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Translation
King James Version
And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting.
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KJV (with Strong's)
And joy H8057 and gladness H1524 is taken H622 from the plentiful field H3759, and from the land H776 of Moab H4124; and I have caused wine H3196 to fail H7673 from the winepresses H3342: none shall tread H1869 with shouting H1959; their shouting H1959 shall be no shouting H1959.
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Complete Jewish Bible
Gladness and joy have been removed from productive fields and the land of Mo'av. "I have stopped the flow of wine from the vats and the shouts of those who tread the grapes - those shouts of joy are stilled."
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Berean Standard Bible
Joy and gladness are removed from the orchard and from the fields of Moab. I have stopped the flow of wine from the presses; no one treads them with shouts of joy; their shouts are not for joy.
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American Standard Version
And gladness and joy is taken away from the fruitful field and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to cease from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; the shouting shall be no shouting.
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World English Bible Messianic
Gladness and joy is taken away from the fruitful field and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to cease from the wine presses: no one shall tread with shouting; the shouting shall be no shouting.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
And ioye, and gladnesse is taken from the plentifull fielde, and from the land of Moab: and I haue caused wine to faile from the winepresse: none shall treade with shouting: their shouting shall be no shouting.
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Young's Literal Translation
And removed hath been joy and gladness From the fruitful field, Even from the land of Moab, And wine from wine-presses I have caused to cease, Shouting doth not proceed, The shouting is no shouting!
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In the KJVVerse 20,114 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Jeremiah 48:33 serves as a poignant declaration of God's comprehensive judgment against Moab, vividly portraying the complete cessation of national joy, prosperity, and celebration. This verse specifically highlights the divine removal of agricultural abundance, symbolized by the "plentiful field," and the joyous communal activities associated with the grape harvest, particularly the treading of wine in the presses. It signifies a profound shift from a state of vibrant festivity and perceived security to one of desolate silence and despair, underscoring the severity of God's hand against Moab's deep-seated pride and idolatry.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Jeremiah 48 is a meticulously crafted oracle dedicated solely to the pronouncement of divine judgment upon Moab, forming part of a larger collection of prophecies against foreign nations (Jeremiah 46-51). This chapter stands as a detailed indictment, following oracles against Egypt and Philistia, and preceding those targeting Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, and Elam. Within chapter 48 itself, verses 31-39 intensify the theme of lamentation and mourning, painting a stark picture of the widespread sorrow that will engulf Moab, replacing its former arrogance and prosperity. Verse 33, in particular, functions as a powerful microcosm of this overarching theme, focusing on the agricultural and celebratory aspects that were integral to Moabite identity and well-being, thereby emphasizing the totality of their impending loss. The preceding verses, such as Jeremiah 48:29-30, lay the groundwork by highlighting Moab's excessive pride, which is the root cause of the judgment described here.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: Moab was an ancient nation situated east of the Dead Sea, characterized by its fertile agricultural lands, especially renowned for its vineyards and olive groves. This agricultural richness was the bedrock of their economic prosperity and contributed significantly to their national pride. Culturally, the grape harvest and subsequent wine production were not merely economic activities but deeply embedded communal celebrations, marked by boisterous shouting, singing, and feasting—expressions of joy and gratitude for the land's bounty. However, Moab was also deeply steeped in polytheism, with the worship of Chemosh, their national deity, being paramount (Numbers 21:29). The judgment articulated in Jeremiah 48 is a direct consequence of their persistent arrogance, complacency, and defiance of Yahweh, as vividly illustrated in verses like Jeremiah 48:7 and Jeremiah 48:11. The divine removal of their agricultural joy and celebratory sounds directly targets a cornerstone of their national identity and perceived security, revealing the emptiness of their trust in idols and material wealth.
  • Key Themes: Jeremiah 48:33 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes prevalent throughout Jeremiah's prophecies against Moab and the broader prophetic corpus. Foremost among these is the theme of Divine Judgment for national pride and idolatry, demonstrating God's sovereign intervention to dismantle the very sources of a nation's perceived strength and joy when they rebel against Him. The verse also underscores the Loss of Joy and Prosperity, as the symbols of Moab's flourishing—its "plentiful field" and "winepresses"—are rendered barren and silent. This cessation of celebratory activities highlights the pervasive theme of Desolation and Lamentation, where the vibrant sounds of harvest are replaced by an eerie quiet or cries of distress, mirroring the spiritual emptiness that results from a rejection of the true God. The verse serves as a stark reminder that earthly blessings, when not received with gratitude and humility before God, can be swiftly and justly removed (Hosea 2:11-12).

