian army. There is a word play between the name of Heshbon (BDB 363 II, חשׁבון) and the VERB "devised calamity" (lit. "think," BDB 362, KB 359, Qal PERFECT, חשׁב). ▣ "Madmen" There is considerable doubt about the meaning of this word (מדמן, BDB 199, KB 226-227). Do not confuse it with the English meaning. The Hebrew term emphasizes the VERB (BDB 198 I, KB 226 I) "be silenced" (cf. LXX, Peshitta) madman (BDB 199) ‒ מדםן VERB ‒ דמס a play on "dung hill" (BDB 199 I, KB 226, דמן, cf. Isa. 25:10) a city's name (in Moab, BDB 199), found only in Jer. 48:2 a play on the city "Dimon" (BDB 192, דימון, cf. Isa. 15:9), a variant of Dibon (BDB 192, cf. Isa. 15:2) 48:3 "Horonaim" The term (BDB 357) means "two hollows," "two caves," or "two ravines." This city's name is found only in Isa. 15:5 and Jer. 48:5,34 although RSV translates 2 Sam. 13:34 as a form of this word. It was located on the major trade route called "The King's Highway." 48:4 "Her little ones" The LXX, RSV, and NRSV think this word (צעירה [translated "servants" in Jer. 14:3], BDB 859) should be translated by a city's name, Zoar (צער, BDB 858, cf. Jer. 48:34 and Isa. 15:5). The LXX also has a place name here (i.e. Zogora). The UBS Text Project, p. 297, gives the Qere reading, "her little ones" or "youths," a "B" rating. In this way the grammar of the Hebrew fits better (NET Bible). 48:5 "Luhith" This Moabite city (BDB 532) is linked to Horonaim as a place of ascent and descent, probably close to the Dead Sea. 48:6 The cities of Moab are doomed. They are commanded to flee ‒ Qal IMPERATIVE save your lives ‒ Piel IMPERATIVE give wings ‒ Qal IMPERATIVE ▣ NASB, NKJV "like a juniper" NRSV, LXX "like a wild ass" TEV, NJB "like a wild donkey" "like Aroer" "like one destitute" "like a plant" "like a lonely shrub" The MT is uncertain, as the various options show. Aroer (cf. Jer. 48:19b) is the name of a city in Moab (BDB 792 II) and the parallelism of other cities seems to favor this option. However, a similar word "shrub" or "juniper" is used in Jer. 17:6 (BDB 792 I). "Aroer" ‒ כערוער (BDB 792 II, a city in Moab), as in Jer. 48:19 "wild ass" ‒ כערוד (KB 882) in LXX and Aquila, cf. Jer. 2:24; 14:6 (different Hebrew word) "juniper" ‒ כערער (BDB 792 I, KB 883, cf. Jer. 17:6) in MT which UBS Text Project, p. 298, gives a "C" rating (considerable doubt) 48:7 "For because you trusted in. . ." Several things are mentioned that Moab trusted (BDB 105, KB 120, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT). 1. NASB "our own achievements" "works" NRSV, LXX "like a wild ass" TEV, NJB "like a wild donkey" "like Aroer" "like one destitute" "like a plant" The MT has "deeds" or "works" (BDB 795), which could refer to a number of things. 2. "treasures" JPSOA sees both #1 and #2 as parallel 3. they also trusted in their national idol Chemosh who would utterly fail them (cf. Jer. 48:13,35) The pride, arrogance, and idolatry of Moab is clearly seen in Jer. 48:29-30,42. ▣ "Chemosh" This was the national deity of the Moabites (cf. Num. 21:29), where Moab is called "the people of Chemosh." In Jdg. 11:24 this deity is linked to Ammon. Solomon brought this cult into Jerusalem in 1 Kgs. 11:7; 2 Kgs. 23:13, on behalf of his young Canaanite wives. The etymology of the name itself (BDB 484) is uncertain. Some scholars assume "destroyer," or "subduer," while other scholars see it linked to a "fish god." Most of our information about this Canaanite deity comes from the Mesha Stele called "the Moabite Stone," discovered in 1868 at Dibon. The text of 2 Kgs. 3:21-27 (esp. Jer. 48:27) strongly suggests that Chemosh was worshiped with child sacrifice, as were Molech and Ba'al, two other Canaanite fertility gods. SPECIAL TOPIC: CHEMOSH SPECIAL TOPIC: MOLECH ▣ "Chemosh will go off into exile" This could refer to: In the capture of a nation by an invader, the nations gods (i.e. idols) were carried away and put in the major temple of the invaders (i.e. Jer. 43:12). Because of the two groups of citizens (i.e. priests and princes), this may be imagery for a total exile of all the nation of Moab by Nebuchandezzar II. 48:8 Moab's doom was by the word of YHWH (cf. Jer. 48:15c). His instrument was Neo-Babylon. See my additional note at Jer. 46:10. 