XLVIII The judgment of Moab, ver. 1-6. for their pride, ver. 7-10. for their security and human confidence, ver. 11-15. especially for their contempt of God, and insolence towards his people, ver. 26- 46. Their restoration, ver. 47.

Verse 2. Heshbon - Heshbon was one of the principal cities of the Moabites. Probably the enemies sat there in counsel, when they had taken it, against the other parts of the country.

Verse 3. Horoniam - Another city of Moab.

Verse 5. Luhith - To this city the Moabites fled for sanctuary, and flying made so great an out-cry that their enemies who pursued them heard it.

Verse 6. And be - Save your lives, though all ye have be lost.

Verse 7. Trusted - In thy idols. Chemosh - Chemosh was their principal idol.

Verse 9. Give wings - The Moabites have need of wings like a bird to escape that ruin which is coming upon them.

Verse 11. At ease - The Moabites ever since they began to be a people, have been a quiet people. Settled - Like a cask of wine, that has not been racked but has continued in the same state. Not emptied - A metaphor of wine which is drawn out from vessel to vessel, when it is drawn off the lees. It is expounded by the next words. Therefore - And this is the reason why they retain their old sins, pride, presumption, and luxury.

Verse 12. Wanderers - The Chaldeans, who wandered from their own country to conquer other people. Break his bottles - He had before compared the Moabites, to wine settled upon the lees, here he saith, that God would send those that should not only disturb, but destroy them.

Verse 13. Bethel - The golden calves, which Jeroboam set up at Daniel and Bethel.

Verse 16. Is near - Josephus tells us this destruction came upon the Moabites five years after the siege of Jerusalem.

Verse 17. Staff - A staff and a rod are as well, ensigns of power and government, as instruments to punish offenders.

Verse 18. Dibon - Dibon, Aroer, and Ataroh were built by the children of Gad. It should seem the Moabites were not come into the possession of them. In thirst - It was a place well watered, but God threatens she should be in thirst, that is, driven into some dry, barren countries. The spoiler - The king of Babylon.

Verse 20. Arnon - Arnon was the name of a river; it was the border of Moab: probably the adjacent country or city might take its name from the river.

Verse 25. The horn - That is the beauty and the strength of Moab.

Verse 26. Drunken - Fill him with the intoxicating wine of God's vengeance.

Verse 27. Was he found - Why didst thou deal by Israel as men deal by thieves, when they are brought to shame?

Verse 28. O ye - Still the prophet speaks of the Moabites, as a people whose armies were routed, and calls to them to leave their houses in cities, not promising themselves any security, either to or from their houses, or from the walls of the cities, but to get them to rocks, which are naturally fortified, and from whence (if from any place) security may be promised.

Verse 30. I know - He shall never execute what he thinks to do. But - His boastings and his lies, still never effect his designs.

31. Kir-herez - A city of Moab.

Verse 32. Sibmah - Sibmah was famous in those days for vines. Jazer - Jazer was it seems first taken, and carried into captivity.

Verse 36. Pipes - The prophet means such pipes as they were wont to use at funerals, and other sad occasions.

Verse 40. He - Nebuchadnezzar shall come swiftly, and spread himself over Moab.

Verse 43. Fear - A variety of dangers upon all sides.

Verse 45. Heshbon - Heshbon was it seems a place of force. The crown - That is, the glory.