They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.
They that fled {H5127} stood {H5975} under the shadow {H6738} of Heshbon {H2809} because of the force {H3581}: but a fire {H784} shall come forth {H3318} out of Heshbon {H2809}, and a flame {H3852} from the midst {H996} of Sihon {H5511}, and shall devour {H398} the corner {H6285} of Moab {H4124}, and the crown of the head {H6936} of the tumultuous {H7588} ones {H1121}.
"In the shadow of Heshbon the fugitives stop, exhausted. For fire breaks out from Heshbon, a flame from inside Sichon, consuming the sides and tops of the heads of Mo'av's noisy boasters.
“Those who flee will stand helpless in Heshbon’s shadow, because fire has gone forth from Heshbon and a flame from within Sihon. It devours the foreheads of Moab and the skulls of the sons of tumult.
They that fled stand without strength under the shadow of Heshbon; for a fire is gone forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and hath devoured the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.
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Numbers 24:17
I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. -
Numbers 21:28
For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, [and] the lords of the high places of Arnon. -
Numbers 21:21
¶ And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, -
Numbers 21:26
For Heshbon [was] the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon. -
Zechariah 10:4
Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together. -
Amos 2:2
But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth: and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, [and] with the sound of the trumpet: -
Matthew 21:42
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Jeremiah 48:45 pronounces a severe judgment against Moab, employing vivid imagery of fire and destruction. The verse highlights the complete futility of seeking refuge in places historically significant to their downfall, emphasizing the inescapable nature of God's wrath against a proud and idolatrous nation.
Context of Jeremiah 48:45
This verse is part of a lengthy prophecy in Jeremiah chapter 48, dedicated entirely to the judgment of Moab. Moab, a nation descended from Lot (Genesis 19:37), was a long-standing neighbor and often an adversary of Israel, known for its immense pride, wealth, and devotion to the idol Chemosh. The prophecy foretells Moab's utter devastation, stripping away its pride, cities, and people.
The mention of "Heshbon" and "Sihon" is particularly poignant. Heshbon was the capital city of Sihon, the Amorite king, who had conquered significant Moabite territory before Israel's entry into Canaan (Numbers 21:26-30). The verse suggests that those fleeing the initial onslaught would seek shelter under the "shadow of Heshbon," a place that historically represented conquest and now becomes the very source of their ultimate destruction, a powerful symbol of their inescapable doom.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "shadow" here, tsel (צֵל), often implies protection or shelter. The irony is poignant: what should offer shade and safety instead becomes the origin of a consuming fire. The "fire" (esh) and "flame" (lehabah) are common biblical metaphors for divine wrath and destruction, emphasizing the intensity and consuming nature of the judgment. The "tumultuous ones" translates the Hebrew bene-shaon (בְּנֵי שָׁאוֹן), literally "sons of noise" or "sons of tumult," likely referring to the boisterous, arrogant, and disorderly populace of Moab.
Practical Application
Jeremiah 48:45 serves as a powerful reminder for all generations: