ירמיהו מ״ח
Jeremiah 48
Hebrew
לְמוֹאָ֡ב כֹּה־אָמַר֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה צְבָא֜וֹת אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל ה֤וֹי אֶל־נְבוֹ֙ כִּ֣י שֻׁדָּ֔דָה הֹבִ֥ישָׁה נִלְכְּדָ֖ה קִרְיָתָ֑יִם הֹבִ֥ישָׁה הַמִּשְׂגָּ֖ב וָחָֽתָּה׃ אֵ֣ין עוֹד֮ תְּהִלַּ֣ת מוֹאָב֒ בְּחֶשְׁבּ֗וֹן חָשְׁב֤וּ עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ רָעָ֔ה לְכ֖וּ וְנַכְרִיתֶ֣נָּה מִגּ֑וֹי גַּם־מַדְמֵ֣ן תִּדֹּ֔מִּי אַחֲרַ֖יִךְ תֵּ֥לֶךְ חָֽרֶב׃ ק֥וֹל צְעָקָ֖ה מֵחֹרוֹנָ֑יִם שֹׁ֖ד וָשֶׁ֥בֶר גָּדֽוֹל׃ נִשְׁבְּרָ֖ה מוֹאָ֑ב הִשְׁמִ֥יעוּ זְּעָקָ֖ה (צעוריה) [צְעִירֶֽיהָ]׃ כִּ֚י מַעֲלֵ֣ה (הלחות) [הַלֻּחִ֔ית] בִּבְכִ֖י יַעֲלֶה־בֶּ֑כִי כִּ֚י בְּמוֹרַ֣ד חוֹרֹנַ֔יִם צָרֵ֥י צַעֲקַת־שֶׁ֖בֶר שָׁמֵֽעוּ׃ נֻ֖סוּ מַלְּט֣וּ נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם וְתִֽהְיֶ֔ינָה כַּעֲרוֹעֵ֖ר בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ כִּ֠י יַ֣עַן בִּטְחֵ֤ךְ בְּמַעֲשַׂ֙יִךְ֙ וּבְא֣וֹצְרוֹתַ֔יִךְ גַּם־אַ֖תְּ תִּלָּכֵ֑דִי וְיָצָ֤א (כמיש) [כְמוֹשׁ֙] בַּגּוֹלָ֔ה כֹּהֲנָ֥יו וְשָׂרָ֖יו (יחד) [יַחְדָּֽיו]׃ וְיָבֹ֨א שֹׁדֵ֜ד אֶל־כׇּל־עִ֗יר וְעִיר֙ לֹ֣א תִמָּלֵ֔ט וְאָבַ֥ד הָעֵ֖מֶק וְנִשְׁמַ֣ד הַמִּישֹׁ֑ר אֲשֶׁ֖ר אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃ תְּנוּ־צִ֣יץ לְמוֹאָ֔ב כִּ֥י נָצֹ֖א תֵּצֵ֑א וְעָרֶ֙יהָ֙ לְשַׁמָּ֣ה תִֽהְיֶ֔ינָה מֵאֵ֥ין יוֹשֵׁ֖ב בָּהֵֽן׃ אָר֗וּר עֹשֶׂ֛ה מְלֶ֥אכֶת יְהֹוָ֖ה רְמִיָּ֑ה וְאָר֕וּר מֹנֵ֥עַ חַרְבּ֖וֹ מִדָּֽם׃ שַׁאֲנַ֨ן מוֹאָ֜ב מִנְּעוּרָ֗יו וְשֹׁקֵ֥ט הוּא֙ אֶל־שְׁמָרָ֔יו וְלֹֽא־הוּרַ֤ק מִכְּלִי֙ אֶל־כֶּ֔לִי וּבַגּוֹלָ֖ה לֹ֣א הָלָ֑ךְ עַל־כֵּ֗ן עָמַ֤ד טַעְמוֹ֙ בּ֔וֹ וְרֵיח֖וֹ לֹ֥א נָמָֽר׃ {ס} לָכֵ֞ן הִנֵּֽה־יָמִ֤ים בָּאִים֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי־ל֥וֹ צֹעִ֖ים וְצֵעֻ֑הוּ וְכֵלָ֣יו יָרִ֔יקוּ וְנִבְלֵיהֶ֖ם יְנַפֵּֽצוּ׃ וּבֹ֥שׁ מוֹאָ֖ב מִכְּמ֑וֹשׁ כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־בֹּ֙שׁוּ֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִבֵּ֥ית אֵ֖ל מִבְטֶחָֽם׃ אֵ֚יךְ תֹּֽאמְר֔וּ גִּבּוֹרִ֖ים אֲנָ֑חְנוּ וְאַנְשֵׁי־חַ֖יִל לַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ שֻׁדַּ֤ד מוֹאָב֙ וְעָרֶ֣יהָ עָלָ֔ה וּמִבְחַ֥ר בַּחוּרָ֖יו יָרְד֣וּ לַטָּ֑בַח נְאֻ֨ם־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁמֽוֹ׃ קָר֥וֹב אֵיד־מוֹאָ֖ב לָב֑וֹא וְרָ֣עָת֔וֹ מִהֲרָ֖ה מְאֹֽד׃ נֻ֤דוּ לוֹ֙ כׇּל־סְבִיבָ֔יו וְכֹ֖ל יֹדְעֵ֣י שְׁמ֑וֹ אִמְר֗וּ אֵיכָ֤ה נִשְׁבַּר֙ מַטֵּה־עֹ֔ז מַקֵּ֖ל תִּפְאָרָֽה׃ רְדִ֤י מִכָּבוֹד֙ (ישבי) [וּשְׁבִ֣י] בַצָּמָ֔א יֹשֶׁ֖בֶת בַּת־דִּיב֑וֹן כִּֽי־שֹׁדֵ֤ד מוֹאָב֙ עָ֣לָה בָ֔ךְ שִׁחֵ֖ת מִבְצָרָֽיִךְ׃ אֶל־דֶּ֛רֶךְ עִמְדִ֥י וְצַפִּ֖י יוֹשֶׁ֣בֶת עֲרוֹעֵ֑ר שַׁאֲלִי־נָ֣ס וְנִמְלָ֔טָה אִמְרִ֖י מַה־נִּֽהְיָֽתָה׃ הֹבִ֥ישׁ מוֹאָ֛ב כִּי־חַ֖תָּה (הילילי וזעקי) [הֵילִ֣ילוּ ׀ וּֽזְעָ֑קוּ] הַגִּ֣ידוּ בְאַרְנ֔וֹן כִּ֥י שֻׁדַּ֖ד מוֹאָֽב׃ וּמִשְׁפָּ֥ט בָּ֖א אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ הַמִּישֹׁ֑ר אֶל־חֹל֥וֹן וְאֶל־יַ֖הְצָה וְעַל־(מופעת) [מֵיפָֽעַת]׃ וְעַל־דִּיב֣וֹן וְעַל־נְב֔וֹ וְעַל־בֵּ֖ית דִּבְלָתָֽיִם׃ וְעַ֧ל קִרְיָתַ֛יִם וְעַל־בֵּ֥ית גָּמ֖וּל וְעַל־בֵּ֥ית מְעֽוֹן׃ וְעַל־קְרִיּ֖וֹת וְעַל־בׇּצְרָ֑ה וְעַ֗ל כׇּל־עָרֵי֙ אֶ֣רֶץ מוֹאָ֔ב הָרְחֹק֖וֹת וְהַקְּרֹבֽוֹת׃ נִגְדְּעָה֙ קֶ֣רֶן מוֹאָ֔ב וּזְרֹע֖וֹ נִשְׁבָּ֑רָה נְאֻ֖ם יְהֹוָֽה׃ הַשְׁכִּירֻ֕הוּ כִּ֥י עַל־יְהֹוָ֖ה הִגְדִּ֑יל וְסָפַ֤ק מוֹאָב֙ בְּקִיא֔וֹ וְהָיָ֥ה לִשְׂחֹ֖ק גַּם־הֽוּא׃ וְאִ֣ם ׀ ל֣וֹא הַשְּׂחֹ֗ק הָיָ֤ה לְךָ֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִם־בְּגַנָּבִ֖ים (נמצאה) [נִמְצָ֑א] כִּֽי־מִדֵּ֧י דְבָרֶ֛יךָ בּ֖וֹ תִּתְנוֹדָֽד׃ עִזְב֤וּ עָרִים֙ וְשִׁכְנ֣וּ בַסֶּ֔לַע יֹשְׁבֵ֖י מוֹאָ֑ב וִֽהְי֣וּ כְיוֹנָ֔ה תְּקַנֵּ֖ן בְּעֶבְרֵ֥י פִי־פָֽחַת׃ שָׁמַ֥עְנוּ גְאוֹן־מוֹאָ֖ב גֵּאֶ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד גׇּבְה֧וֹ וּגְאוֹנ֛וֹ וְגַאֲוָת֖וֹ וְרֻ֥ם לִבּֽוֹ׃ אֲנִ֤י יָדַ֙עְתִּי֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה עֶבְרָת֖וֹ וְלֹא־כֵ֑ן בַּדָּ֖יו לֹא־כֵ֥ן עָשֽׂוּ׃ עַל־כֵּן֙ עַל־מוֹאָ֣ב אֲיֵלִ֔יל וּלְמוֹאָ֥ב כֻּלֹּ֖ה אֶזְעָ֑ק אֶל־אַנְשֵׁ֥י קִֽיר־חֶ֖רֶשׂ יֶהְגֶּֽה׃ מִבְּכִ֨י יַעְזֵ֤ר אֶבְכֶּה־לָּךְ֙ הַגֶּ֣פֶן שִׂבְמָ֔ה נְטִישֹׁתַ֙יִךְ֙ עָ֣בְרוּ יָ֔ם עַ֛ד יָ֥ם יַעְזֵ֖ר נָגָ֑עוּ עַל־קֵיצֵ֥ךְ וְעַל־בְּצִירֵ֖ךְ שֹׁדֵ֥ד נָפָֽל׃ וְנֶאֶסְפָ֨ה שִׂמְחָ֥ה וָגִ֛יל מִכַּרְמֶ֖ל וּמֵאֶ֣רֶץ מוֹאָ֑ב וְיַ֙יִן֙ מִיקָבִ֣ים הִשְׁבַּ֔תִּי לֹא־יִדְרֹ֣ךְ הֵידָ֔ד הֵידָ֖ד לֹ֥א הֵידָֽד׃ מִזַּעֲקַ֨ת חֶשְׁבּ֜וֹן עַד־אֶלְעָלֵ֗ה עַד־יַ֙הַץ֙ נָתְנ֣וּ קוֹלָ֔ם מִצֹּ֙עַר֙ עַד־חֹ֣רֹנַ֔יִם עֶגְלַ֖ת שְׁלִֽשִׁיָּ֑ה כִּ֚י גַּם־מֵ֣י נִמְרִ֔ים לִמְשַׁמּ֖וֹת יִהְיֽוּ׃ וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֥י לְמוֹאָ֖ב נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה מַעֲלֶ֣ה בָמָ֔ה וּמַקְטִ֖יר לֵאלֹהָֽיו׃ עַל־כֵּ֞ן לִבִּ֤י לְמוֹאָב֙ כַּחֲלִלִ֣ים יֶהֱמֶ֔ה וְלִבִּי֙ אֶל־אַנְשֵׁ֣י קִֽיר־חֶ֔רֶשׂ כַּחֲלִילִ֖ים יֶהֱמֶ֑ה עַל־כֵּ֛ן יִתְרַ֥ת עָשָׂ֖ה אָבָֽדוּ׃ כִּ֤י כׇל־רֹאשׁ֙ קׇרְחָ֔ה וְכׇל־זָקָ֖ן גְּרֻעָ֑ה עַ֤ל כׇּל־יָדַ֙יִם֙ גְּדֻדֹ֔ת וְעַל־מׇתְנַ֖יִם שָֽׂק׃ עַ֣ל כׇּל־גַּגּ֥וֹת מוֹאָ֛ב וּבִרְחֹבֹתֶ֖יהָ כֻּלֹּ֣ה מִסְפֵּ֑ד כִּי־שָׁבַ֣רְתִּי אֶת־מוֹאָ֗ב כִּכְלִ֛י אֵֽין־חֵ֥פֶץ בּ֖וֹ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ אֵ֥יךְ חַ֙תָּה֙ הֵילִ֔ילוּ אֵ֛יךְ הִפְנָה־עֹ֥רֶף מוֹאָ֖ב בּ֑וֹשׁ וְהָיָ֥ה מוֹאָ֛ב לִשְׂחֹ֥ק וְלִמְחִתָּ֖ה לְכׇל־סְבִיבָֽיו׃ {ס} כִּי־כֹה֙ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה הִנֵּ֥ה כַנֶּ֖שֶׁר יִדְאֶ֑ה וּפָרַ֥שׂ כְּנָפָ֖יו אֶל־מוֹאָֽב׃ נִלְכְּדָה֙ הַקְּרִיּ֔וֹת וְהַמְּצָד֖וֹת נִתְפָּ֑שָׂה וְֽ֠הָיָ֠ה לֵ֞ב גִּבּוֹרֵ֤י מוֹאָב֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא כְּלֵ֖ב אִשָּׁ֥ה מְצֵרָֽה׃ וְנִשְׁמַ֥ד מוֹאָ֖ב מֵעָ֑ם כִּ֥י עַל־יְהֹוָ֖ה הִגְדִּֽיל׃ פַּ֥חַד וָפַ֖חַת וָפָ֑ח עָלֶ֛יךָ יוֹשֵׁ֥ב מוֹאָ֖ב נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ (הניס) [הַנָּ֞ס] מִפְּנֵ֤י הַפַּ֙חַד֙ יִפֹּ֣ל אֶל־הַפַּ֔חַת וְהָֽעֹלֶה֙ מִן־הַפַּ֔חַת יִלָּכֵ֖ד בַּפָּ֑ח כִּֽי־אָבִ֨יא אֵלֶ֧יהָ אֶל־מוֹאָ֛ב שְׁנַ֥ת פְּקֻדָּתָ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ בְּצֵ֥ל חֶשְׁבּ֛וֹן עָמְד֖וּ מִכֹּ֣חַ נָסִ֑ים כִּי־אֵ֞שׁ יָצָ֣א מֵחֶשְׁבּ֗וֹן וְלֶהָבָה֙ מִבֵּ֣ין סִיח֔וֹן וַתֹּ֙אכַל֙ פְּאַ֣ת מוֹאָ֔ב וְקׇדְקֹ֖ד בְּנֵ֥י שָׁאֽוֹן׃ אוֹי־לְךָ֣ מוֹאָ֔ב אָבַ֖ד עַם־כְּמ֑וֹשׁ כִּֽי־לֻקְּח֤וּ בָנֶ֙יךָ֙ בַּשֶּׁ֔בִי וּבְנֹתֶ֖יךָ בַּשִּׁבְיָֽה׃ וְשַׁבְתִּ֧י שְׁבוּת־מוֹאָ֛ב בְּאַחֲרִ֥ית הַיָּמִ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה עַד־הֵ֖נָּה מִשְׁפַּ֥ט מוֹאָֽב׃ {ס}
English Translation
Concerning Moab.aA number of parallels to this chapter occur in Isa. 15–16.
Thus said GOD of Hosts, the God of Israel:
Alas, that Nebo should be ravaged,
Kiriathaim captured and shamed,
The strongholdbThe stronghold Or “Misgab.” shamed and dismayed! Moab’s glory is no more;
In Heshbon they have plannedcplanned Heb. ḥashebu, play on Heshbon. evil against her:
“Come, let us make an end of her as a nation!”
You too, O Madmen, shall be silenced;dsilenced Heb. tiddommi, play on Madmen, the name of a town.
The sword is following you. Hark! an outcry from Horonaim,
Destruction and utter ruin! Moab is broken;
Her young ones cry aloud;eHer young ones cry aloud Emendation yields “They cry aloud as far as Zoar”; cf. Isa. 15.5. They climb to Luhith
Weeping continually;
On the descent to Horonaim
A distressing cry of anguish is heard: Flee, save your lives!
And be like Aroer in the desert.fAnd be like Aroer in the desert Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Surely, because of your trust
In your wealth and in your treasures,
You too shall be captured.
And Chemosh shall go forth to exile,
Together with his priests and attendants. The ravager shall come to every town;
No town shall escape.
The valley shall be devastated
And the tableland laid waste
—because GOD has spoken. Give wings to Moab,
For she must go hence.gwings to Moab, / For she must go hence Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Her towns shall become desolate,
With no one living in them.
Cursed be he who is slack in doing GOD’s work! Cursed be he who withholds his sword from blood! Moab has been secure from his youth on—
He is settled on his lees
And has not been poured from vessel to vessel—
He has never gone into exile.
Therefore his fine flavor has remained
And his bouquet is unspoiled.
But days are coming—declares GOD—when I will send to him those who will decant him;hdecant him Or “press forward against him”; cf. Isa. 63.1. they shall empty his vessels and smash his jars. And Moab shall be shamed because of Chemosh, as the House of Israel were shamed because of Bethel, on whom they relied. How can you say: We are warriors,
Valiant men for war? Moab is ravaged,
His towns have been entered,
His choice young men
Have gone down to the slaughter
—declares the KingiKing See note at 46.18. whose name is GOD of Hosts. The doom of Moab is coming close,
His downfall is approaching swiftly. Condole with him, all who live near him,
All you who know him by name!
Say: “Alas, the strong rod is broken,
The lordly staff!” Descend from glory
And sit in thirst,jthirst Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
O inhabitant of Fair Dibon;
For the ravager of Moab has entered your town,
He has destroyed your fortresses. Stand by the road and look out,
O inhabitant of Aroer.
Ask of him who is fleeing
And of her who is escaping:
Say, “What has happened?” Moab is shamed and dismayed;
Howl and cry aloud!
Tell at the Arnon
That Moab is ravaged!
Judgment has come upon the tableland—upon Holon, Jahzah, and Mephaath; upon Dibon, Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim; upon Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul, and Beth-meon; upon Kerioth and Bozrah—upon all the towns of the land of Moab, far and near. The might of Moab has been cut down,
His strength is broken
—declares GOD. Get him drunk
For he vaunted himself against GOD.
Moab shall vomit till he is drained,
And he too shall be a laughingstock. Wasn’t Israel a laughingstock to you?
Was he ever caught among thieves,
That you should shake your headkshake your head In mockery.
Whenever you speak of him? Desert the cities
And dwell in the crags,
O inhabitants of Moab!
Be like a dove that nests
In the sides of a pit. We have heard of Moab’s pride—
Most haughty is he—
Of his arrogance and pride,
His haughtiness and self-exaltation.
I know his insolence—declares GOD—the wickedness that is in him,lin him Cf. note at Isa. 16.6. the wickedness he hasmhe has Heb. “they have.” committed. Therefore I will howl for Moab,
I will cry out for all Moab,
InI Heb. “He.” will moan for the people of Kir-heres. With greater weeping than for Jazer
I weep for you, O vine of Sibmah,
Whose tendrils crossed the sea,
Reached to the sea,oReached to the sea Meaning of Heb. uncertain. to Jazer.
A ravager has come down
Upon your fig and grape harvests. Rejoicing and gladness
Are gone from the farmland,
From the country of Moab;
I have put an end to wine in the presses,
No one treads [the grapes] with shouting—
The shout is a shout no more.pThe shout is a shout no more Meaning of Heb. uncertain. There is an outcry from Heshbon to Elealeh,
They raise their voices as far as Jahaz,
From Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiah.
