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A Prophecy against Moab

48 To Moab: This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says:

“How terrible for Nebo, for it’s laid waste.
    Kiriathaim is put to shame, it’s captured.
        The fortress is put to shame, it’s shattered.
The pride of Moab is no more.
    In Heshbon they plotted evil against her:
‘Come and let’s eliminate her as a nation.’
    Madmen[a] will also be silenced,
        and the sword will pursue you.
The sound of crying will come from Horonaim,
    devastation and great destruction.
Moab will be destroyed;
    her little ones will cry out.
Indeed, at the ascent of Luhith
    people will go up with bitter weeping.
At the descent of Horonaim
    the anguished cries over the destruction will be heard.
Flee, save your lives,
    and you will be like a wild donkey[b] in the desert.
But, because you trust in your deeds and your riches,
    you will also be captured.
Chemosh[c] will go out into exile,
    along with his priests and officials.
A destroyer will come to every town
    and no town will escape.
The valley will be ruined and the plateau destroyed.”
    This[d] is what the Lord has said!
“Put salt[e] on Moab[f]
    for she will surely fall.
Her towns will become desolate places,[g]
    without any inhabitants in them.
10 Cursed is the one who is slack
    in doing the Lord’s work.
Cursed is the one who holds back his sword
    from shedding[h] blood.
11 Moab has been at ease from his youth.
    He has been undisturbed like wine[i] on its dregs
        and not poured from vessel to vessel.
He has not gone into exile.
    Therefore, his flavor has remained,
        and his aroma has not changed.

12 “Therefore, look, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I’ll send those who tip over vessels[j] to him, and they’ll tip him over. They’ll empty his vessels and shatter his jars. 13 Moab will be ashamed because of Chemosh just as the house of Israel was ashamed because of Bethel, their confidence.

14 “How can you say, ‘We’re strong warriors,
    and soldiers ready[k] for battle’?
15 Moab will be destroyed,
    and the enemy[l] will come up against her cities.
Her finest young men will go down to slaughter,”
    declares the King,
        whose name is the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
16 “Moab’s disaster is near at hand,
    and his calamity is coming very quickly.
17 Mourn for him, all who live around him,
    and all who know his name.
Say, ‘Oh how the mighty rod is broken,
    the glorious staff.’
18 “Come down from glory, and sit on parched ground,
    O woman who lives in Dibon,
for the destroyer of Moab will come up
    against you to destroy you.
        He will destroy your strongholds.
19 Stand by the road and keep watch,
    O woman who lives in Aroer.
Ask the man who flees and the woman who escapes.
    Say, ‘What happened’?
20 Moab will be put to shame,
    for it will be destroyed.
Wail and cry out.
    Announce by the Arnon that Moab is destroyed.

21 Judgment has come to the plateau:[m]
    to Holon and Jahzah,
and against Mephaath,
22     Dibon, Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim,
23 against Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul, and Beth-meon,
24 against Kerioth, Bozrah,
and all the towns in the land of Moab,
    both far and near.
25 The strength[n] of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken,”
    declares the Lord.
26 “Make him drunk for he has exalted himself
    against the Lord.
Moab will wallow in his vomit,
    and he will be the object of mocking.
27 Wasn’t Israel an object of mocking for you?
    Wasn’t he treated like a thief,[o]
so that whenever you spoke about him
    you shook your head in contempt?[p]
28 Abandon the cities, and live on the cliffs,[q]
    you inhabitants of Moab.
Be like a dove that builds a nest
    by the mouth of a cave.
29 We have heard about Moab’s pride—
    he’s very proud—
his haughtiness, his arrogance,
    his insolence, and his conceit.[r]
30 I know his gall,”
    declares the Lord,
“and it’s futile;
    the boasting that they do is futile.
31 Therefore, I’ll wail for Moab,
    and for the whole of Moab I’ll cry out,
    for the men of Kir-heres I’ll moan.
32 More than the weeping for Jazer,[s]
    I’ll weep for you, vine of Sibmah.[t]
Your branches spread out to the sea,
    and reached as far as the Sea of Jazer.[u]
On your summer fruit and grapes[v]
    the destroyer will fall.
33 Gladness and rejoicing will be taken away
    from the fruitful land.[w]
From the land of Moab I’ll cause the wine
    in the wine presses to stop flowing.[x]
The workers won’t tread[y] the grapes with a loud shout.[z]
    There will be no shout!

