Jeremiah 48:1

Moab. This country occupied the tableland to the east of the Dead Sea. Its people were related to the Hebrews, being descended from Lot, the nephew of Abraham (Gen. 19:36, 37). When Israel settled in Canaan, the territory of Moab lay between the river Amon and the brook Zered. The tribe of Reuben occupied the country to the north. David included Moab in his empire (2 Sam. 8:2, 11, 12; 1 Chron. 18:2, 11). The northern kingdom of Israel attempted to maintain a measure of control over it (see on 2 Kings 1:1). At the end of Ahab’s reign, when Ahaziah ascended the throne, a certain Mesha revolted against Israel and established Moab as an independent kingdom (2 Kings 3:4-27), including in his territories that which had previously been held by the tribe of Reuben. He recorded his conquests on a slab of black basalt, today known as the Moabite Stone. This inscription was discovered in 1868 at Dibon, and is now in the Louvre at Paris (see Additional Note on 2 Kings 3). Moab continued as an independent kingdom until the Westland was overwhelmed by the Assyrians in the 8th century B.C.

Chapter 48 lists a number of Moabite cities to come under the scourge of the Babylonians. Of the 25 places named, 21 can be reasonably identified. All but four of these places were within the territories north of the Amon which were assigned to Israel at the time of the settlement of Canaan, and which were taken from her upon the revolt of Moab in the 9th century B.C. In fact, Mesha lists 11 of the places mentioned in this chapter as among those he took from Israel. He claims, furthermore, to have added 100 towns to his land (see Additional Note on 2 Kings 3). Thus Jeremiah seems particularly to describe God’s judgments upon those Moabites living in the former territory of the tribe of Reuben.

Nebo. Not to be confused with the Babylonian god (Isa. 46:1), or Mt. Nebo (Deut. 32:49). Here Nebo designates a city, as in Num. 32:38, probably lying near Mt. Nebo, east of the northern end of the Dead Sea. On the Moabite Stone, Mesha mentions taking this city from Israel (see Additional Note on 2 Kings 3).

Kiriathaim. A place about 7 mi. (11.2 km. north of the river Amon, now known as el-Qereiyat. Mesha refers to it under the name Qiryathan, and claims to have built it (see Additional Note on 2 Kings 3).

Misgab. The site of Misgab is unknown. The Hebrew word appears in Isa. 25:12, translated by the KJV as “high fort.”

Heshbon. A city 15 1/4 mi. (24.4 km.) east-northeast of the north end of the Dead Sea. It had been in the territory of Reuben, taken from Sihon the Amorite when Israel entered Canaan (see Num. 32:33, 37). But Jeremiah’s Heshbon was no longer in Jewish hands. Excavation of Tell Hesban has yielded remains from the time of Jeremiah and of the early monarchy, when it was renowned for its fishpools (S. of Sol. 7:4).

Devised. Heb. chashab. There is a wordplay here, the Hebrew for Heshbon being Cheshbon. This device is a good illustration of the strong poetic tone that runs through the prophecy. Verse 2 seems to indicate that in Jeremiah’s time Heshbon was the center of a plot against the Moabites.

Madmen. The site is uncertain, though it may be the modern Khirbet Dimneh, about 9 1/2 mi. (15.2 km.) east of the tongue that extends into the Dead Sea on its eastern side.