The Waters of Nimrim
Shall also become desolation. And I will make an end in Moab
—declares GOD—
Of those who offer at a shrine
And burn incense to their god. Therefore,
My heart moans for Moab like a flute;
Like a flute my heart moans
For the people of Kir-heres—
Therefore,
The gains they have made shall vanishqTherefore, / The gains they have made shall vanish Meaning of Heb. uncertain.— For every head is bald
And every beard is shorn;
On all hands there are gashes,
And on the loins sackcloth. On all the roofs of Moab,
And in its squares
There is naught but lamentation;
For I have broken Moab
Like a vessel no one wants
—declares GOD. How he is dismayed! Wail!
How Moab has turned his back in shame!
Moab shall be a laughingstock
And a shock to all those near him. For thus said GOD:
See, he soars like an eagle
And spreads out his wings against Moab! Kerioth shall be captured
And the strongholds shall be seized.
In that day, the heart of Moab’s warriors
Shall be like the heart of a woman in travail. And Moab shall be destroyed as a people,
For he vaunted himself against GOD. Terror, and pit, and traprTerror, and pit, and trap See note at Isa. 24.17.
Upon you who dwell in Moab!
—declares GOD. He who flees from the terror
Shall fall into the pit;
And he who climbs out of the pit
Shall be caught in the trap.
For I will bring upon Moab
The year of their doom
—declares GOD. In the shelter of Heshbon
Fugitives halt exhausted;
For fire went forth from Heshbon,
Flame from the midstsmidst Emendation yields “house.” of Sihon,
Consuming the brow of Moab,
The pate of the people of Shaon.tShaon Or “tumult.” Woe to you, O Moab!
The people of Chemosh are undone,
For your sons are carried off into captivity,
Your daughters into exile.
But I will restore the fortunes of Moab in the days to come—declares GOD.
Thus far is the judgment on Moab.
Thus said GOD of Hosts, the God of Israel:
Alas, that Nebo should be ravaged,
Kiriathaim captured and shamed,
The strongholdbThe stronghold Or “Misgab.” shamed and dismayed! Moab’s glory is no more;
In Heshbon they have plannedcplanned Heb. ḥashebu, play on Heshbon. evil against her:
“Come, let us make an end of her as a nation!”
You too, O Madmen, shall be silenced;dsilenced Heb. tiddommi, play on Madmen, the name of a town.
The sword is following you. Hark! an outcry from Horonaim,
Destruction and utter ruin! Moab is broken;
Her young ones cry aloud;eHer young ones cry aloud Emendation yields “They cry aloud as far as Zoar”; cf. Isa. 15.5. They climb to Luhith
Weeping continually;
On the descent to Horonaim
A distressing cry of anguish is heard: Flee, save your lives!
And be like Aroer in the desert.fAnd be like Aroer in the desert Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Surely, because of your trust
In your wealth and in your treasures,
You too shall be captured.
And Chemosh shall go forth to exile,
Together with his priests and attendants. The ravager shall come to every town;
No town shall escape.
The valley shall be devastated
And the tableland laid waste
—because GOD has spoken. Give wings to Moab,
For she must go hence.gwings to Moab, / For she must go hence Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Her towns shall become desolate,
With no one living in them.
Cursed be he who is slack in doing GOD’s work! Cursed be he who withholds his sword from blood! Moab has been secure from his youth on—
He is settled on his lees
And has not been poured from vessel to vessel—
He has never gone into exile.
Therefore his fine flavor has remained
And his bouquet is unspoiled.
But days are coming—declares GOD—when I will send to him those who will decant him;hdecant him Or “press forward against him”; cf. Isa. 63.1. they shall empty his vessels and smash his jars. And Moab shall be shamed because of Chemosh, as the House of Israel were shamed because of Bethel, on whom they relied. How can you say: We are warriors,
Valiant men for war? Moab is ravaged,
His towns have been entered,
His choice young men
Have gone down to the slaughter
—declares the KingiKing See note at 46.18. whose name is GOD of Hosts. The doom of Moab is coming close,
His downfall is approaching swiftly. Condole with him, all who live near him,
All you who know him by name!