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • joy (Hebrew, simchâh', H8057): This term denotes blithesomeness or glee, often specifically associated with religious or festival rejoicing. In the context of Jeremiah 48:33, "joy" refers to the deep, communal happiness and festive atmosphere that characterized Moab's bountiful harvests, particularly the grape treading. Its removal signifies not merely an economic downturn but a profound emotional and spiritual void, indicating the cessation of all occasions for national merriment.
  • tread (Hebrew, dârak', H1869): A primitive root meaning to tread, implying to walk or, in a specific context, to string a bow. Here, it precisely refers to the act of treading grapes in the winepress. This was a laborious yet highly communal and joyous activity, central to the wine-making process. The cessation of this action directly indicates the complete halt of wine production and, by extension, the festive gatherings and economic prosperity associated with it.
  • shouting (Hebrew, hêydâd', H1959): This word signifies acclamation or a shout. It specifically refers to the loud, joyful cries and exclamations that accompanied harvest celebrations, especially the treading of grapes. The powerful repetition and negation in the latter part of the verse—"none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting"—underscore the absolute and devastating silence that will replace the former sounds of merriment, emphasizing the utter absence of any cause for joy.

Verse Breakdown

  • "And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab;": This opening clause establishes the core message of profound national loss. "Joy" (simchâh) and "gladness" (gîyl) represent the emotional and spiritual vibrancy of Moab, directly linked to their agricultural prosperity, epitomized by the "plentiful field" (karmel, H3759). The phrase "is taken" (ʼâçaph, H622) indicates a deliberate, decisive act of removal, not a natural decline, signifying the end of Moab's flourishing state and the very sources of its national pride and delight.
  • "and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses:": This clause specifies the primary conduit through which the lost joy manifests—the failure of wine production. The explicit "I" ("I have caused... to fail," shâbath, H7673) underscores God's direct agency in this judgment, highlighting His sovereignty over all creation and human endeavors. "Wine" (yayin, H3196) was a staple, a symbol of prosperity, and a catalyst for celebration, and its failure from the "winepresses" (yeqeb, H3342) points to the destruction of the very infrastructure of their agricultural success and the cessation of the joyous labor associated with it.
  • "none shall tread with shouting; [their] shouting [shall be] no shouting.": This final, emphatic clause powerfully reinforces the complete cessation of celebration. "Tread" (dârak, H1869) refers to the treading of grapes, a communal activity traditionally accompanied by "shouting" (hêydâd, H1959), a joyful acclamation. The striking repetition and negation ("no shouting") amplify the sense of absolute silence and absence of festivity. It implies that any sound that might emanate from the winepresses will not be one of joy, but perhaps of despair, or simply an eerie void, signifying the profound and irreversible loss of Moab's former mirth and the very capacity for celebration.

