Study 31 From the Book of Jeremiah is: Jeremiah 48
Within Jeremiah’s lifetime, Moab was in league with the Chaldeans
against Judah during Jehoiakim’s reign (2 Ki. 24:2; cf. Je. 12; and later, in
Zedekiah’s reign discussed with other nations a possible revolt against Babylon
(27:1-11).
1.
The chapter may be divided into five sections: verses 1-10,
verses 11-20, verses 21-27, verses 28-39, verses 40-47. What heading would you
give to each of these sections to sum up its contents?
2.
What reason for the judgment is given in verse 11? What warning
should we take for ourselves? Cf. Dt. 8:11-18; Is. 47: 8-11; Am. 6:1-7; Zp. 1:12.
What other reasons for the judgment are set forth in this chapter.
Notes
1.
All the numerous places-names refer to Moabite territory. Some
have not been identified, including ‘madmen’ (verse 2; the lxx reads ‘Yet you,
i.e., Moab, shall be brought to silence’).
2.
Verses 7, 13. ‘Chemosh’: the god of Moab. ‘Bethel, their
confidence’: see Am. 5:5; 10-13 for false worship at Bethel. Bethel means
‘house of God’, and there may be present also an allusion to false trust in the
Temple; see Je. 7:1-15.
3.
Verses 11, 12. An illustration from the treatment of the juice
of grapes. It is left in a vessel until
a sediment called ‘lees’ has formed at the bottom; then the liquid is poured
into another vessel, and so repeatedly, until the liquid is clear. Moab had
experienced no such purifying process, and so retained its original unrefined
character.
4.
Verse 26. ‘Make him drunk’ : i.e., stagger with shock and
despairing grief. Cf. 13:13; 25:16.
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