48:9 NASB, NKJV, NJB, JPSOA "Give wings" "Set aside salt" TEV, NET "Set up a tombstone" "give signs" "give a wearning signal" "give a garland" There are several options on how to understand this line of poetry. the MT has "wings" (BDB 851 II), a unique meaning from a supposed Aramiac root used only here LXX, TEV, and REB see the VERB as a road marker (BDB 846, cf. Jer. 31:21) the NRSV assumes a Ugaritic root, "salt," which would fit the context of judgment (cf. Jdgs. 9:45) TEV, NET see 2 Kgs. 23:17, "to me (BDB 868) as the source of the imagery" ▣ NASB, NJB "For she will flee away" "that she may flee and get away" "For she will surely fall" "it will soon be destroyed" "For she will be laid in ruins" "For she must go hence" "she shall surely be destroyed" It is obvious from the different translation options that there is some confusion on which Hebrew root was original. נצא ‒ "to fly," BDB 661, KB 714 נצה ‒ "to fall into ruins" ‒ BDB 663 III, cf. Jer. 4:7 יצא ‒ "to surrender," BDB 423, #2 a., cf. Jer. 38:17,21 (i.e. to exile, Jer. 29:16) The UBS Text Project, p. 299, gives option #1 a "C" rating, meaning the committee could not decide which was original. If "wings" in the first line of v. 9 is original, then option #1, "fly," seems the best contextual parallel. 48:10 Many English translations mark this as a parenthesis (cf. TEV, NJB, NET). It is addressed to the Neo-Babylonian invaders, admonishing them to fully execute YHWH's judgment on every city in Moab. Show no mercy (i.e. Holy War terminology)!
Jeremias 48:11-20
48:11-20 Notice that all the English translations have different ways to divide this chapter into paragraphs/strophes. It is often difficult to distinguish between prose and poetry. Even though these divisions are not inspired (i.e. marked in the original text) they serve the hermeneutical purpose of determining the literary units and how they relate to each other. Every paragraph/strophe has one main truth. This information is crucial in trying to find and follow the original inspired author's intent. See "Bible Interpretation Seminar" online at www.freebiblecommentary.org. 48:11-12 This is imagery drawn from the wine industry. Notice how this is also seen in Jer. 48:26 and 33. Because of these allusions to wine making several of Jeremiah's poems, given at different times, may have been joined together in one context. SPECIAL TOPIC: ALCOHOL AND ALCOHOLISM 48:11 Moab paid tribute to Assyria and when Neo-Babylon invaded, Moab supported them. Therefore, her towns and villages were spared. But a day will come when destruction and judgment from YHWH comes (v. 12). The imagery from the production of wine: wine must not be left undisturbed because it settles (i.e. "on it dregs") wine must be poured from vessel to vessel several times over time The last two poetic lines of v. 11 are a summary of their protected status in the past. 48:12 This verse continues the imagery from the wine industry, but the statements are negative. NASB ‒ "those who tip vessels," BDB 858, KB 1040, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE NASB ‒ "and they will tip him over," BDB 858, KB 1040, Piel PERFECT with waw NASB ‒ "and they will empty his vessels," BDB 937, KB 1227, Hiphil IMPERFECT NASB ‒ "and shatter their jars," BDB 658, KB 711, Piel IMPERFECT Each