Literary Devices

Jeremiah 48:33 masterfully employs several potent Literary Devices to communicate the depth of Moab's impending desolation and the divine nature of its cause. Imagery is central, painting vivid pictures of the "plentiful field" and "winepresses," which were not merely agricultural sites but potent symbols of Moab's prosperity, national identity, and joyous celebrations. The subsequent description of these elements being "taken" and "fail" creates a stark Contrast, emphasizing the severity of the judgment by juxtaposing past abundance with future barrenness. Repetition is powerfully utilized in the phrase "shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting." This is a sophisticated form of Polyptoton, where the same root word ("shouting") is repeated in different grammatical forms, combined with a striking Antithesis or Irony. This rhetorical device not only amplifies the sense of utter loss but also suggests that the very sound once emblematic of their joy will be either completely absent or transformed into its antithesis—a sound of lament or silence. The phrase also functions as a Hyperbole, exaggerating the absence of joy to underscore the complete and overwhelming nature of the divine judgment. Finally, the explicit declaration "I have caused wine to fail" employs Divine Agency, unequivocally attributing the calamity directly to God, thereby underscoring the theological truth that this is not mere misfortune but a deliberate and just act of divine retribution.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Jeremiah 48:33 stands as a profound theological statement regarding divine sovereignty, the consequences of national pride, and the deceptive nature of idolatry. It unequivocally illustrates that God, as the ultimate source of all blessings, possesses the absolute power to withdraw them when nations persist in rebellion and self-exaltation. The removal of joy and prosperity in Moab is a direct consequence of their misplaced trust in their own wealth, agricultural bounty, and false gods, rather than in the one true God. This judgment highlights the transient nature of worldly pleasures and possessions, particularly when they become objects of idolatry or sources of arrogant self-reliance, displacing the Creator. It powerfully underscores the biblical principle that true, lasting joy is not found in material abundance or human celebration, but in a right relationship with the Lord. Moreover, it reveals that God's judgment often targets the very things in which people place their ultimate security and delight, demonstrating His righteous indignation against sin and His commitment to upholding His glory.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Jeremiah 48:33 offers a sobering and timeless reflection on the true sources of human joy and security. For Moab, their national joy was intrinsically tied to their agricultural prosperity and the vibrant festive celebrations it enabled. When God's righteous judgment descended, these earthly foundations of happiness crumbled, leaving behind only desolate silence and profound sorrow. This serves as a potent warning for us today: if our joy is primarily derived from temporal blessings, material possessions, worldly achievements, or external circumstances, it is inherently vulnerable to loss, disappointment, and the inevitable changes of life. True, enduring joy, as consistently taught throughout Scripture, is not contingent upon external conditions but flows from a deep, abiding, and Spirit-filled relationship with God Himself. When we anchor our hope, delight, and ultimate satisfaction in Him, our joy remains steadfast and unwavering, even amidst life's most challenging trials, for He is an unchanging wellspring of peace, contentment, and eternal delight. This verse compels us to honestly examine our hearts, to discern where our ultimate trust and satisfaction truly lie, and to prayerfully reorient our affections towards the eternal Giver of all good things, rather than becoming captivated by the fleeting gifts themselves.

Questions for Reflection

  • What are the primary sources of joy in my life, and how resilient are they against the inevitable uncertainties and trials of this world?
  • In what subtle or overt ways might I be placing my ultimate trust or finding my deepest satisfaction in things that are temporary or external to God?
  • How does the concept of divine judgment against national pride and idolatry challenge my own assumptions about prosperity, success, and what constitutes true blessing?
  • What practical, spiritual disciplines can I cultivate to ensure my joy is rooted in God's unchanging character and promises, rather than in fleeting circumstances?

FAQ

What was Moab's primary sin that led to such severe judgment?

Answer: Moab's primary sin that provoked such severe divine judgment was their pervasive and unyielding pride, coupled with their deep-seated idolatry. The prophet Jeremiah consistently highlights Moab's haughtiness, their arrogant self-reliance, and their misplaced trust in their own wealth, military strength, and the false god Chemosh. Jeremiah 48:7 explicitly states, "For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken." Furthermore, their complacency and spiritual stagnation are highlighted in Jeremiah 48:11: "Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed." This undisturbed state led to a hardened heart and persistent resistance to God's ways. The judgment described in Jeremiah 48 was a direct, righteous consequence of their persistent rebellion, self-exaltation, and refusal to acknowledge the Lord.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Jeremiah 48:33, with its stark depiction of the removal of joy and the cessation of celebration due to divine judgment, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the profound contrast between the fleeting, vulnerable joys of a world under sin and the eternal, unshakeable joy found exclusively in Christ. While Moab's earthly celebrations ceased due to their rebellion and idolatry, the advent of Jesus inaugurates a new covenant era of joy—a joy not dependent on physical harvests or material prosperity, but on spiritual redemption and reconciliation with God. He is the true "vine" (John 15:1) from whom flows the "wine" of new covenant blessing, symbolized by His own blood, which was shed for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:28). The "shouting" that ceased in Moab is gloriously replaced by the "shouts of joy" for salvation found in Christ (Psalm 32:11) and the "joy in the Holy Ghost" promised to believers (Romans 14:17). Furthermore, the judgment against Moab serves as a powerful foreshadowing of the ultimate judgment against all sin and rebellion, a judgment that Christ perfectly bore on the cross, thereby offering a path to escape the wrath to come for all who believe (Romans 5:9). Through His atoning work and resurrection, believers are granted access to "fullness of joy" in God's presence (Psalm 16:11) and an "inexpressible and glorious joy" (1 Peter 1:8) that transcends earthly circumstances, ensuring that for those united with Him, their "shouting" will indeed be an eternal "shouting" of praise, gladness, and worship.

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Commentary on Jeremiah 48 verses 14–47

I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points

The destruction is here further prophesied of very largely and with a great copiousness and variety of expression, and very pathetically and in moving language, designed not only to awaken them by a national repentance and reformation to prevent the trouble, or by a personal repentance and reformation to prepare for it, but to affect us with the calamitous state of human life, which is liable to such lamentable occurrences, and with the power of God's anger and the terror of his judgments, when he comes forth to contend with a provoking people. In reading this long roll of threatenings, and meditating on the terror of them, it will be of more use to us to keep this in our eye, and to get our hearts thereby possessed with a holy awe of God and of his wrath, than to enquire critically into all the lively figures and metaphors here used.

I. It is a surprising destruction, and very sudden, that is here threatened. They were very secure, thought themselves strong for war and able to deal with the most powerful enemy (Jer 48:14), and yet the calamity is near, and he is not able to keep it off, nor so much as to keep the enemy long in parley, for the affliction hastens fast (Jer 48:16) and will soon come to a crisis. The enemy shall fly as an eagle, so swiftly, so strongly shall he come (Jer 48:40), as an eagle flies upon his prey, and he shall spread his wings, the wings of his army, over Moab; he shall surround it, that none may escape. The strong-holds of Moab are taken by surprise (Jer 48:41), so that all their strength stood them in no stead; and this made the hearts even of their mighty men to fail, for they had not time to recollect the considerations that might have animated them. It requires a more than ordinary degree of courage not to be afraid of sudden fear.

II. It is an utter destruction, and such as lays Moab all in ruins: Moab is spoiled (Jer 48:15), quite spoiled, is confounded and broken down (Jer 48:20); their cities are laid in ashes, or seized by the enemy so that they are forced to quit them, Jer 48:15. Divers cities are here named, upon which judgment has come, and the list concludes with an et cetera - and such like. What occasion was there for him to mention more particulars when it comes upon all the cities of Moab in general, far and near? Jer 48:21-24. Note, When iniquity is universal we have reason to expect that calamity should be so too. The kingdom is deprived of its dignity and authority: The horn of Moab is cut off, the horn of its strength and power, both offensive and defensive; his arm is broken, that he can neither give a blow nor prevent a blow, Jer 48:25. Is the youth of the kingdom the strength and beauty of it? His chosen young men have gone down to the slaughter, Jer 48:15. They went down to the battle promising themselves that they should return victorious; but God told them that they went down to the slaughter; so sure are those to fall against whom God fights. In a word, Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, Jer 48:42. Those that are enemies to God's people will soon be made no people.

