Jeremiah - Lesson 47-48

• Chapters 1-23 Review:

  • The LORD called Jeremiah as a prophet to the nations during the last five kings of Judah.

  • The LORD’s warning to His people is to stop worshipping false gods or He will judge them by destruction and exile using a nation from the North, Babylon; the judgment will include the destruction of the temple and the city of Jerusalem.

  • The people are to repent from their evil ways; the leaders are specifically called out for their rejection of the LORD’s covenant and the shedding of innocent blood; the false prophets are called out for misleading the people to believe the LORD would not bring judgment on them.

    • Jeremiah is reviled by the leaders and the people of Judah, but the LORD will protect him.

    • The LORD promises there will not be a complete destruction of His people, as He will provide a Messiah and will bring His people back into the Promised Land in a future time, never to be removed.

• Chapters 24-29 Review:

  • Good figs are used to represent the Jews who go into exile and will ultimately be those who become the Jews brought back into the land at a future time. The bad figs represent those who rebel against the judgment the LORD has brought on them through Nebuchadnezzar to last for seventy years.

    • Hypocrisy and false teaching and prophecy plague the LORD’s people justifying the LORD’s judgment on them.

  • Jeremiah continues to experience persecution for bringing the LORD’s truth to His people (like planning to stay for a long time in Babylon) and calling out false prophets. Some of the false prophets are dealt with immediately.

• Chapters 30-33 Review:

  • These chapters are often referred to as the Book of Consolation as they are filled with promises for the LORD’s people.

  • Promises of the LORD’s people being regathered and brought back to a specific land as a nation to live in safety with hearts of flesh and not stone, served by priests, ruled by a king and living in prosperity. All of this is possible because Jesus their Messiah has redeemed them and will be their King.

• Chapters 34-38 Review:

  • The Jewish leaders renege on a covenant to release Hebrew servants.

  • The obedience of the Rechabites is contrasted to the disobedience of the LORD’s people. Jeremiah’s scroll is burned by King Jehoiakim.

    • Jeremiah is rescued from death in a cistern by a servant of the king.

    • Zedekiah seeks a new word from the LORD.

• Chapters 39-41 Review:

  • Jerusalem falls, Zedekiah is taken into exile, and Jeremiah joins Gedaliah, the selected governor of Judah. Gedaliah is threatened and then killed by Ishmael along with other Jews and Chaldeans at Mizpah. The remnant is rescued by Johana and the commanders with him.

• Chapters 42-44 Review:

  • The remnant of Judah disobeys the word of the LORD to remain in Judah and not fear Nebuchadnezzar; choosing to go to Egypt in rebellion. Egypt and the remnant from Judah will experience the judgement of the LORD brought by Nebuchadnezzar. The remnant vows to continue their worship of the false gods because they did not understand the true reason for their judgement in the land of Judah.   

• Chapters 45-46 Review:

  • The LORD speaks to Baruch through Jeremiah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim. Baruch expressed sorrow knowing what the LORD has revealed for Judah but the LORD instructs him to set this aside and speak truth; the LORD will protect his life. The LORD then speaks about how He is going to bring judgement on Egypt.

Jer. 47:1 That which came as the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh conquered Gaza.
Jer. 47:2  Thus says the LORD:
“Behold, waters are going to rise from the north
And become an overflowing torrent,
And overflow the land and all its fullness,
The city and those who live in it;
And the men will cry out,
And every inhabitant of the land will wail.
Jer. 47:3 “Because of the noise of the galloping hoofs of his stallions,
The tumult of his chariots, and the rumbling of his wheels,
The fathers have not turned back for their children,
Because of the limpness of their hands,
Jer. 47:4  On account of the day that is coming
To destroy all the Philistines,
To cut off from Tyre and Sidon
Every ally that is left;
For the LORD is going to destroy the Philistines,
The remnant of the coastland of Caphtor.
Jer. 47:5 “Baldness has come upon Gaza;
Ashkelon has been ruined.
O remnant of their valley,
How long will you gash yourself?
Jer. 47:6 “Ah, sword of the LORD,
How long will you not be quiet?
Withdraw into your sheath;
Be at rest and stay still.
Jer. 47:7 “How can it be quiet,
When the LORD has given it an order?
Against Ashkelon and against the seacoast —
There He has assigned it.”

