Jeremiah 48

Jeremiah 48
1-47 Judgment on Moab

1-2 Alas for Nebo (mountain and city of Moab), Kiriathaim (two cities), and Heshbon (chief city) , because the Chaldeans plan to cut off Moab from being a nation; the sword shall pursue you.
3-6 Horonaim (same as Avara, in the valley) and Luhith (city on a high place) will cry out and weep bitterly: Flee! Save yourselves!
7-8 Because you have trusted in your works and treasures, you will be taken; your god Chemosh, with his priests and attendants, will go into exile; no town shall escape.
9 Set salt aside for Moab, for she will surely fall. NASV (RSV) translate this "Give wings to Moab, for she will (would) fly away"; ASV (KJV): "Give wings to Moab that she may fly (flee) and get her away." The NRSV seems to be the only version that translates this "salt." Bottom line, is of course, that she's destined to fall.

• Accursed is 1) one who is slack in the work of God; 2) one who keeps back the sword from bloodshed. Per commentators, this is a warning to Babylon to do his will and completely destroy Moab.

11-13 Moab has been comfortable too long. Interesting metaphor here, where God compares Moab to wine: 1) settled like wine in its dregs; 2) not emptied from vessel to vessel; 3) his flavor remains, with aroma unspoiled; 4) I shall send him decanters to decant him, empty his vessels and break his jars into pieces. Then he will be ashamed of Chemosh (his god), like Israel was ashamed of [the golden calf of] Bethel (when they were captured by Assyria).
14-17 How can you claim to be mighty warriors? Your destruction is at hand.
18-20 You are being humiliated; your people will not know what is happening.

• Judgement has come upon the tableland (list of geographical locations)
• Let Moab wallow in the vomit of drunkenness, because Israel was a laughingstock to you.

28-31 Leave your towns and live on the rock, for I know of your insolence, your false boasting, and I cry out for Moab.
32-33 Gladness and joy have been taken away from the fruitful land of Moab.

• The LORD will bring an end to Moab, to those who sacrifice on high places, and my heart moans for them like a flute, for their riches that perish.
• The men will shave their heads, cut their beards, gash their hands, wear sackcloth and be a subject of horror and derision to their neighbors.

40-43 The LORD says he will swoop down like an eagle on Moab, and strong warriors will become like a woman in labor, because he magnified himself against the LORD.
44 He who flees will fall into a pit, and he who climbs out of the pit will be caught in a trap. There is no escape.
45-46 Woe to you, Moab, as your sons and daughters are taken into captivity.
47 Yet in the latter days I will restore Moab.

Matthew Henry's commentary on this prophecy of Moab's future:

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.