Say: “Alas, the strong rod is broken,
The lordly staff!” Descend from glory
And sit in thirst,jthirst Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
O inhabitant of Fair Dibon;
For the ravager of Moab has entered your town,
He has destroyed your fortresses. Stand by the road and look out,
O inhabitant of Aroer.
Ask of him who is fleeing
And of her who is escaping:
Say, “What has happened?” Moab is shamed and dismayed;
Howl and cry aloud!
Tell at the Arnon
That Moab is ravaged!
Judgment has come upon the tableland—upon Holon, Jahzah, and Mephaath; upon Dibon, Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim; upon Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul, and Beth-meon; upon Kerioth and Bozrah—upon all the towns of the land of Moab, far and near. The might of Moab has been cut down,
His strength is broken
—declares GOD. Get him drunk
For he vaunted himself against GOD.
Moab shall vomit till he is drained,
And he too shall be a laughingstock. Wasn’t Israel a laughingstock to you?
Was he ever caught among thieves,
That you should shake your headkshake your head In mockery.
Whenever you speak of him? Desert the cities
And dwell in the crags,
O inhabitants of Moab!
Be like a dove that nests
In the sides of a pit. We have heard of Moab’s pride—
Most haughty is he—
Of his arrogance and pride,
His haughtiness and self-exaltation.
I know his insolence—declares GOD—the wickedness that is in him,lin him Cf. note at Isa. 16.6. the wickedness he hasmhe has Heb. “they have.” committed. Therefore I will howl for Moab,
I will cry out for all Moab,
InI Heb. “He.” will moan for the people of Kir-heres. With greater weeping than for Jazer
I weep for you, O vine of Sibmah,
Whose tendrils crossed the sea,
Reached to the sea,oReached to the sea Meaning of Heb. uncertain. to Jazer.
A ravager has come down
Upon your fig and grape harvests. Rejoicing and gladness
Are gone from the farmland,
From the country of Moab;
I have put an end to wine in the presses,
No one treads [the grapes] with shouting—
The shout is a shout no more.pThe shout is a shout no more Meaning of Heb. uncertain. There is an outcry from Heshbon to Elealeh,
They raise their voices as far as Jahaz,
From Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiah.
The Waters of Nimrim
Shall also become desolation. And I will make an end in Moab
—declares GOD—
Of those who offer at a shrine
And burn incense to their god. Therefore,
My heart moans for Moab like a flute;
Like a flute my heart moans
For the people of Kir-heres—
Therefore,
The gains they have made shall vanishqTherefore, / The gains they have made shall vanish Meaning of Heb. uncertain.— For every head is bald
And every beard is shorn;
On all hands there are gashes,
And on the loins sackcloth. On all the roofs of Moab,
And in its squares
There is naught but lamentation;
For I have broken Moab
Like a vessel no one wants
—declares GOD. How he is dismayed! Wail!
How Moab has turned his back in shame!
Moab shall be a laughingstock
And a shock to all those near him. For thus said GOD:
See, he soars like an eagle
And spreads out his wings against Moab! Kerioth shall be captured
And the strongholds shall be seized.
In that day, the heart of Moab’s warriors
Shall be like the heart of a woman in travail. And Moab shall be destroyed as a people,
For he vaunted himself against GOD. Terror, and pit, and traprTerror, and pit, and trap See note at Isa. 24.17.
Upon you who dwell in Moab!
—declares GOD. He who flees from the terror
Shall fall into the pit;
And he who climbs out of the pit
Shall be caught in the trap.
For I will bring upon Moab
The year of their doom
—declares GOD. In the shelter of Heshbon
Fugitives halt exhausted;
For fire went forth from Heshbon,
Flame from the midstsmidst Emendation yields “house.” of Sihon,
Consuming the brow of Moab,
The pate of the people of Shaon.tShaon Or “tumult.” Woe to you, O Moab!
The people of Chemosh are undone,
For your sons are carried off into captivity,
Your daughters into exile.
But I will restore the fortunes of Moab in the days to come—declares GOD.
Thus far is the judgment on Moab.
About This Text
Source
Jeremiah
Category
Tanach
Reference
Jeremiah 48
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