Jeremiah 48:5 Study Bible: For by the ascent of Luhith with continual weeping shall they go up; for at the descent of Horonaim they have heard the distress of the cry of destruction.

◄ Jeremiah 48:5 ►

For on the ascent to Luhith they weep bitterly as they go, and on the descent to Horonaim cries of distress resound over the destruction:

Study Bible

For on the ascent to Luhith
Luhith is a location in Moab, a region east of the Dead Sea. The ascent to Luhith suggests a steep climb, indicating the geographical terrain of the area. This ascent is significant as it represents the path of escape for the Moabites during the Babylonian invasion. The mention of Luhith highlights the dire situation faced by the Moabites, as they flee from the advancing enemy forces. The ascent is symbolic of the struggle and hardship faced by those trying to escape judgment.

they weep bitterly as they go
The weeping signifies deep sorrow and lamentation, a common response to impending doom and destruction. This phrase captures the emotional turmoil of the Moabites as they face the loss of their homeland and the devastation of their people. The bitter weeping is reminiscent of other biblical instances of lamentation, such as the Israelites' mourning during the Babylonian exile (Psalm 137:1). It underscores the theme of divine judgment and the consequences of turning away from God.

and on the descent to Horonaim
Horonaim is another Moabite city, and the descent suggests a downward journey, possibly into a valley. This geographical detail emphasizes the movement of the Moabites as they flee, highlighting the urgency and desperation of their situation. The descent to Horonaim may also symbolize a spiritual decline, as the Moabites face the consequences of their idolatry and rebellion against God. The mention of both ascent and descent illustrates the comprehensive nature of the calamity befalling Moab.

cries of distress resound over the destruction
The cries of distress indicate widespread panic and fear among the Moabites as they witness the destruction of their cities and the collapse of their society. This phrase emphasizes the totality of the devastation, as the cries are not isolated but resound, suggesting that the impact is felt throughout the region. The destruction is a fulfillment of prophetic warnings against Moab, as seen in earlier prophecies (Isaiah 15:5). The cries also serve as a reminder of the consequences of sin and the need for repentance, echoing the broader biblical narrative of judgment and redemption.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Luhith
A location in Moab, mentioned in the context of a path of ascent. It is a place associated with weeping and lamentation due to impending destruction.

2. Horonaim
Another location in Moab, mentioned as a place of descent. It is characterized by cries of distress, indicating the severity of the calamity that has befallen Moab.

3. Moab
A nation east of Israel, often in conflict with Israel. In this context, Moab is facing judgment and destruction as prophesied by Jeremiah.

4. Jeremiah
A prophet of God who conveyed messages of judgment and hope to the nations, including Moab. His prophecies often called for repentance and warned of consequences for sin.

5. Destruction
The event of judgment upon Moab, symbolized by the weeping and cries of distress. It serves as a warning of the consequences of turning away from God.

Teaching Points

The Consequences of Sin
The destruction of Moab serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. Sin leads to sorrow and distress, as seen in the weeping and cries of Moab.

The Certainty of God's Judgment
The prophecy against Moab underscores the certainty of God's judgment. Just as Moab faced destruction, so too will all who persist in sin without repentance.

The Call to Repentance
The lamentation of Moab is a call to repentance for all nations. It is a reminder to turn back to God before facing similar judgment.

The Compassion of God
Even in judgment, God's heart is for restoration. The weeping and cries are not just signs of destruction but also an invitation to seek God's mercy and grace.

The Role of the Prophet
Jeremiah's role as a prophet was to convey God's message faithfully, regardless of its popularity. Believers are called to speak truth in love, warning others of the consequences of sin.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the imagery of weeping and cries of distress in Jeremiah 48:5 reflect the spiritual state of Moab, and what can we learn from this about the impact of sin in our own lives?

2. In what ways does the prophecy against Moab in Jeremiah 48:5 parallel the warnings given to other nations or individuals in the Bible, and how should this influence our understanding of God's justice?

3. How can the themes of judgment and repentance in Jeremiah 48:5 be applied to our personal walk with God, and what steps can we take to ensure we are living in alignment with His will?