III. It is a lamentable destruction; it will be just matter of mourning and will turn joy into heaviness. 1. The prophet that foretels it does himself lament it, and mourns at the very foresight of it, from a principle of compassion to his fellow-creatures and concern for human nature. The prophet will himself howl for Moab; his very heart shall mourn for them (Jer 48:31); he will weep for the vine of Sibmah (Jer 48:32); his heart shall sound like pipes for Moab, Jer 48:36. Though the destruction of Moab would prove him a true prophet, yet he could not think of it without trouble. The ruin of sinners is no pleasure to God, and therefore should be a pain to us; even those that give warning of it should lay it to heart. These passages, and many others in this chapter, are much the same with what Isaiah had used in his prophecies against Moab (Isa 15:1-9, Isa 16:1-14); for, though there was a long distance of time between that prophecy and this, yet they were both dictated by one and the same Spirit, and it becomes God's prophets to speak the language of those that went before them. It is no plagiarism sometimes to make use of old expressions, provided it be with new affections and applications. 2. The Moabites themselves shall lament it; it will be the greatest mortification and grief imaginable to them. Those that sat in glory, in the midst of wealth, and mirth, and all manner of pleasure, shall sit in thirst, in a dry and thirsty land, where no water, no comfort is, Jer 48:18. It is time for them to sit in thirst, and inure themselves to hardship, when the spoiler has come, who will strip them of all, and empty them. The Moabites in the remote corners of the country, that are furthest from the danger, will be inquisitive to know how the matter goes, what news from the army, will ask every one that escapes, What is done? Jer 48:19. And when they are told that all is gone, that the invader is the conqueror, they will howl and cry, in bitterness and anguish of spirit (Jer 48:20); they will abandon themselves to solitude, to lament the desolations of their country; they will leave the cities that used to be full of mirth, and dwell in the rock where they may have their full of melancholy; they shall no more be singing birds, but mourning birds, like the dove (Jer 48:28); the doves of the valley, Eze 7:16. Let those that give themselves up to mirth know that God can soon change their note. Their sorrow shall be so very extreme that they shall make themselves bald and cut themselves (Jer 48:37), which were expressions of a desperate grief, such as tempted men to be even their own destroyers. Job indeed rent his mantle and shaved his head, but he did not cut himself. When the flood of passion rises ever so high wisdom and grace must set bounds to it, set banks to it, to restrain it from such barbarities. The sorrow shall be universal (Jer 48:38): There shall be a general lamentation upon all the house-tops of Moab, where they worshipped their idols, to whom they shall in vain bemoan themselves, and in all the streets, where they conversed with one another, for they shall be free in communicating their grief and fears and in propagating them; for they see all lost: "I have broken Moab like a vessel wherein is no pleasure, which shall not be regarded and cannot be pieced again." That which Moab used to rejoice in was their pleasant fruits and the abundance of their rich wines. The delights of sense were all the matter of their joy. Take away these, destroy their gardens and vineyards, and you make all their mirth to cease, Hos 2:11, Hos 2:12. There is great weeping when their plants are transplanted, have gone over the sea (Jer 48:32), are carried into other countries, to be planted there. The spoiler has fallen upon thy summer-fruits and upon thy vintage, and it is this that makes the cry of Heshbon to reach even to Elealeh, Jer 48:34. Take joy and gladness from the plentiful field, and you take it from the land of Moab, Jer 48:33. If the wine fail from the wine-presses, that used to be trodden with acclamations of joy, all their gladness is cut off. Take away that shouting, and there shall be no shouting. Note, Those who make the delights of sense their chief joy, their exceeding joy, since these are things they may easily be deprived of in a little time subject themselves to the tyranny of the greatest grief; whereas those who rejoice in God may do that even when the fig-tree does not blossom and there is no fruit in the vine. These Moabites lost not only their wine, but their water too: Even the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate (Jer 48:34), and therefore their grief grew extravagantly loud and noisy, and their lamentations were heard in all placed like the lowing of a heifer of three years old. The expressions here are borrowed from Isa 15:5, Isa 15:6. 3. All their neighbours are called to mourn with them, and to condole with them on their ruin (Jer 48:17): All you that are about him bemoan him, Let him have that allay to his grief, let him see himself pities by the adjoining countries. Nay, let those at a distance, who do but know his name and have heard of his reputation, take notice of his fall, and say, How is the strong staff broken, whose strength was the terror of its enemies, and the beautiful rod, whose beauty was the pride of its friends! Let the nations take notice of this and receive instruction. Let none be puffed up with or put confidence in their strength or beauty, for neither will be a security against the judgments of God.