• Verse 1 The LORD revealed to Jeremiah what is to happen to the Philistines.

  • The territory of the Philistines existed along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and the hill country of Israel.

    • The conflict between the Philistines and Israel persisted from the time Israel came into the Promised Land until their exile from the land.

    • The prophecy for the Philistines preceded the time Pharaoh conquered Gaza; this is probably a reference to when Pharaoh Neco advanced through this land on his way to try and defeat Babylon at Carchemish in 609 BC.

• Verse 2 The LORD uses the imagery of water to describe how the Babylonian army (armies from the north) will overflow the land, cities and people known as the Philistines.

  • The use of water imagery is ironic as the Philistines came from the people of the island of Crete (Captor) known for their mastery over the seas. Amos 9:7

Amos 9:7 ….. “Have I not brought up Israel from the land of Egypt,
And the Philistines from Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir?

• Jer. 47:3 The Babylonian army will use stallions and chariots to advance quickly on the people causing the fathers to even abandon their children as they escape terrified (limp hands).

  • Verse 4 The LORD is coming to destroy the Philistines and will cut off Tyre and Sidon from being an ally. Tyre and Sidon were north located in present day Lebanon.

  • Verse 5 The people are shaving their heads (baldness) and gashing themselves because of what is coming to Gaza and Ashkelon. This is a sign of mourning.

  • Verse 6 The question of how long the LORD will continue His work of the sword gives an indication the people know this is divine judgement.

  • Verse 7 The LORD has given this order against Ashkelon and all those of the seacoast so it will be completed.

    • The sword of the Babylonian army was to be carried out against the Philistines because the LORD has assigned this to be done; again this demonstrates the LORD is sovereign in all things and decides which nations to judge and which nations to use in carrying out those judgments.

Jer. 48:1 Concerning Moab. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel,
“Woe to Nebo, for it has been destroyed;
Kiriathaim has been put to shame, it has been captured;
The lofty stronghold has been put to shame and shattered.
Jer. 48:2 “There is praise for Moab no longer;
In Heshbon they have devised calamity against her:
‘Come and let us cut her off from being a nation!’
You too, Madmen, will be silenced;
The sword will follow after you.
Jer. 48:3 “The sound of an outcry from Horonaim,
‘Devastation and great destruction!’
Jer. 48:4 “Moab is broken,
Her little ones have sounded out a cry of distress.
Jer. 48:5 “For by the ascent of Luhith
They will ascend with continual weeping;
For at the descent of Horonaim
They have heard the anguished cry of destruction.
Jer. 48:6 “Flee, save your lives,
That you may be like a juniper in the wilderness.
Jer. 48:7 “For because of your trust in your own achievements and treasures,
Even you yourself will be captured;
And Chemosh will go off into exile
Together with his priests and his princes.
Jer. 48:8 “A destroyer will come to every city,
So that no city will escape;
The valley also will be ruined
And the plateau will be destroyed,
As the LORD has said.
Jer. 48:9 “Give wings to Moab,
For she will flee away;
And her cities will become a desolation,
Without inhabitants in them.
Jer. 48:10 “Cursed be the one who does the LORD’S work negligently,
And cursed be the one who restrains his sword from blood.

• Verse 1 The LORD reveals He is the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel.

  • The next words will be for Moab.

  • Moab was located east of the Dead Sea.

    • The Moabites were descendants of Lot, Abram’s nephew.

Gen. 19:36 Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father.
Gen. 19:37 The firstborn bore a son, and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day.

• Jer. 28:1 There is a woe pronounced for Nebo, because it has been destroyed.

  • Kiriathaim has been captured.

  • Both cities are described as strongholds, and had been assigned to the tribe of Rueben.

Num. 32:37 The sons of Reuben built Heshbon and Elealeh and Kiriathaim,
Num. 32:38 and Nebo and Baal-meon — their names being changed — and Sibmah, and they gave other names to the cities which they built.

• The tribes of Israel had been exiled by Assyria for about one hundred years and the Moabites had moved back into possession of the land.

  • Jer. 48:2 The time for praise for Moab has ceased.