4. Considering the role of Jeremiah as a prophet, how can we as believers today fulfill a similar role in our communities, warning others of the consequences of sin while offering hope through the gospel?

5. Reflect on a time when you experienced sorrow or distress as a result of sin. How did you respond, and what did you learn about God's character and your relationship with Him through that experience?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Isaiah 15
This chapter also speaks of the burden against Moab, describing similar scenes of lamentation and destruction, reinforcing the theme of divine judgment.

Lamentations 1
The book of Lamentations, attributed to Jeremiah, echoes the themes of weeping and distress over destruction, drawing a parallel to the sorrow expressed in Jeremiah 48:5.

Psalm 137
This psalm captures the weeping and lamentation of the Israelites in exile, similar to the weeping of Moab, highlighting the universal experience of sorrow due to sin and judgment.

Sermons

The Departed Praise of Moab

D. Young

People

Chemosh, Gamul, Jeremiah, Sihon, Zoar

Places

Arnon, Aroer, Beth-diblathaim, Bethel, Beth-gamul, Beth-meon, Bozrah, Dibon, Elealeh, Heshbon, Holon, Horonaim, Jahaz, Jahzah, Jazer, Kerioth, Kir-hareseth, Kiriathaim, Luhith, Madmen, Mephaath, Moab, Nebo, Nimrim, Sea of Jazer, Sibmah, Zoar

Topics

Adversaries, Anguish, Anguished, Ascend, Ascent, Bitterly, Continual, Cries, Cry, Descent, Desolation, Destruction, Distress, Distressing, Ears, Enemies, Horonaim, Horona'im, Luhith, Road, Slope, Weeping

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Jeremiah 48:4-5

5801 brokenness

Jeremiah 48:4-6

5178 running

Library

August 8. "Be Like the Dove" (Jer. Xlviii. 28).
"Be like the dove" (Jer. xlviii. 28). Harmless as a dove, is Christ's interpretation of the beautiful emblem. And so the Spirit of God is purity itself. He cannot dwell in an unclean heart. He cannot abide in the natural mind. It was said of the anointing of old, "On man's flesh it shall not be poured." The purity which the Holy Spirit brings is like the white and spotless little plant which grows up out of the heap of manure, or the black soil, without one grain of impurity adhering to its crystalline …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

How those are to be Admonished who Decline the Office of Preaching Out of Too Great Humility, and those who Seize on it with Precipitate Haste.
(Admonition 26.) Differently to be admonished are those who, though able to preach worthily, are afraid by reason of excessive humility, and those whom imperfection or age forbids to preach, and yet precipitancy impells. For those who, though able to preach with profit, still shrink back through excessive humility are to be admonished to gather from consideration of a lesser matter how faulty they are in a greater one. For, if they were to hide from their indigent neighbours money which they possessed …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Balaam's Prophecy. (Numb. xxiv. 17-19. )
Carried by the Spirit into the far distant future, Balaam sees here how a star goeth out of Jacob and a sceptre riseth out of Israel, and how this sceptre smiteth Moab, by whose enmity the Seer had been brought from a distant region for the destruction of Israel. And not Moab only shall be smitten, but its southern neighbour, Edom, too shall be subdued, whose hatred against Israel had already been prefigured in its ancestor, and had now begun to display Itself; and In general, all the enemies of …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Meditations for the Sick.
Whilst thy sickness remains, use often, for thy comfort, these few meditations, taken from the ends wherefore God sendeth afflictions to his children. Those are ten. 1. That by afflictions God may not only correct our sins past, but also work in us a deeper loathing of our natural corruptions, and so prevent us from falling into many other sins, which otherwise we would commit; like a good father, who suffers his tender babe to scorch his finger in a candle, that he may the rather learn to beware …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Prophet Joel.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. The position which has been assigned to Joel in the collection of the Minor Prophets, furnishes an external argument for the determination of the time at which Joel wrote. There cannot be any doubt that the Collectors were guided by a consideration of the chronology. The circumstance, that they placed the prophecies of Joel just between the two prophets who, according to the inscriptions and contents of their prophecies, belonged to the time of Jeroboam and Uzziah, is …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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