Jeremiah 48:14-21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 48:14-47

The destruction is here further prophesied of very largely and with a great copiousness and variety of expression, and very pathetically and in moving language, designed not only to awaken them by a national repentance and reformation to prevent the trouble, or by a personal repentance and reformation to prepare for it, but to affect us with the calamitous state of human life, which is liable to such lamentable occurrences, and with the power of God's anger and the terror of his judgments,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 48:14

How say ye, we are mighty and strong men for the war? The Moabites were proud, haughty, and arrogant; boasted much of their strength and valour; of the strength of their bodies, and fitness for war, and skill in it; and of the strength of their fortified cities; and thought themselves a match for the enemy, and secure from all danger: for this their pride, vanity, and self-confidence, they are here reproved, since their destruction was at hand. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 48:15

Moab is spoiled ,.... The whole country is ruined; which is spoken of as present, though future, after the manner of prophecy, because of the certainty of it: and gone up out of her cities ; the inhabitants of Moab were gone up out of their cities, either through fear and flight; or through force, being made to go out of them, and were carried captive. The Targum is, "the Moabites are spoiled, and their cities are desolate;' and so Kimchi interprets it, "the multitude of her... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 48:16

The calamity of Moab is near to come ,.... As it did come within live years after the destruction of Jerusalem, as observed on Jeremiah 48:12 ; out of Josephus: and his affliction hasteth fast : or, "his evil" F26 רעתו "malum ejus", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Calvin, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Schmidt. the evil of punishment for his sin; his utter destruction. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 48:17

All ye that are about him, bemoan him ,.... The neighbouring nations, such as the Ammonites, and others, are called upon to condole the sad case of Moab; all upon the borders of the country of Moab, either within them or without them: and all ye that know his name ; not only that had heard of his fame and glory, but knew in what grandeur and splendour he lived; these have a form of condolence given them: say, how is the strong staff broken, and the beautiful rod ! the mighty men of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 48:18

Thou daughter that dost inhabit Dibon ,.... A city in Moab; See Gill on Isaiah 15:2 . The Targum is, "O kingdom of the congregation of Dibon;' but this was not a kingdom of itself, though a principal city in the kingdom of Moab: come down from thy glory, and sit in thirst ; in a dry and thirsty land; in want of all the necessaries of life; in captivity; who before abounded with all good things, inhabiting a well watered and fruitful soil; see Isaiah 15:9 ; but now called to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 48:19

O inhabitant of Aroer ,.... Another city that belonged to Moab, situated on the border of it towards Ammon, near the river Arnon; See Gill on Isaiah 17:2 ; stand by the way, and espy ; get to the road side where travellers pass, and look out for them: ask him that fleeth, and her that escapeth ; whether man or woman you see fleeing, having escaped the army of the Chaldeans: and say, what is done ? by the Chaldeans; ask what cities they have taken; what progress they have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 48:20

Moab is confounded, for it is broken down ,.... This is the answer returned, by those that had escaped and were fleeing, to those who inquired of them; who report that the whole country of Moab was in the utmost confusion and consternation; not being able to stand before the enemy, who broke down and destroyed all that was in his way: and therefore calls upon them to howl and cry ; because of the general ruin at the nation, and who must expect themselves to share the same fate; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 48:21

And judgment is come upon the plain country ,.... Of Moab, which was for the most part such, especially that which lay near Arnon; the judgment of God's vengeance, punishment for sin, by the hand of the Chaldeans. The Targum is, "they that execute vengeance are come:' upon Holon ; a city of Moab; of which see Joshua 15:51 ; it had its name perhaps from the sandy ground on which it stood. Grotius takes it to be the Alabana of Ptolemy: and upon Jahazah : the same with Jahaz; see... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 48:17

How is the strong staff broken - The scepter. The sovereignty of Moab is destroyed. read more

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