  • The king of the Moabites, Balak, had tried to bribe a prophet, Balaam, to curse the sons of Israel but he could only speak the words of the LORD which were blessings for Israel.

Num. 24:10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times!

• Jer. 48:2 Heshbon is where the planning for Moab’s demise will be done.

  • There is a play on words as “Heshbon” (hesbon) and “will plot” (hasebu).

  • The actual plan was for Moab to cease being a nation.

    • The LORD says these men who devised the plan will also be silenced.

    • The city of Madmen will be silenced because the sword is sent by the LORD.

• Verse 3 Horonaim cries out because of the great devastation and destruction unleashed upon it.

  • Verse 4 Moab as a nation has been broken. The descendants (little ones) will cry out.

  • Verse 5 Some will flee to Luhith while weeping because of the depths of anguish for Horonaim.

  • Verse 6 The only chance for a person to survive is to flee and live in isolation, like a desert juniper.

    • The Moabites began this way when Lot flees and lives in isolation in the mountains.

  • Verse 7 The people trusted in their works and treasures and this leads to their capture.

    • Their god, Chemosh and his priests and princes will be removed.

    • The LORD says Chemosh is a detestable idol god.

1Kings 11:7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable idol of Moab, on the mountain which is east of Jerusalem,

• Jer. 48:8 The LORD says a destroyer will be sent to every city, the valley and the plateau.

  • The valley may refer to the Jordan Valley.

  • The plateau is where most of the cities of Moab were built, about sixty miles long.

• Verse 9 The nation of Moab will flee and her cities will be left desolate.

• Verse 10 The LORD has called for a sword to bring Moab’s blood; there is a curse to be on those who would not carry out their destruction completely. Confirmed in Ezekiel 25:8-11

Ezek. 25:8 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Because Moab and Seir say, ‘Behold, the house of Judah is like all the nations,’
Ezek. 25:9 therefore, behold, I am going to deprive the flank of Moab of its cities, of its cities which are on its frontiers, the glory of the land, Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon and Kiriathaim,
Ezek. 25:10 and I will give it for a possession along with the sons of Ammon to the sons of the east, so that the sons of Ammon will not be remembered among the nations.
Ezek. 25:11 “Thus I will execute judgments on Moab, and they will know that I am the LORD.”

• Moab was given to the ‘sons of the East’.

  • Some say these were nomadic tribes while others say this was Nebuchadnezzar in 582 BC.

Jer. 48:11 “Moab has been at ease since his youth;
He has also been undisturbed, like wine on its dregs,
And he has not been emptied from vessel to vessel,
Nor has he gone into exile.
Therefore he retains his flavor,
And his aroma has not changed.
Jer. 48:12 “Therefore behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will send to him those who tip vessels, and they will tip him over, and they will empty his vessels and shatter his jars.
Jer. 48:13 “And Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel, their confidence.
Jer. 48:14 “How can you say, ‘We are mighty warriors,
And men valiant for battle’?
Jer. 48:15 “Moab has been destroyed and men have gone up to his cities;
His choicest young men have also gone down to the slaughter,”
Declares the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.
Jer. 48:16 “The disaster of Moab will soon come,
And his calamity has swiftly hastened.
Jer. 48:17 “Mourn for him, all you who live around him,
Even all of you who know his name;
Say, ‘How has the mighty scepter been broken,
A staff of splendor!’
Jer. 48:18 “Come down from your glory
And sit on the parched ground,
O daughter dwelling in Dibon,
For the destroyer of Moab has come up against you,
He has ruined your strongholds.
Jer. 48:19 “Stand by the road and keep watch,
O inhabitant of Aroer;
Ask him who flees and her who escapes
And say, ‘What has happened?’
Jer. 48:20 “Moab has been put to shame, for it has been shattered.
Wail and cry out;
Declare by the Arnon
That Moab has been destroyed.

• Verse 11 Moab had lived in ease since its early years (youth).

  • The LORD uses the picture of a wine container that sits stationary and the solid elements sink to the bottom (dregs). The normal process would be after the dregs have settled the wine would be carefully poured into a new container leaving the dregs behind.

• Verse 12 The LORD declares there will be days in the future when He will send on Moab one who tips vessels; Moab, like a vessel will be tipped over and emptied out and finally shattered.

