ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Jeremiah 48

Jer. 48:1 The location of Nebo is uncertain; perhaps it was near Mount Nebo, 12 miles (19 km) east of the northernmost point of the Dead Sea. Kiriathaim was probably near Nebo. fortress. One or both of the cities were fortresses that could house refugees from the countryside. When such places fell, defeat was total.

Jer. 48:2 Heshbon was northeast of Mount Nebo.

Jer. 48:3 Horonaim. Location uncertain, perhaps in southwest Moab. If so, cities from north (vv. 1–2) to south have suffered in the invasion.

Jer. 48:5 ascent of Luhith. Perhaps in southern Moab on the way to Zoar. See Isa. 15:5. descent of Horonaim. Location unknown, but perhaps farther south than Luhith. See Isa. 15:5. The contrast between ascent and descent means the cry of destruction has reached the heights and depths of Moab.

Jer. 48:7 Chemosh was Moab’s national deity. Human sacrifice was part of Moab’s rituals for Chemosh (2 Kings 3:27). shall go into exile. Images of a defeated nation’s gods were often taken to the temples of the victorious nation (1 Sam. 5:1–12; Isa. 46:1–2).

Jer. 48:8 destroyer. Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar defeated Moab c. 582 b.c. Every city and region, valley and plain was devastated.

Jer. 48:10 Babylon will do its work as God’s instrument of judgment (27:1–15) with urgency, not laziness.

Jer. 48:11 Moab has survived many previous invasions (v. 9). Thus, Moab has become complacent and settled on his dregs (Zeph. 1:12), like wine allowed to age. Moab produced wine (Isa. 16:8–11), so the comparison is appropriate.

Jer. 48:12 pour him . . . break his jars. Babylon will empty Moab like one pours wine from a jar. It will smash Moab like one smashes and disposes of old jars (13:12–14; 19:1–15).

Jer. 48:13 ashamed of Chemosh. Because this god cannot save (10:1–25). ashamed of Bethel. At Bethel, Jeroboam I established one of his chief high places in his new religion (1 Kings 12:25–33). Worship there was part of the reason God judged Israel (2 Kings 17:9).

Jer. 48:15 See 46:18. The Lord is the King of all nations. Even Babylon must obey him (see 27:1–15).

Jer. 48:16 near at hand. See v. 8. Moab had only a few years to change its ways.

Jer. 48:20 The fleeing ones explain that Moab is broken (v. 12). The Arnon is a river just south of Aroer (v. 19).

Jer. 48:21–24 All of Moab’s cities are lost in this judgment time.

Jer. 48:26 drunk. By drinking the cup of God’s wrath (25:15–26). wallow in his vomit. See 25:27.

Jer. 48:29–30 the pride of Moab. See Isa. 16:6.

Jer. 48:31 Compare Isa. 16:7, 11. God mourns over the necessity of judging Moab.

Jer. 48:33 The shout of joy heard when new wine is made will be replaced by the shouts of warriors (25:30–31). See Isa. 16:8–10.

Jer. 48:35 God’s judgment will bring Moab’s idolatry to an end (see Isa. 15:2, 5).

Jer. 48:36 my heart moans. God mourns that Moab’s people will lose the possessions they spent a lifetime collecting. Though God in his justice brings righteous judgment against sinners and takes delight in the purity and holiness of his judgment, he also feels sorrow at the destruction that the judgment brings upon human beings created in his image (see Ezek. 18:32; 33:11; Matt. 23:37; Luke 19:41).

Jer. 48:40 spread his wings against. Babylon will swoop down on Moab like a bird capturing prey (see 49:22; Lam. 4:19; Ezek. 17:3–8).

Jer. 48:42 Moab . . . magnified itself against the Lord by failing to accept God’s word concerning Babylon’s role as a divine instrument of judgment. See 27:1–15.

Jer. 48:43–44 Moab will be hunted down and captured like animals. See Isa. 24:17–18; Lam. 3:52–55; Amos 5:18–20.

Jer. 48:45 house of Sihon. See Num. 21:21. forehead . . . crown. Probably refers to Moab’s northern regions.

Jer. 48:47 God makes the same promise of restoration to Moab that he did to Judah in 29:14. The latter days most likely refers to a time when Moabites will take refuge in the Messiah (see 49:6, 39; Isa. 16:3–5).