of these is a normal, needed part of producing wine, but #4 is obviously a judgment. In the past, Moab was spared invasion and exile, but no more! 48:13 Idol worship brought shame and humiliation, to Israel and to Moab (i.e. Jer. 48:35; Isa. 44:10-11; 45:16; SPECIAL TOPIC: SHAME). The allusion to Bethel: a title for a Semitic deity used by the Jewish inhabitants of Elephantine, an island in the Nile River (see IVP Bible Background Commentary [OT], p. 680) a place name where Jeroboam I set up a rival temple site at the city of Bethel (a few miles north of Jerusalem) where the symbol of YHWH (i.e. a golden calf, cf. Exodus 32), over time, became a Canaanite fertility site (cf. 1 Kgs. 12:25-33) Verse 13 seems to denote the worship of two deities—Chemosh and Bethel, which supports option #1 above. As fallen humans trust (BDB 105) in the power of manmade gods and reject or ignore the one true God, there is no hope, confidence, or security! Idols cannot affect reality! SPECIAL TOPIC: IDOLATRY SPECIAL TOPIC: MAGIC 48:15-16 The IVP Bible Background Commentary (OT), p. 680, says the Josephus notes that five years after the fall of Jerusalem to the Neo-Babylonian army (i.e. 586 B.C.), Nebuchadnezzar II subdued both Moab and Ammon. I have not been able to find the reference in Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews 48:17-20 This part of a larger poem addresses two groups. those who live near Moab those who have heard of it These two groups are collectively personified and give advice to Moab. mourn, Jer. 48:17 ‒ Qal IMPERATIVE say, Jer. 48:17 ‒ Qal IMPERATIVE come down, Jer. 48:18 ‒ Qal IMPERATIVE sit, Jer. 48:18 ‒ Qal IMPERATIVE(Qere) stand by, Jer. 48:19 ‒ Qal IMPERATIVE keep watch, Jer. 48:19 ‒ Piel IMPERATIVE ask, Jer. 48:19 ‒ Qal IMPERATIVE say, Jer. 48:19 ‒ Qal IMPERATIVE wail, Jer. 48:20 ‒ Hiphil IMPERATIVE cry out, Jer. 48:20 ‒ Qal IMPERATIVE declare, Jer. 48:20 ‒ Hiphil IMPERATIVE 48:17 "scepter. . .staff" These are both royal symbols of power. scepter ‒ BDB 641, a staff or rod staff ‒ BDB 596 They could refer to a shepherd's staff (cf. Gen. 32:10) a traveler's stick (cf. Exod. 12:11) riding stick (cf. Num. 22:27) weapon (cf. 1 Sam. 17:40; Ezek. 39:9) diviner's rod (cf. Hosea 4:12) kingly power (i.e. Messianic in Zechariah 11) Here it refers to the kingdom of Moab. 48:18-28 The Jewish Study Bible (p. 1022) asserts that this poem/oracle is based on the imagery of a woman being raped (i.e. Moab by Neo-Babylon), possibly because there are so many FEMININE SINGULAR forms. 48:18 NASB, NRSV, NJB, REB "sit on the parched ground" NKJV, JPSOA "sit on the ground in the dust" "sit on the moist ground" "sit in disgrace" "sit in filth [?]" The footnote in the AB (Anchor Bible Commentary by John Bright) lists the options as (p. 315): basso'ah ‒ filth/excrement, KB 992 (requires emendation) bassama ‒ thirst (MT), BDB 854 (of a person or animal) bassame ‒ on parched ground (cf. Isa. 44:3; BDB 854 [i.e. no rain equals imagery for destruction of Dibon]) The JPSOA footnote says "Meaning of the Heb. uncertain" (p. 1022). Often in poetry one must rely on context (i.e. parallelism and strophe emphasis) cognate roots in other Semitic languages parallel passages (for Jeremiah 48 use Isaiah 15-16) The Expositor's Bible Commentary (p. 662) has a chart that shows the relationship between Isaiah 15-16 and Jeremiah 48. Isa. 15:2 ‒ Jer. 48:1 Isa. 15:2-3 ‒ Jer. 48:37 Isa. 15:3 ‒ Jer. 48:38 Isa. 15:4 ‒ Jer. 48:21,5 Isa. 15:4-6 ‒ Jer. 48:5,34 Isa. 15:5 ‒ Jer. 48:3 Isa. 15:5; 16:7,11 ‒ Jer. 48:31 Isa. 15:7 ‒ Jer. 48:36 Isa. 16:6 ‒ Jer. 48:29 Isa. 16:8-9 ‒ Jer. 48:32 Isa. 16:10 ‒ Jer. 48:33 Isa. 16:11 ‒ Jer. 48:36 Isa. 16:12 ‒ Jer. 48:35
Jeremias 48:21-35