  • Verse 13 Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh their god, in the same way that Israel was ashamed at Bethel, the house of their God who is the One who gave her confidence. 1Kings 12:28-29, 2Kings 23:15

1Kings 12:28 So the king consulted, and made two golden calves, and he said to them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt.”
1Kings 12:29 He set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.

2Kings 23:15 Furthermore, the altar that was at Bethel and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, had made, even that altar and the high place he broke down. Then he demolished its stones, ground them to dust, and burned the Asherah.

• Jer. 48:14 The LORD mocks the declaration that Moab has mighty warriors ready for battle.

  • Verse 15-16 The LORD of hosts has announced Moab is destroyed though the valiant young men went to their own cities to save them and instead they died in the slaughter quickly.

  • Verse 17 Moab’s destruction will amaze the nations around her and they will mourn.

  • Verse 18 The destroyer of Moab will bring her down from her perch of glory (her strongholds) to the waste land. This includes Dibon.

    • The Moabite Stone (Mesha Stone) was found in Dhiban, Jordan in 1868.

  • Verse 19-20 Those on the roads by Aroer are to ask those who flee what has happened.

    • Aroer was in the far south of the territory of Moab by the Arnon river and they announce Moab has been destroyed and put to shame. This city is located on the edge of the Arnon Gorge

Jer. 48:21 “Judgment has also come upon the plain, upon Holon, Jahzah and against Mephaath,
Jer. 48:22 against Dibon, Nebo and Beth-diblathaim,
Jer. 48:23 against Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul and Beth-meon,
Jer. 48:24 against Kerioth, Bozrah and all the cities of the land of Moab, far and near.
Jer. 48:25 “The horn of Moab has been cut off and his arm broken,” declares the LORD.
Jer. 48:26 “Make him drunk, for he has become arrogant toward the LORD; so Moab will wallow in his vomit, and he also will become a laughingstock.
Jer. 48:27 “Now was not Israel a laughingstock to you? Or was he caught among thieves? For each time you speak about him you shake your head in scorn.
Jer. 48:28 “Leave the cities and dwell among the crags,
O inhabitants of Moab,
And be like a dove that nests
Beyond the mouth of the chasm.
Jer. 48:29 “We have heard of the pride of Moab — he is very proud —
Of his haughtiness, his pride, his arrogance and his self-exaltation.
Jer. 48:30 “I know his fury,” declares the LORD,
“But it is futile;
His idle boasts have accomplished nothing.
Jer. 48:31 “Therefore I will wail for Moab,
Even for all Moab will I cry out;
I will moan for the men of Kir-heres.
Jer. 48:32 “More than the weeping for Jazer
I will weep for you, O vine of Sibmah!
Your tendrils stretched across the sea,
They reached to the sea of Jazer;
Upon your summer fruits and your grape harvest
The destroyer has fallen.
Jer. 48:33 “So gladness and joy are taken away
From the fruitful field, even from the land of Moab.
And I have made the wine to cease from the wine presses;
No one will tread them with shouting,
The shouting will not be shouts of joy.
Jer. 48:34 “From the outcry at Heshbon even to Elealeh, even to Jahaz they have raised their voice, from Zoar even to Horonaim and to Eglath-shelishiyah; for even the waters of Nimrim will become desolate.
Jer. 48:35 “I will make an end of Moab,” declares the LORD, “the one who offers sacrifice on the high place and the one who burns incense to his gods.

• Verse 21-24 All the cities of the land of Moab that judgement will come upon. Not all the locations of the cities listed are known but they do seem to move from the north of the plateau to the south.

  • Verse 25 The LORD declared the horn of Moab has been cut off and the arm broken; both are used as a symbol of strength.

  • Verse 26 Moab has become arrogant towards the LORD.

    • The Moabites saw the exile of Israel and associated the gods of people with their protection.

    • Israel’s god, the LORD, would be seen as inferior to their god Chemosh, because of the exile.

    • The excessive arrogance is compared to a drunk who in excessiveness must vomit.

    • The Moabites will now become a laughingstock.

  • Verse 27 The LORD’s people had been a laughingstock to the Moabites, who were filled with scorn for Israel.