34 “From the cry of Heshbon, to Elealeh, to Jahaz they have lifted up their voice. From Zoar to Horonaim and to Eglath-shelishiyah, even the waters of Nimrim will become a desolate place. 35 In Moab,” declares the Lord, “I’ll put an end to the one who offers a burnt offering on the high place and to the one who burns incense to his gods. 36 Therefore my heart wails for Moab like flutes[aa] and my heart wails for the men of Kir-heres like flutes. Therefore they’ll lose the abundance they produced. 37 Indeed every head will be bald[ab] and every beard cut short.[ac] There will be gashes on all the hands[ad] and sackcloth on the loins. 38 On all the housetops of Moab and in the streets there will be nothing but mourning, for I’ll break Moab like a vessel that no one wants,” declares the Lord. 39 “How it will be shattered! How they’ll wail! How Moab will turn his back in shame! Moab will be an object of ridicule and terror to all those around him.”

40 For this is what the Lord says:
“Look, like an eagle one will fly swiftly
    and spread his wings against Moab.
41 The towns[ae] will be captured
    and the strongholds seized.
On that day the hearts of the warriors of Moab
    will be like the heart of a woman in labor.
42 Moab will be destroyed as a nation[af]
    because he exalted himself against the Lord.
43 Terror, pit, and trap will be used[ag] against you
    who live in Moab,”
        declares the Lord.
44 “The one who flees from the terror
    will fall into a pit.
And the one who comes up out of the pit
    will be caught in a trap.
For I’ll bring upon her, that is upon Moab,
    the time of her[ah] punishment,”
        declares the Lord.
45 “The fugitives will stand without strength
    in the shadow of Heshbon,
for fire will go out from Heshbon
    and a flame from the middle of Sihon.
It will devour the forehead of Moab
    and the heads of the rebellious people.[ai]
46 How terrible for you, Moab!
    The people of Chemosh[aj] will perish.
Indeed, your sons will be taken into captivity,
    and your daughters as well.[ak]
47 But I’ll restore the fortunes of Moab in the latter days,”
    declares the Lord.

This concludes the judgment on Moab.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 48:2 Madmen was a town in Moab. The name sounds like the Heb. word silenced
  2. Jeremiah 48:6 So LXX; MT reads Aroer
  3. Jeremiah 48:7 Chemosh was the chief Moabite deity.
  4. Jeremiah 48:8 The Heb. lacks this.
  5. Jeremiah 48:9 Or take wing
  6. Jeremiah 48:9 I.e. as a sign of destruction
  7. Jeremiah 48:9 Lit. a desolation
  8. Jeremiah 48:10 The Heb. lacks shedding
  9. Jeremiah 48:11 The Heb. lacks like wine
  10. Jeremiah 48:12 The Heb. lacks vessels
  11. Jeremiah 48:14 The Heb. lacks ready
  12. Jeremiah 48:15 Lit. he
  13. Jeremiah 48:21 Moab was located on a plateau overlooking the Jordan River.
  14. Jeremiah 48:25 Lit. horn
  15. Jeremiah 48:27 Lit. found among thieves
  16. Jeremiah 48:27 The Heb. lacks in contempt
  17. Jeremiah 48:28 Or among the crags; i.e. on the face of a cliff
  18. Jeremiah 48:29 Lit. the elevation of his heart
  19. Jeremiah 48:32 Jazer was a town in Moab.
  20. Jeremiah 48:32 Sibmah was a town in Moab noted for its vineyards.
  21. Jeremiah 48:32 I.e. the Dead Sea
  22. Jeremiah 48:32 Lit. your vintage
  23. Jeremiah 48:33 Or from Carmel
  24. Jeremiah 48:33 The Heb. lacks flowing
  25. Jeremiah 48:33 Lit. He won’t tread
  26. Jeremiah 48:33 Lit. with a shout, shout
  27. Jeremiah 48:36 I.e. flutes were played as a part of mourning for the dead
  28. Jeremiah 48:37 I.e. heads were shaved as a sign of mourning
  29. Jeremiah 48:37 I.e. beards were cut short as a sign of mourning
  30. Jeremiah 48:37 I.e. people cut themselves as a sign of mourning
  31. Jeremiah 48:41 Or Kerioth
  32. Jeremiah 48:42 Lit. from being a nation
  33. Jeremiah 48:43 The Heb. lacks used
  34. Jeremiah 48:44 Lit. their
  35. Jeremiah 48:45 Lit. sons of tumult
  36. Jeremiah 48:46 Chemosh was the chief deity of Moab.
  37. Jeremiah 48:46 Lit. daughters into captivity