IV. It is a shameful destruction and such as shall expose them to contempt: Moab is made drunk (Jer 48:26), and he that is made drunk is made vile; he shall wallow in his vomit, and become an odious spectacle, and shalljustly be in derision. Let the Moabites be intoxicated with the cup of God's wrath till they stagger and fall, and be brought to their wits' end, and make themselves ridiculous by the wildness not only of their passions but of their counsels. And again (Jer 48:39): Moab shall be a derision and a dismaying to all about him; they shall laugh at the fall of the pomp and power he was so proud of. Note, Those that are haughty are preparing reproach and ignominy for themselves.

V. It is the destruction of that which is dear to them, not only of their summer fruits and their vintage, but of their wealth (Jer 48:36): The riches that he has gotten have perished, though he thought he had laid them up very safely, and promised himself a long enjoyment of them, yet they are gone. Note, The money that is hoarded in the chest is as liable to perishing as the summer-fruits that lie exposed in the open field. Riches are shedding things, and, like dust as they are, slip through our fingers even when we are in most care to hold them fast and gripe them hard. Yet this is not the worst; even those whose religion was false and foolish were fond of it above any thing, and, such as it was, would not part with it; and therefore, though it was really a promise, yet to them it was a threatening (Jer 48:35), that God will cause to cease him that offers in the high places, for the high places shall be destroyed, and the fields of offerings shall be laid waste, and the priests themselves, who burnt incense to their gods, shall be slain or carried into captivity, Jer 48:7. Note, It is only the true religion, and the worship and service of the true God, that will stand us in stead in a day of trouble.

VI. It is a just and righteous destruction, and that which they have deserved and brought upon themselves by sin.

1.The sin which they had been most notoriously guilty of, and for which God now reckoned with them, was pride. It is mentioned six times, Jer 48:29. We have all heard of the pride of Moab; his neighbours took notice of it; it has testified to his face, as Israel's did; he is exceedingly proud, and grows worse and worse. Observe his loftiness, his arrogancy, his pride, his haughtiness; the multiplying of words to the same purport intimates in how many instances he discovered his pride, and how offensive it was both to God and man. It was charged upon them Isa, Jer 16:6, but here it is expressed more largely that there. Since then they had been under humbling providences, and yet were unhumbled; nay, they grew more arrogant and haughty, which plainly marked them for that utter destruction of which pride is the forerunner. Two instances are here given of the pride of Moab: - (1.) He had conducted himself insolently towards God. He must be brought down with shame (Jer 48:26), for he has magnified himself against the Lord; and again (Jer 48:42), he shall be destroyed from being a people, for this very reason. The Moabites preferred Chemosh before Jehovah, and thought themselves a match for the God of Israel, whom they set at defiance. (2.) He had conducted himself scornfully towards Israel, particularly in their late troubles; therefore Moab shall fall into the same troubles; into the same hands, and be a derision, for Israel was a derision to him, Jer 48:26, Jer 48:27. The generality of the Moabites, when they heard of the calamities and desolations of their neighbours the Jews, instead of lamenting them, rejoiced in them, they skipped for joy. Many, in such a case, entertain in their minds a secret pleasure at the fall of those they had a dislike to, who yet have so much discretion as to conceal it; it is so invidious a thing. But the Moabites industriously proclaimed their joy, and avowed the enmity they had to Israel, triumphing over every Israelite they met with in distress and laughing at him, which was as inhuman as it was impious and an impudent affront both to man, whose nature they were of, and to God, whose name they were called by. Note, Those that deride others in distress will justly and certainly, sooner or later, come into distress themselves, and be had in derision. Those that are glad at calamities, especially the calamities of God's church, shall not long go unpunished.