    • The cities that the Israelite tribes once occupied had been reclaimed by the Moabites.

  • Verse 28 The Moabites are told they should leave their cities to dwell high up in the crags of the mountains, like a dove that nests above a chasm. These would be rock doves known to have nests in the crags of rocks to protect the young from the sun and potential prey.

  • Verse 29 The LORD calls out Moab for his haughtiness, pride, arrogance and self-exaltation.

  • Verse 30 The LORD speaks of the fury of Moab in words but does nothing in actions.

    • This is also given in Isaiah 16:6.

Is. 16:6  We have heard of the pride of Moab, an excessive pride;
Even of his arrogance, pride, and fury;
His idle boasts are false.

• Jer. 48:31 The LORD will wail for Moab and moan for the men of Kir-heres.

Is. 16:7  Therefore Moab will wail; everyone of Moab will wail.
You will moan for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth
As those who are utterly stricken.

• The people will wail for their sacrifice of raisin cakes, probably not protecting them as the LORD brings destruction and He wails for their boastful hearts.

  • Jer. 48:32 The LORD will weep for the vine of Sibmah more than Jazer.

Is. 16:8  For the fields of Heshbon have withered, the vines of Sibmah as well;
The lords of the nations have trampled down its choice clusters
Which reached as far as Jazer and wandered to the deserts;
Its tendrils spread themselves out and passed over the sea.

• The destroyer has fallen on the harvest; the focus is the destruction of what is produced and exported; both the physical and spiritual.

  • Jer. 48:33 Gladness and joy are taken away from the fruitful field, even from the land of Moab.

  • This will cause the production of wine to cease and the shouting will no longer be joyful.

    • Moab was known for their production of wine; the LORD uses the imagery of this process to describe why Moab is bad (dregs affecting them), to the vine stretching out (across the sea) and finally the ceasing of production.

• Verse 34 The cities will all cry out, even the waters of Nimrim will become desolate; this river empties into the Dead Sea.

  • The cities are named again moving from the north to the south.

• Verse 35 The LORD declares He will make an end of Moab; as the one who offers sacrifice on the high places and burned incense to his gods.

  • The Moabites had first drawn Israel into the worship of their gods before Israel was brought into the Promised Land.

Num. 25:1 While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab.
Num. 25:2 For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.
Num. 25:3 So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the LORD was angry against Israel.

• This worship of the false gods defined the Moabites and the LORD displays justice when He brings destruction on those who spread this detestable practice.

Jer. 48:36 “Therefore My heart wails for Moab like flutes; My heart also wails like flutes for the men of Kir-heres. Therefore they have lost the abundance it produced.
Jer. 48:37 “For every head is bald and every beard cut short; there are gashes on all the hands and sackcloth on the loins.
Jer. 48:38 “On all the housetops of Moab and in its streets there is lamentation everywhere; for I have broken Moab like an undesirable vessel,” declares the LORD.
Jer. 48:39 “How shattered it is! How they have wailed! How Moab has turned his back — he is ashamed! So Moab will become a laughingstock and an object of terror to all around him.”

• Verse 36 The LORD’s heart wails for Moab and the men of Kir-heres.

  • Flutes were commonly used as instruments in funerals.

• Verse 37 The people have shaved their heads, cut their beards, gashed their hands and donned sackcloth in mourning.

  • Verse 38 There is mourning in all of Moab as they are broken like an undesirable vessel, declared the LORD.

  • Verse 39 Moab is shattered, though they wail and turn in shame; having become a laughingstock and object of horror. What they did to Israel is now done to them.

Jer. 48:40 For thus says the LORD:
“Behold, one will fly swiftly like an eagle
And spread out his wings against Moab.
Jer. 48:41 “Kerioth has been captured
And the strongholds have been seized,
So the hearts of the mighty men of Moab in that day
Will be like the heart of a woman in labor.
Jer. 48:42 “Moab will be destroyed from being a people
Because he has become arrogant toward the LORD.
Jer. 48:43 “Terror, pit and snare are coming upon you,
O inhabitant of Moab,” declares the LORD.
Jer. 48:44 “The one who flees from the terror
Will fall into the pit,
And the one who climbs up out of the pit
Will be caught in the snare;
For I shall bring upon her, even upon Moab,
The year of their punishment,” declares the LORD.

