Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 7 · Jeremiah · Chapter 48
CHAP. XLVIII.
AFter Egypt and Palestine threatned, now Moab is threatned also in many more words, after the manner of Isaiah an hundred years before Chap. 15. and 16. who was brief in speaking against Palestine, but large against Moab, having all the remarkable passes that are here, notably declaring them both to be lead by one and the same spirit, and by this their consent able to confirm the believing Jews faith, that these their insulting enemies that so much contemned them should shortly have revenge therefore taken upon them, and have no heart to do so any more. And speaking against Moab they both are so large, because the Moabites came of Lot, and so were kinsmen to Israel, for so much as Abraham, of whom Isaac and Israel came, was Lots uncle, and for their alliance to Israel they were spared in their passage towards the Land of Canaan, the Israelites being prohibited to take any of their countrey. For which favour they alwayes requited them ill by seeking their destruction, even in the time of Moses, hiring Balaam to curse them, and divers Numb. 21.times after banding with other Nations against them, as 2 Chron. 20. and oppressing them Judg. 3. Of the places mentioned here, as Nebo, see Isa. 15. 2. where also the high-places are spoken of, being the same with Misgab, here rendred by Junius, Civitas sita edito loco, in Vulgar Latine Fortis, an high Junius.and strong City, and whereas here is Kiriathaim, there is Kir vers. 1. which might be the same, only spoken there more shortly, here at large, it was a City in the Tribe of Reuben, Josh. 13. 19. but gotten afterwards by the Moabites. Junius also in his Annotations upon Misgab, calleth it Baal-bamoth high-places of Baal, of which see also Josh 13. 18.
In Heshbon they have devised evil. Isa. 15. 4. Touching Madmen, although Vers. 2.Vatablus and Junius make it a proper name, yet it is rendred in Vulgar Latine as an appellative, Silens conticesces, Thou shalt silently hold thy peace, and Junius writes not of any such City in Moab, nor Calvin, nor any other that I have seen, although many take it for a proper name of a City. But of Madmena we read Isa. 10. 31. being the same with Beersheha a boundary City of Israel, according to Adricom. and Jerom, to the signification whereof if we go, it is a dunghill, unlesse it be derived from foreign silent. Touching Horonaim, vers. 3. and Luhith, vers. 5. see Isa. 15. 5. touching Chemosh, it was the Vers. 7.Idol of the Moabites, Num. 21. 29. Jud. 11. 24.
Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord deceitfully or negligently. That is, Vers. 10.the work of destroying Moab; for although it was done by Nebuchadnezzar as the instrument, yet because God appointed him to it, the work was his. But Note. this rule holds to the doing of Justice in any other case without partiality, and to spiritual work of instruction, reproving and exhorting in the course of the Ministry, for Isaiah must lift up his voice as a Trumpet, and the Angel of the Church of Laodicea is censured for being neither hot nor cold, but Revel. 3.lukewarm.
Moab hath been at ease from his youth, he setled on his lees, &c. That is, since Vers. 11.Moab came to be a Nation, she hath lived in peace, when Israel was full of many troubles, so that Israel seeing it, especially in the time of this Captivity might be much discouraged at it, seeing they were Heathen, and professed not the service of God but of Idols. And living in quiet, as being on the other side of Jordan, and so remote from the dint of the wars, which had often shaken Israel, they waxed rich, and for their riches proud and full of vices, which is the Prophets meaning, when he saith, They had been setled upon Calvin.their lees, and not emptied from vessel to vessel] By a Metaphor, the more significatively to set forth their evil case; Thus Calvin: And it is generally true that the Moabites for many years had escaped without the troubles and vexations that Israel had by the Syrians, Arabians, Assyrians and Babylonians, and by one Kingdoms warring against another, although this quiet were not ever. For they were subdued by David, and long kept under, whereunto it is alluded Isa. 16. in bidding them bring a Lamb to the Ruler of the people, because they had the tribute of a thousand Lambs sometime imposed on them.
As Israel was ashamed of Bethel. That is, the golden Calf set up there by Vers. 13.Jeroboam, but when they were captived by the Assyrians, carried away.
Of Dibon vers. 18. see before Isa. 15. touching Aroer vers. 19. it was a City Vers. 18. Vers. 21.upon the River Arnon, Deut. 2. 36. of Johaz vers. 21. see Isa. 15. 4. and of Mephaath, Josh. 13. 18. of Holom we read nothing elsewhere, the rest of the Cities, vers. 22, 23, 24. are for the most part spoken of before, Isai. 15. and 16.
Make ye Moab drunken, and he shall wallow in his vomit. That is, with the cup Vers. 26.of Gods indignation according to Chap. 25. 27.