2.Besides this they had been guilty of malice against God's people, and treachery in their dealings with them, Jer 48:30. They made a jest of the desolations of Judah and Jerusalem, and pretended, when they laughed at them, that it was but in sport and to make themselves merry; but, says God, "I know his wrath; I know it comes from the old enmity he has to the seed of Abraham and the worshippers of the true God. I know he thinks these calamities of the Jewish nation will end in their utter extirpation. He now tells the Chaldeans what bad people the Jews are, and irritates them against them; but it shall not be so as he expects; his lies shall not so effect it. The nation, whose fall they triumph in, shall recover itself." Some read it, I know his rage. Is it not so? Is he not very furious against the people of God? And his lies I know also. Do they not do so? Do they not belie them? Note, All the fury and all the falsehood of the church's enemies are perfectly known to God, whatever the pretenses are with which they think to cover them, Isa 37:28.

VII. It is a complicated destruction, and by one instance after another will at length be completed; for those that make their escape from one judgment shall perish by another: Fear, and the pit, and the snare, shall be upon them, Jer 48:43. There shall be fear to drive them into the pit, and a snare to hold them fast in it when they are in it; so that they shall neither escape from the destruction nor escape out of it. What was said of sinners in general (Isa 24:17, Isa 24:18), that those who flee from the fear shall fall into the pit and those who come up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare, is here particularly foretold concerning the sinners of Moab (Jer 48:44); for it is the year of their visitation, when God comes to reckon with them, and will be known by the judgments which he executes, for he is the King whose name is the Lord of hosts (Jer 48:15); he is not only the King who has authority to give judgment, but he is the Lord of hosts, who is able to do what he has determined. The figurative expressions used Jer 48:44 are explained in one instance (Jer 48:45): Those that fled out of the villages for fear of the enemy's forces put themselves under the shadow of Heshbon, stood there, and supposed they stood safely, as now armies sometimes retire under the cannon of a fortified city, and it is their protection; but here they should be disappointed, for, when they flee out of the pit, they fall into the snare; Heshbon, which they thought would shelter them, devours them as Moses had foretold long since (Num 21:28): A fire has gone out of Heshbon, and a flame from the city of Sihon, and devours those that come from all the corners of Moab, and fastens upon the crown of the head of the tumultuous noisy ones, or of the revellers, or children of noise, not meant of the rude clamorous multitude, but of the great men, who bluster, and hector, and make a noise; the judgments of God shall light on them. Shall we hear the conclusion of this whole matter? We have it (Jer 48:46): "Woe be to thee, O Moab! thou art undone; the people that worship Chemosh perish, and are gone; farewell, Moab. Thy sons and daughters, the hopes of the next generation, have gone into captivity after the Jews, whose calamities they rejoiced in."

VIII. Yet it is not a perpetual destruction. The chapter concludes with a short promise of their return out of captivity in the latter days. God, who brings them into captivity, will bring again their captivity, Jer 48:47. Thus tenderly does God deal with Moabites, much more with his own people! Even with Moabites he will not contend for ever, nor be always wrath. When Israel returned, Moab did; and perhaps the prophecy was intended chiefly for the encouragement of God's people to hope for that salvation which even Moabites shall share in. Yet it looks further, to gospel times; the Jews themselves refer it to the days of the Messiah; then the captivity of the Gentiles, under the yoke of sin and Satan, shall be brought back by divine grace, which shall make them free, free indeed. This prophecy concerning Moab is long, but here it ends; it ends comfortably: Thus far is the judgment of Moab.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 14–47. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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