48:21-24 The cities of Moab are listed. 48:25 Two ancient images are used to describe Moab's total defeat. her "horn" (BDB 901, KB 1144) has been cut off (BDB 154, KB 180, Niphal PERFECT, cf. Ps. 75:11) her arm broken (BDB 990, KB 1402, Niphal PERFECT) 48:26 Excessive wine drinking is used as imagery for judgment (cf. Jer. 52:27; Isa. 19:14). make him drunk (see SPECIAL TOPIC: ALCOHOL AND ALCOHOLISM) wallow in his vomit (lit. "splash," see BDB 706, Qal #3, meaning used only here, usually the VERB means to "clap" one's hands in joy or one's thigh in grief) The reasons for YHWH's judgment of Moab: he is arrogant toward YHWH, Jer. 48:26, 42 he is prideful, Jer. 48:29 (cf. Isa. 16:6) his idle boasts are futile, Jer. 48:30 ▣ NASB, NKJV, NRSV, NJB "wallow in his vomit" "roll in its own vomit" "Let Moab overflow with his vomit" "Moab also shall wallow in his filth" "Moab shall vomit till he is drained" This VERB (BDB 706, KB 765, in Qal) has several connotations. to slap one's thigh in grief or sorrow ‒ Jer. 31:19; Ezek. 21:12 (KB 765 I, Qal #2) to clap the hands (KB 765, Qal #1) in self righteousness ‒ Job 34:37 in astonishment ‒ Job 27:23; Lam. 2:15 to splash ‒ KB 765 II, Jer. 48:26, implying to fall into one's vomit with a big splash (possibly old south Arabic) This is a good example of how the same root can have diverse meanings in specific contexts. Remember, context, context, context determines meaning ‒ not lexicons! ▣ NASB, NRSV, NJB, JPSOA "laughingstock" NKJV, REB, Peshitta "derision" This word (BDB 966) denotes joyous laughter (Job 8:21; Ps. 126:2; Eccl. 2:2; 10:19), but when used in sarcasm it denotes derision (cf. Jer. 20:7; Lam. 3:14; Job 12:4). 48:27 What Moab did to Israel is now done to them (i.e. reversal)! For an example of this kind of derision see Lamentations 2:15-17! ▣ NASB, NKJV "shake your head in scorn" NRSV, REB, NJB "you shook your head" "how you made fun of the people of Israel" "was not Israel a derision to you" "shake your head" (footnote, "in mockery") "you shook your head in contempt" "Shaking the head" (BDB 626, KB 678) can be positive or negative. positive ‒ Job 42:11; Isa 51:19 (KB), where it is a sign of sympathy negative ‒ Job 16:4; Ps. 22:7; 109:25; Isa. 37:22; Jer. 18:16; Lam. 2:15; Zeph. 2:15 a sign of excitement (a suggestion of BDB) in Jer. 48:27, but notice most of the translation options see it as showing a dismissiveness, giving Ps. 64:8 as an example 48:28 This verse has three Qal IMPERATIVES. They use imagery involving the inhabitants of Moab, to seek safety in the uninhabited places (i.e. crags, caves, cf. Jer. 16:16; Jdg. 6:2; 1 Sam. 13:6; Isa. 2:19). ▣ "Beyond the mouth of the chasm" "in the sides of the cave's mouth" "on the sides of the mouth of the gorge" TEV, NET "in the sides of a ravine" "in the rock-face at the mouth of a cavern" "in the walls of the gaping gorge" "in the sides of the mouth of a crag" "in the sides of a pit" The MT has the CONSTRUCT BDB 804 plus BDB 809. The second NOUN (KB 924) could mean a man-made pit (cf. Isa. 24:17; Jer. 48:43) a grave (cf. 2 Sam. 18:17) an animal trap (cf. Isa. 24:18) a deep ravine Here, option #4 fits best and describes Moab's sense of security of being on a high, rocky plain. Doves thought they were safe by building nests on rocky cliffs, so too, Moab. 48:29-39 The Jewish Study Bible (p. 1022) notes that these verses are written in a 3/2 beat, which characterized funeral songs. This is the lament form often used in prophetic literature in the sense of "woe." SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (OT), IV. E. 48:29 This is similar to Isa. 16:6. Moab's judgment is discussed in Isaiah 15-16. There are many literary parallels and allusions between Jeremiah 48 and Isaiah 15-16. Isaiah wrote before Jeremiah. The UBS A Translator's Handbook on Jeremiah (p. 888) mentions