Jeremiah 48 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
Early sixth century BC, around the time of Babylon's campaigns against the small kingdoms east of the Jordan, roughly 605 to 582 BC
Location
Moab, the plateau country east of the Dead Sea, with its towns Heshbon, Dibon, Nebo, and the fortress of Kir-hareseth
Audience
Judeans who knew Moab as a neighbor, occasional ally, and frequent enemy just across the Jordan valley
Situation
A long and unusually mournful poem about the destruction of Moab, moving town by town across the plateau and describing vineyards trampled, harvest shouts silenced, and refugees fleeing. It closes with a promise that Moab's fortunes will one day be restored.
Key Background
Moab was famous for its vineyards and its terraced hill country, so the images of trampled vines and empty wine vats describe the loss of the national economy rather than just a food shortage. Chemosh was Moab's chief god, and the ancient assumption was that a defeated people meant a defeated god, which is why the poem pictures Chemosh himself going into exile with his priests. Long stretches of this chapter closely echo an earlier oracle about Moab in Isaiah, showing how prophetic poems were reused and reworked in later situations, and the mourning customs listed, shaved heads, cut hands, and rough sackcloth, were the standard public signs of grief.
About Moab. This is what who the God of Israel, says: "Devastation is coming for — it will be laid waste. Kiriathaim is captured and humiliated. The fortress is shattered and shamed."
"Moab's fame is gone. In they plotted her downfall: 'Come, let's cut her off as a nation.' You too, will be silenced — the sword will chase you down."
"Listen — screaming from Horonaim: 'Devastation! Total ruin!'"
"Moab is shattered. Her cry out in anguish."
"On the road up to Luhith they climb end. On the road down to Horonaim the screams of shattering fill the air."
"Run! Save yourselves! Be like a in the
"Because you trusted in your and your stockpiles, you too will be captured. Chemosh will go into exile — his priests and officials along with him."
"The destroyer will come to every town — not one city will escape. The valley will be ruined, the will be wrecked, just as Yahweh has spoken."
"Set up a for Moab — she is going to total ruin. Her towns will become wastelands with no one left living in them."
is the one who does halfheartedly. Cursed is the one who holds back his sword from bloodshed."
"Moab has been at ease since youth. He has on wine, never from to jar. He has gone into exile. So flavor has stayed the same, his aroma unchanged."
"So watch — the days are coming," declares Yahweh, "when I will send who will pour him out. They will empty his jars and smash his jugs to pieces."
"Then Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh just as the house of Israel was ashamed of — the thing they trusted in."
"How can you say, 'We are warriors, men strong enough for battle'?"
"Moab is destroyed — his towns have been overrun. His have gone down to the slaughter." This is the declaration of the King whose is who
"Moab's is near. His catastrophe is racing toward him."
"Grieve for him, all you neighbors. Everyone who knows his name, say: 'How the mighty is shattered — that broken.'"
"Come down from your glory and sit in the dirt, you who live in Dibon. Because the destroyer of Moab has come up against you and wrecked your fortifications."
"Stand by the road and watch, you who live in Aroer. Ask the man fleeing and the woman escaping, 'What happened?'"
"Moab is humiliated — yes, shattered. Wail and cry out! Announce it along the Arnon: Moab is destroyed."
has come to the plateau towns — to Holon, to Jahzah, to Mephaath,"
"to Dibon, to Nebo, to Beth-diblathaim,"
"to Kiriathaim, to Beth-gamul, to Beth-meon,"
"to to Bozrah, and to every town in the land of Moab, far and near."
"Moab's is cut off. His is broken," declares Yahweh.
"Get him drunk — because he Yahweh. Moab will in own vomit and become a joke
"Wasn't Israel a joke to you? Was he caught among thieves that you at him every time you spoke of him?"
"Abandon the towns and live in the cliffs, you who live in Moab. Be like a that nests in the of a
"We have heard about Moab's — how incredibly arrogant he is. His loftiness, his his arrogance, the way he carries himself above everyone."
"I know his arrogance," declares Yahweh, "and it to nothing. His boasting has accomplished real."
"That is why I for Moab. I cry out for all of Moab. I moan for the people of
"I weep for you more than Jazer weeps, you of Sibmah. Your branches stretched across the sea, reaching all the way to Jazer. The destroyer has fallen on your summer fruit and your grape harvest."
and gladness have been stripped from the orchards and fields of Moab. I have stopped the wine from flowing in the presses. No one the with of joy. The are there — but they are not of
"From the outcry at Heshbon to Elealeh, all the way to Jahaz they raise their voice — from Zoar to Horonaim to Eglath-shelishiyah. Even the of have up."
"I will put an end in Moab," declares Yahweh, "to anyone offering sacrifices at the places and burning incense to their gods."
"So my for a flute. My a for the people of Kir-hareseth. The wealth they built up has vanished."
"Every is shaved, every beard is cut off. Every hand is slashed, every waist is wrapped in
"On every rooftop in Moab and in every public square — nothing but mourning. Because I have shattered Moab like a wants," declares Yahweh.
"How shattered he is! Wail! How Moab has turned his back in shame! Moab has become a and a horror to everyone around him."
For this is what Yahweh says: "Look — something down an eagle, spreading its wings over Moab."
"The towns are captured, the strongholds seized. On that day the hearts of Moab's warriors will be the of a in
"Moab will be out as a people because he made himself great against Yahweh."
the and the trap are coming for you, people of Moab," declares Yahweh.
"Whoever flees from the terror will fall into the pit. Whoever climbs out of the pit will be caught in the trap. I will bring all of this on Moab in the I with them," declares Yahweh.
"In the shadow of Heshbon the exhausted fugitives stand helpless. But fire has come out of Heshbon, a blaze from the of Sihon. It has consumed Moab's forehead and the skulls of the
"It's over for you, Moab. The of are finished. Your sons have been taken captive, your daughters into exile."
"But I will the of Moab in the to come," declares Yahweh. Here ends the judgment on Moab.