A Message About Moab(A)

48 Concerning Moab:(B)

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says:

“Woe to Nebo,(C) for it will be ruined.
    Kiriathaim(D) will be disgraced and captured;
    the stronghold[a] will be disgraced and shattered.
Moab will be praised(E) no more;
    in Heshbon[b](F) people will plot her downfall:
    ‘Come, let us put an end to that nation.’(G)
You, the people of Madmen,[c] will also be silenced;
    the sword will pursue you.
Cries of anguish arise from Horonaim,(H)
    cries of great havoc and destruction.
Moab will be broken;
    her little ones will cry out.[d]
They go up the hill to Luhith,(I)
    weeping bitterly as they go;
on the road down to Horonaim(J)
    anguished cries over the destruction are heard.
Flee!(K) Run for your lives;
    become like a bush[e] in the desert.(L)
Since you trust in your deeds and riches,(M)
    you too will be taken captive,
and Chemosh(N) will go into exile,(O)
    together with his priests and officials.(P)
The destroyer(Q) will come against every town,
    and not a town will escape.
The valley will be ruined
    and the plateau(R) destroyed,
    because the Lord has spoken.
Put salt(S) on Moab,
    for she will be laid waste[f];(T)
her towns will become desolate,
    with no one to live in them.

10 “A curse on anyone who is lax in doing the Lord’s work!
    A curse on anyone who keeps their sword(U) from bloodshed!(V)

11 “Moab has been at rest(W) from youth,
    like wine left on its dregs,(X)
not poured from one jar to another—
    she has not gone into exile.
So she tastes as she did,
    and her aroma is unchanged.
12 But days are coming,”
    declares the Lord,
“when I will send men who pour from pitchers,
    and they will pour her out;
they will empty her pitchers
    and smash her jars.
13 Then Moab will be ashamed(Y) of Chemosh,(Z)
    as Israel was ashamed
    when they trusted in Bethel.(AA)

14 “How can you say, ‘We are warriors,(AB)
    men valiant in battle’?
15 Moab will be destroyed and her towns invaded;
    her finest young men(AC) will go down in the slaughter,(AD)
    declares the King,(AE) whose name is the Lord Almighty.(AF)
16 “The fall of Moab is at hand;(AG)
    her calamity will come quickly.
17 Mourn for her, all who live around her,
    all who know her fame;(AH)
say, ‘How broken is the mighty scepter,(AI)
    how broken the glorious staff!’

18 “Come down from your glory
    and sit on the parched ground,(AJ)
    you inhabitants of Daughter Dibon,(AK)
for the one who destroys Moab
    will come up against you
    and ruin your fortified cities.(AL)
19 Stand by the road and watch,
    you who live in Aroer.(AM)
Ask the man fleeing and the woman escaping,
    ask them, ‘What has happened?’
20 Moab is disgraced, for she is shattered.
    Wail(AN) and cry out!
Announce by the Arnon(AO)
    that Moab is destroyed.
21 Judgment has come to the plateau(AP)
    to Holon,(AQ) Jahzah(AR) and Mephaath,(AS)
22     to Dibon,(AT) Nebo(AU) and Beth Diblathaim,
23     to Kiriathaim,(AV) Beth Gamul and Beth Meon,(AW)
24     to Kerioth(AX) and Bozrah(AY)
    to all the towns(AZ) of Moab, far and near.
25 Moab’s horn[g](BA) is cut off;
    her arm(BB) is broken,”
declares the Lord.