Was not Israel a derision unto thee, was he found amongst thieves? Here one Vers. 27.great sinne is laid to the Moabites charge, that they derided Israel when they were carried away Captive, as rejoycing exceedingly at it. Whereby we see Note. how greatly God is offended for any wrong done to his servants, and especially for making them a laughing stock, for even for this shall Moab suffer, and the wicked Separatists of England that deride our Ministry, calling them Baals Priests, and Antichristian. Was he found amongst thieves? that is, was he Calvin.any more a malefactour then thou (O Moab) it is true, the sins of Israel were many, but the sins of Moab as many, and to Moab, what harm had Israel done, surely none; and therefore in thus crying down Israel as worthy of so severe punishment they passed sentence against themselves, and it should come to them accordingly. When thou speakest of him thou skippest for joy. Hebr. Thou movest thy self, or art removed, or carried away] which some take, as a further declaration of Moabs sinne, being moved with joy at Israels misery, or with indignation at speaking of him, after the manner of malicious men: some as a denunciation of judgement by Moabs being carried away Captive also in revenge of this undeserved malice. Which last I rather preferre, for it may be read, Because since thy words against him, thou art carried away, that is, in Gods unutterable decree, and this judgement is nigh, even at the doors, and as certain as if now come.
Leave the Cities and dwell in the rock. That is, thou shalt by the enemy be Vers. 28.made to slee into desert places, there in caves in the rocks to hide thy self for fear, as a trembling Dove, that makes her nest where it may not be found, thus further aggravating their misery, when she shall be judged.
Vers. 29, 30. are the same with Isa. 16. 6. But Vers. 31. I will howl for Moab, Vers. 31.for the men of Kirheres. Isa. 16. 7. Moab shall howl for Moab, yet vers. 36. My heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, is the same with Isa. 16. 11. and for Moabs howling for it self, see vers. 39. wherefore Jeremiah saith herein the same only that Isaiah, where it is expounded already.
Vers. 32, 33, 34. are little differing from Isa. 16. 8, 9, 10.
Vers. 35. I will make to cease him that offers in high places, &c. Isa. 16. 12. When Moab is weary of offering in the high place, he shall come to his Sanctuary to pray, but shall not prevail. Whereby he intimateth, that their Idolatry was the main cause of all their misery, wherein although they spent their time in vain, yet they should pertinaciously go on, untill that necessity inforced them to leave it by their being beaten out of their Countrey. And this shall be the end of Note. all Idolaters, whom the Commandment of God and reason will not move to turn from so great abomination, destroying judgements shall, and then such superstition shall vanish.
He shall flee like an Eagle, and extend his wings over Moab. That is, Nebuchadnezzar, Vers. 40. Calvin.which is so spoken for his celerity in over-running the Countrey, and to shew that no part thereof should escape, but be made a prey unto him, for that he should extend his wings all over. And this is set forth by an Eagle, because Eagles are the fiercest birds of prey, being Kings, as it were, over all other birds, and because when Eagles appeared in battels amongst the Heathen of old, that side on which they appeared alwayes prevailed, so Eze. 17. 3. Thus Theodoret. And this was exemplified in the Locrians fighting against Theodor.the Crotoniats, an Eagle was seen before the Locrians, which departed not till they had overcome. When Germanicus a Roman Captain went to fight against the Hetrurians, seeing the violence of the enemy, he cast about how to sight for the most advantage against them, and by and by saw eight Eagles Corn. Tacit. l. 2.coming forth of the woods, he cried out, Go follow the Roman birds, the proper gods of the Legions, not doubting of the victory, and got it.
Kirioth and the strong holds thereof are taken. Thus also the Septuagint and Vers. 41.Vulgar Latin have it as the proper name of a place: But Vatablus, Calvin, Tigur. interpret. render it, The Cities, as meant of all the Cities. For having named divers particulars vers. 24, 25. lest any unnamed should think to escape, he now speaks of them all in general, and the word signifieth Cities. Whereas vers. 24. Kireoth is spoken of as one City amongst others, I grant, that one in particular might be so called, as being equivalent to many Cities, yet this makes not against the use of the word here, as an appellative, all the Cities hitherto not named being meant. That there was a City called Kireoth, the name Iscariot given to Judas the traitor doth imply, because it is compounded of Ish a man, and Carioth, as if one should say, A man of the City Carioth.
Fear, and the pit, and the snare shall be upon thee. Fear to make thee flee when Vers. 43.the enemy cometh, a pit whereinto thou shalt fall when thou fleest, and a snare to take thee, if thou happenest to get out of the pit again; it being meant that they should be in danger which way soever they took to escape, against the fond conceits of wicked men, who have many wayes in their heads of preserving themselves in time of Gods judgements coming upon them, but all in vain.
They stood in the shadow of Heshbon. Here he meeteth with another imagination of being preserved in the strong City Heshbon: but here he sheweth Vers. 45.that a fire shall break out, making that place too hot for them, whereby he means the wrath of God breaking out in the Caldees destroying there also, the Moabites fled thither, having no power to make any resistance, and the same fire of Gods wrath that goeth forth from thence shall devour in all the corners of Moab. Of a like speech of fire breaking out of Heshbon, see Numb. 21. 28.
Yet in the latter dayes I will bring again the Captivity of Moab. See the like promise made before to Egypt, Chap 46. 26. and how this was fulfilled, Zeph. Vers. 47.2. 9. and Joseph. Antiqu. lib. 13. cap. 21. Cyrus set the Moabites at liberty when he had taken Babylon, as he had done the Jews.