Wesley Corpus

Chapter XLVIII The judgment of Moab, ver. 1 - 6. for their pride, ver. 7 - 10. for their security and human confidence, ver. 11 - 15. especially for their contempt of God, and insolence towards his people, ver. 26 - 46. Their restoration, ver. 47. Heshbon - Heshbon was one of the principal cities of the Moabites. Probably the enemies sat there in counsel, when they had taken it, against the other parts of the country. Horoniam - Another city of Moab. Luhith - To this city the Moabites fled for sanctuary, and flying made so great an out - cry that their enemies who pursued them heard it. And be - Save your lives, though all ye have be lost. Trusted - In thy idols. Chemosh - Chemosh was their principal idol. Give wings - The Moabites have need of wings like a bird to escape that ruin which is coming upon them. At ease - The Moabites ever since they began to be a people, have been a quiet people. Settled - Like a cask of wine, that has not been racked but has continued in the same state. Not emptied - A metaphor of wine which is drawn out from vessel to vessel, when it is drawn off the lees. It is expounded by the next words. Therefore - And this is the reason why they retain their old sins, pride, presumption, and luxury. Wanderers - The Chaldeans, who wandered from their own country to conquer other people. Break his bottles - He had before compared the Moabites, to wine settled upon the lees, here he saith, that God would send those that should not only disturb, but destroy them. Bethel - The golden calves, which Jeroboam set up at Dan and Bethel. Is near - Josephus tells us this destruction came upon the Moabites five years after the siege of Jerusalem. Staff - A staff and a rod are as well, ensigns of power and government, as instruments to punish offenders. Dibon - Dibon, Aroer, and Ataroh were built by the children of Gad. It should seem the Moabites were not come into the possession of them. In thirst - It was a place well watered, but God threatens she should be in thirst, that is, driven into some dry, barren countries. The spoiler - The king of Babylon.