26 “Make her drunk,(BC)
    for she has defied(BD) the Lord.
Let Moab wallow in her vomit;(BE)
    let her be an object of ridicule.(BF)
27 Was not Israel the object of your ridicule?(BG)
    Was she caught among thieves,(BH)
that you shake your head(BI) in scorn(BJ)
    whenever you speak of her?
28 Abandon your towns and dwell among the rocks,
    you who live in Moab.
Be like a dove(BK) that makes its nest
    at the mouth of a cave.(BL)

29 “We have heard of Moab’s pride(BM)
    how great is her arrogance!—
of her insolence, her pride, her conceit
    and the haughtiness(BN) of her heart.
30 I know her insolence but it is futile,”
declares the Lord,
    “and her boasts(BO) accomplish nothing.
31 Therefore I wail(BP) over Moab,
    for all Moab I cry out,
    I moan for the people of Kir Hareseth.(BQ)
32 I weep for you, as Jazer(BR) weeps,
    you vines of Sibmah.(BS)
Your branches spread as far as the sea[h];
    they reached as far as[i] Jazer.
The destroyer has fallen
    on your ripened fruit and grapes.
33 Joy and gladness are gone
    from the orchards and fields of Moab.
I have stopped the flow of wine(BT) from the presses;
    no one treads them with shouts of joy.(BU)
Although there are shouts,
    they are not shouts of joy.

34 “The sound of their cry rises
    from Heshbon(BV) to Elealeh(BW) and Jahaz,(BX)
from Zoar(BY) as far as Horonaim(BZ) and Eglath Shelishiyah,
    for even the waters of Nimrim are dried up.(CA)
35 In Moab I will put an end
    to those who make offerings on the high places(CB)
    and burn incense(CC) to their gods,”
declares the Lord.
36 “So my heart laments(CD) for Moab like the music of a pipe;
    it laments like a pipe for the people of Kir Hareseth.(CE)
    The wealth they acquired(CF) is gone.
37 Every head is shaved(CG)
    and every beard(CH) cut off;
every hand is slashed
    and every waist is covered with sackcloth.(CI)
38 On all the roofs in Moab
    and in the public squares(CJ)
there is nothing but mourning,
    for I have broken Moab
    like a jar(CK) that no one wants,”
declares the Lord.
39 “How shattered(CL) she is! How they wail!
    How Moab turns her back in shame!
Moab has become an object of ridicule,(CM)
    an object of horror to all those around her.”

40 This is what the Lord says:

“Look! An eagle is swooping(CN) down,
    spreading its wings(CO) over Moab.
41 Kerioth[j](CP) will be captured
    and the strongholds taken.
In that day the hearts of Moab’s warriors(CQ)
    will be like the heart of a woman in labor.(CR)
42 Moab will be destroyed(CS) as a nation(CT)
    because she defied(CU) the Lord.
43 Terror(CV) and pit and snare(CW) await you,
    you people of Moab,”
declares the Lord.
44 “Whoever flees(CX) from the terror
    will fall into a pit,
whoever climbs out of the pit
    will be caught in a snare;
for I will bring on Moab
    the year(CY) of her punishment,”
declares the Lord.

45 “In the shadow of Heshbon
    the fugitives stand helpless,
for a fire has gone out from Heshbon,
    a blaze from the midst of Sihon;(CZ)
it burns the foreheads of Moab,
    the skulls(DA) of the noisy boasters.
46 Woe to you, Moab!(DB)
    The people of Chemosh are destroyed;
your sons are taken into exile
    and your daughters into captivity.

47 “Yet I will restore(DC) the fortunes of Moab
    in days to come,”
declares the Lord.

Here ends the judgment on Moab.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 48:1 Or captured; / Misgab
  2. Jeremiah 48:2 The Hebrew for Heshbon sounds like the Hebrew for plot.
  3. Jeremiah 48:2 The name of the Moabite town Madmen sounds like the Hebrew for be silenced.
  4. Jeremiah 48:4 Hebrew; Septuagint / proclaim it to Zoar
  5. Jeremiah 48:6 Or like Aroer
  6. Jeremiah 48:9 Or Give wings to Moab, / for she will fly away
  7. Jeremiah 48:25 Horn here symbolizes strength.
  8. Jeremiah 48:32 Probably the Dead Sea
  9. Jeremiah 48:32 Two Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts as far as the Sea of
  10. Jeremiah 48:41 Or The cities