• Verse 40 The LORD says one flying like an eagle will spread his wings against Moab.

  • Verse 41 Kerioth is captured, the strongholds seized causing the warriors of Moab to fear what pain is still to come, like a woman in labor.

  • Verse 42 Moab will cease to be a people because of their chosen arrogance against the LORD.

  • Verse 43-44 The LORD brings terror, pit and snares to the inhabitants of Moab.

    • When a Moabite tries to flee from the terror they will fall into the pit and if they try to escape the pit it will only be to fall into the snare set by the LORD; because of the year of their punishment.

Jer. 48:45 “In the shadow of Heshbon
The fugitives stand without strength;
For a fire has gone forth from Heshbon
And a flame from the midst of Sihon,
And it has devoured the forehead of Moab
And the scalps of the riotous revelers.
Jer. 48:46 “Woe to you, Moab!
The people of Chemosh have perished;
For your sons have been taken away captive
And your daughters into captivity.
Jer. 48:47 “Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab
In the latter days,” declares the LORD.  Thus far the judgment on Moab.

• Verse 45 From outside Heshbon those who flee are without strength because a fire has gone out from Heshbon, a flame in the midst of Sihon that has devoured the forehead of Moab and the riotous revelers.

  • An interesting picture of the forehead is presented here. It is also seen in Num. 24:17.

Num. 24:17 “I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near;
A star shall come forth from Jacob,
A scepter shall rise from Israel,
And shall crush through the forehead of Moab,
And tear down all the sons of Sheth.

• The Numbers passage contains some of the final words from Balaam to Israel.

  • The context appears to be speaking of the Messiah; the one not seen now, not near (at that time), a star coming from Jacob, with a scepter (royal) power from Israel.

  • This appears to be a prophecy concerning Jesus as Messiah and what He will do to Moab the enemy of Israel.

  • This highlights the spiritual emphasis of what the LORD is contending with in Moab.

• Jer. 48:46 The LORD declares a woe for Moab; declaring the worshippers of Chemosh have perished; their children are taken into captivity.

  • There is repeat imagery of verses 45-46 in Num. 21:28-29.

Num. 21:28 “For a fire went forth from Heshbon,
A flame from the town of Sihon;
It devoured Ar of Moab,
The dominant heights of the Arnon.
Num. 21:29 “Woe to you, O Moab!
You are ruined, O people of Chemosh!
He has given his sons as fugitives,
And his daughters into captivity,
To an Amorite king, Sihon.

• In Numbers Moses deals with King Sihon, when he would not allow Israel to pass by his kingdom (Moab) and instead attacks Israel.

  • Israel defeats Sihon and these verses are part of a proverb to describe the event.

  • The LORD makes reference to these same words as He gives words against Moab to Jeremiah.

• Jer. 48:47 The fortunes of Moab will be restored in the latter days.

  • A reference to the latter days is always a future focus of the Millennial Kingdom.

  • The fortunes of Moab came from her vines and ability to produce wine; this may be an indication of the fortunes that the land will see in the latter days.

  • For now the judgment of Moab has been declared by the LORD.

    • The Moabites were birthed from an incestuous relationship of Lot and his oldest daughter.

    • The Moabite king Balak tried to have the nation of Israel cursed.

    • The Moabite people drew the Israelites into the false worship of their gods before they entered the Promised Land.

  • There were times when the Moabites partnered with Israel and there were times the LORD used the Moabites against Israel. This is repeated throughout the history of Israel.

    • The stronghold cities of the Moabites were situated on a plateau.

    • This is a physical representation of their hearts lifted high in their arrogance and pride.

    • The LORD brings them down from their lofty cities and He will break their prideful hearts.

    • They had become a nation known for their pride.

  • Pride is deceitful to the heart and brings destruction.

Prov. 11:2  When pride comes, then comes dishonor,
But with the humble is wisdom.

Prov. 16:18  Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

Mark 7:21 “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries,
Mark 7:22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness.
Mark 7:23 “All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”

• The antidote to pride is a humble heart.

2Chr. 32:26 However, Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah.

Phil. 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
Phil. 2:4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.