Jer 48:40 | KingComments | STEP | The enemy will come with the speed of an eagle ( ; ; cf. ). That eagle will cover all of Moab with its wings. Moab will be suddenly and completely conquered by the enemy. A strong city like Kerioth will be taken, and so will all the cities and also the strongholds they have deemed impregnable ( ). The hearts of the mighty men of Moab, the mighty men who would protect them, becomes like that of a woman in labor. They are defenseless and terrified. Moab will be so radically wiped out that it will no longer be a people ( ). The reason is that in their pride they have become arrogant toward the LORD. It is the sin of satan who has also wanted to be equal to God ( ). For the inhabitants of Moab, everywhere is terror, nowhere is a place of safety ( ). They will flee from the enemy out of fear, but then fall into a pit. If they manage to climb out of it and continue fleeing, they will be caught in the snare (cf. ). Their situation is hopeless, there is no escaping judgment, for the LORD is bringing upon Moab the year of their punishment. The LORD declares it and so it happens. Some think they will be safe in Heshbon and find protection (shadow) ( ). But the enemy will be there and devour them. The enemy rules in all of Moab. They can do nothing but lament ( ). Moab, the people of the god Chemosh, has gone down like a sinking ship disappearing into the waves, swallowed up by the ocean. Chemosh, the idol, has been exposed as a liar. He has not been able to prevent the sons and daughters of “his” people from being taken into captivity. The chapter shows the justice of God in His judgment of sin. He will punish Moab for its sins of pride and idolatry. However, the last verse shows that God is also a God of mercy ( ). God promises here that Moab will be restored as a people in later times, that is in the last of days, the end time. When Christ appears on earth for the second time to then reign as Messiah, that will happen.

‏ Jeremiah 48:40

The Fear of the Intruder

The enemy will come with the speed of an eagle (Jer 48:40; Jer 49:22; cf. Eze 17:3). That eagle will cover all of Moab with its wings. Moab will be suddenly and completely conquered by the enemy. A strong city like Kerioth will be taken, and so will all the cities and also the strongholds they have deemed impregnable (Jer 48:41). The hearts of the mighty men of Moab, the mighty men who would protect them, becomes like that of a woman in labor. They are defenseless and terrified. Moab will be so radically wiped out that it will no longer be a people (Jer 48:42). The reason is that in their pride they have become arrogant toward the LORD. It is the sin of satan who has also wanted to be equal to God (Isa 14:13-14).

For the inhabitants of Moab, everywhere is terror, nowhere is a place of safety (Jer 48:43-44). They will flee from the enemy out of fear, but then fall into a pit. If they manage to climb out of it and continue fleeing, they will be caught in the snare (cf. Isa 24:17-18). Their situation is hopeless, there is no escaping judgment, for the LORD is bringing upon Moab the year of their punishment. The LORD declares it and so it happens.

Some think they will be safe in Heshbon and find protection (shadow) (Jer 48:45). But the enemy will be there and devour them. The enemy rules in all of Moab. They can do nothing but lament (Jer 48:46). Moab, the people of the god Chemosh, has gone down like a sinking ship disappearing into the waves, swallowed up by the ocean. Chemosh, the idol, has been exposed as a liar. He has not been able to prevent the sons and daughters of “his” people from being taken into captivity.

The chapter shows the justice of God in His judgment of sin. He will punish Moab for its sins of pride and idolatry. However, the last verse shows that God is also a God of mercy (Jer 48:47). God promises here that Moab will be restored as a people in later times, that is in the last of days, the end time. When Christ appears on earth for the second time to then reign as Messiah, that will happen.