Jeremiah 48:19 - Exposition

The inhabitants of Aroer will come out in eager expectation to meet the fugitives, and ask, What hath happened? (so the question should be rendered). There were several Aroers (one belonged to the Ammonites, Joshua 13:25 ), but as the enemy is driving the Moabites southward, the Aroer here intended can only be the town by the Arnon, which separated Moab proper first of all from the kingdom of the Amorites ( Deuteronomy 4:48 ; Joshua 12:2 ), and afterwards from the territory of the Israelites ( Deuteronomy 2:36 ; Deuteronomy 3:12 ). The picture drawn in this verse is singularly appropriate to the site of Arnon, "just by the edge of the arterial highway of Moab," and commanding a complete view of the pass of the Arnon. There is the same variety of statement as to the Israetitish tribe to which Aroer belonged as in the case of Dibon (see Jeremiah 48:18 ). Joshua 13:16 speaks in favour of Reuben; Numbers 32:34 in favour of Gad.