that there are several NOUNS used to describe the pride of Moab. the pride of Moab (BDB 144) he is very proud (BDB 144 and 547) his haughtiness (BDB 147) his pride (BDB 144) his arrogance (BDB 144) his self-exaltation (lit. "elevation of his heart," BDB 927 CONSTRUCT BDB 524) This purposeful repetition is to powerfully communicate the prideful attitude of Moab (cf. Jer. 48:7). SPECIAL TOPIC: LIFTED UP 48:31-32 The "I" refers to YHWH (cf. Jer. 48:30-36; 31:20; Isa. 16:11; Hosea 11:8-9). He continuously grieves over the necessity of judgment on Moab, part of the tribal inheritance of His people. Judgment is YHWH's strange work (cf. Isa. 28:21)! He desires to bless, prosper, and restore! Notice the powerful, remorseful parallel. I wail ‒ BDB 410, KB 413, Hiphil IMPERFECT I cry out ‒ BDB 277, KB 277, Qal IMPERFECT I mourn ‒ BDB 211, KB 237, Qal IMPERFECT (form is THIRD PERSON but parallelism is FIRST PERSON) The NASB Study Bible (p. 1132) asserts that the FIRST PERSON PRONOUN should refer to the prophet and uses Isa. 15:5 and 16:9 as examples. 48:32 Lines 3 and 4 are repeated from Isa. 16:8. The MT has "sea of Jazer" but the LXX and Isa. 16:8 do not. The "sea" in line 1 would refer to the Dead Sea. 48:33 There seem to be two different groups "shouting." the joy of wine makers (will cease) the shout of conquering soldiers also note the "cry" of ruin and destruction in v. 34 48:34 The geographical locations are uncertain, but the meaning is obvious — the outcry of judgment is heard far and wide! 48:35 YHWH's judgment on Moab is related to their idolatry. they offer sacrifice on the high place central sanctuary, cf. Isa. 16:12 local high places, cf. Jer. 11:13 burn incense to his god
Jeremias 48:36-39
48:37-38 These were signs of mourning (cf. Jer. 4:8, see SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES). It is possible they were also denoting idol rituals (i.e. "gashes on their hands," cf. Jer. 16:6, or "on house tops," cf. Jer. 19:13; 32:29) or possibly even the corrupted worship of YHWH (cf. Jer. 41:5). 48:39 "turned back" This VERB (BDB 815, KB 937, Hiphil PERFECT) can refer to humiliation retreat in battle
Jeremias 48:40-44
48:40 This refers to Nebuchadnezzar's army (cf. Jer. 4:13; 49:22; Ezek. 17:3,12; Hosea 8:1). 48:41 NASB, NKJV, LXX, JPSOA, Peshitta "Kerioth" NRSV, TEV, NJB, REB, NET "the towns" The Hebrew root, קריה (BDB 900) means "city." The form in the text, הקריות, is used of a proper name in v. 24 (BDB 901) and Amos 2:2 (but a different Hebrew word for "strongholds") and also on the Moabite Stone. "The towns" fits this verse better. ▣ "like. . .a woman in labor" See note at Jer. 30:6 and SPECIAL TOPIC: BIRTH PAINS 48:43-44 This same terminology is used in Isa. 24:17-18, possibly a well known proverbial saying because it is a sound play on the three words (BDB 808, 809, 809 I). Imagery from hunting techniques are used of YHWH's judgment (cf. Amos 5:19). There is no escape, no help, no hope!
Jeremias 48:45-47
48:45 "the forehead of Moab" This may be an allusion to Num. 24:17, which is one of the prophecies of Balaam. "Forehead" (BDB 802), like "rod" and "staff" of Jer. 48:17, is a symbol of royal power. It is also possible that "forehead" is parallel to "crown of the head" (BDB 869), meaning the heads of the rebellious Moabites were crushed (i.e. killed in battle). There is a possibility both "forehead" and "skulls" are imagery for the mountains or fortresses of Moab (TEV). 48:47 As YHWH grieves over His need to judge (cf. Jer. 48:31,36), now He promises a future day of hope (cf. Jer. 12:14-17). It must be remembered that YHWH chose Abraham/Israel to choose the world. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE LAST DAYS SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN