Jeremiah 48:36

Jer 48:36 Therefore mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kirheres: because the riches [that] he hath gotten are perished.

Ver. 36. Therefore my heart.] See Isa 15:5; Isa 16:11.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Jer_48:36

Because the riches that he hath gotten are perished.

Riches are ever liable to perish

Prosperity is not to be deemed the greatest security. The lofty unbending cedar is more exposed to the injurious blast than the lowly shrub. The little pinnace rides safely along the shore, while the gallant ship advancing is wrecked. Those sheep which have the most wool are generally the soonest fleeced. Poverty is its own defence against robbery. Who would snake those trees upon which there is no fruit? (T. Secker.).

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Further lamentation over the fall of Moab. - Jer 48:36. "Therefore my heart sounds like pipes for Moab, and my heart sounds like pipes for the men of Kir-heres; therefore the savings which he has made are perished. Jer 48:37. For every head is baldness, and every beard is shorn; on all hands there are cuts, and on loins sackcloth. Jer 48:38. On all the roofs of Moab, and in its streets, it is all mourning; for I have broken Moab like a vessel, in which there is no pleasure, saith Jahveh."

The prophet once more lifts up his lamentation over Moab (Jer 48:36 corresponds to Jer 48:31), and gives reason for it in the picture he draws of the deep affliction of the Moabites. Jer 48:36 is an imitation of Isa 16:11; the thought presented in v. 36b accords with that found in Isa 15:7. Isaiah says, "My bowels sound (groan) like the harp," whose strings give a tremulous sound when struck with the plectrum. Instead of this, Jeremiah puts the sounding of pipes, the instruments used in dirges (Mat 9:23). Moab and Kir-heres are mentioned together, as in Jer 48:31. על־כּן, in the second clause, does not stand for כּי על־כּן, "on this account that" (Kimchi, Hitzig, Graf, etc.), but is co-ordinated with the first על־כּן. The idea is not, "Therefore my heart mourns over Moab, because the savings are perished;" but because the sentence of desolation has been passed on the whole of Moab, therefore the heart of the prophet makes lament, and therefore, too, all the property which Moab has acquired is lost. יתרה, as a collective noun, is joined with the plural verb אבדוּ. On the construction יתרת עשׂה, cf. Gesenius, 123, 3, Rem. 1; Ewald, 332, c. The proof of this is given by the deep sorrow and wailing of the whole Moabite nation, Jer 48:37. On all sides are tokens of the deepest sadness, - heads shorn bald, beards cut off, incisions on the hands, sackcloth round the loins.

Jer 48:37-38

Jer 48:37 is formed out of pieces taken from Isa 15:2-3. קרחה is a substantive, "baldness," i.e., quite bald. גּרוּעה, decurtata, instead of גּדוּעה (in Isaiah), is weaker, but more suitable for the present connection. גּדדת, i.e., cuts or scratches inflicted on the body, as signs of mourning; cf. Jer 16:6; Jer 41:5. כּלּה , "It is all wailing;" nothing is heard but wailing, for God has broken Moab in pieces like a useless vessel. On the simile employed, cf. Jer 22:28.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

Their custom was to play on flutes or instruments, heavy and grave tunes at burials and in the time of mourning, as Matt. 9:23.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(See on Isa 15:7; Isa 16:11).

like pipes--a plaintive instrument, therefore used at funerals and in general mourning.

riches . . . gotten--literally, the abundance . . . that which is over and above the necessaries of life. GROTIUS translates, "They who have been left remaining shall perish"; they who have not been slain by the enemy shall perish by disease and famine.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Here the Prophet, as it has been before stated, does not mourn the calamity of the people of Moab, but assumes the character of others, so that the event might appear more evident, it being set as it were before our eyes; for as we have said, the wealth of the Moabites was so great at that time, that it dazzled the eyes of all. It was then difficult for the faithful to form an idea of this vengeance of God, therefore the Prophet transfers to himself the feelings of others, and relates what the Moabites would do, when God had so grievously afflicted them.

My heart, he says, shall sound like pipes Some think that mournful pipes are meant, but I know not whether or not they were instruments of this kind; and there are those who think that חללים, chellim, were bag-pipes, but what is too refined I leave. The Prophet simply means that such would be the trepidation, that the hearts of the Moabites would make a noise like pipes. He repeats the same thing in different words, that his heart would make a noise, or sound, for the men of Kir-heres, of which city we spoke yesterday.

He now adds, for the residue which they have made, or which Moab has made, for the verb is in the singular number; and then, they have perished, where also there is a change of number; but the reference is to the word “residue,” יתרת, iteret, which included hidden treasures, as we have stated. Whatever then the Moabites had gained for themselves, and whatever they thought would be always safe, the Prophet declares that it would perish. Isaiah adds, “their substance,” פקותם, pekotem, and says, that they would carry it to the willows, that is, to deserted places; as though he had said, that all the wealth of the Moabites would be scattered, as though it were, as they say, a thing forsaken. It now follows —

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

(36) Mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes . . .—The words reproduce Isa_16:11. His heart becomes, as it were, musical in its groans and sighs. He cannot look on the panic-stricken and mourning city without sharing in its misery. In the baldness (Jer_7:29; Jer_16:6), the clipped beard, the cuttings (Jer_16:6; Jer_41:5), the sackcloth (Jer_4:8; Jer_6:26; Joe_1:8) we have the wonted signs of mourning for the dead. The “pipe” is chosen rather than the harp, as in Isa_16:11, because it had come to be the recognised music for funerals (so in Mat_9:23).

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

36. soundeth for Moab like pipes] Their use was connected with funerals, so that the word is appropriate as expressing mourning. Isaiah’s word is “an harp” (Jer_16:11).

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped,.... Men, in times of mourning, used to pluck off the hairs of their head till they made them bald, and shaved their beards; which, as Kimchi says, were the glory of their faces; see Isa 15:2;

upon all the hands shall be cuttings: it was usual with the Heathens to make incisions in the several parts of their bodies, particularly in their hands and arms, with their nails, or with knives, in token of mourning; which are forbidden the Israelites, Deu 14:1;

and upon the loins sackcloth; this is a well known custom for mourners, to put off their clothes, and put on sackcloth; all these things are mentioned, to show how great was the mourning of Moab for the calamities of it.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Like pipes - A wind instrument, used at funerals Mat 9:23.

The riches that he hath gotten - literally, “that which remains over, a superfluity.”

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Pipes. Hebrew chalilim, (Haydock) lyre or flutes. Such were used at funerals of children; (Matthew ix. 23.) trumpets sounded for men. (Servius) --- Could; opposing the conqueror of Asia, ver. 30, 31. (Calmet) --- Protestants, "the riches that he hat gotten is perished."

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

The prophet means such pipes as they were wont to use at funerals, and other sad occasions, to play doleful lessons upon; see Isa 15:5; because of the great change in the state of this poor people, which had got together a great deal of wealth, which is all perished.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

36. Pipes — In Isaiah it is harp. Jeremiah says “pipes” for the plaintive and dirge-like quality of the music.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Ver. 36-42. The description of Moab"s lamentations continued.

Based on Isa_16:11 Isa_15:7. Like pipes. Isaiah has, "like the harp or, "lute." The pipe, or flute, was specially used at funeral ceremonies, (Mat_9:23 Luk_7:32) and therefore, perhaps, seemed to Jeremiah more appropriate. Because the riches, etc. This is, no doubt, what we should have expected, but this is not what Jeremiah wrote; "because" should rather be therefore. Jeremiah simply transferred a clause (substantially at least) from his original, Isa_15:7, but into a context where it stands rather less naturally. The meaning of the words in Isaiah is that, the desolation being so great, the Moabites shall carry away as much of their goods as they can. In this new context, however, we can only explain this unexpected "therefore" by referring to a habit of the Israelitish mind by which that which contributed to a result was regarded as worked purposely for that result. Good instances of this habit are Gen_18:5 Psa_45:3 Psa_51:6; comp. Winer"s "New Testament Grammar" (Clark), pp. 573, 574, especially note 1 on p. 574, though the idiom also occurs in Old Testament passages in which the religious view of life is hardly traceable.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Pipes - The prophet means such pipes as they were wont to use at funerals, and other sad occasions.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Lamentation over Moab

v. 36. Therefore mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, sighing with the wailing sound of the flute, and mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kir-heres, the chief stronghold of Moab, because the riches that he hath gotten are perished, literally, "because the remnant that they had gained, perished. " Because the judgment of destruction had struck Moab, therefore his heart was wailing so bitterly, and therefore also the wealth of Moab was lost.

v. 37. For every head shall be bald, shaved as a sign of deep grief, and every beard clipped, another evidence of mourning; upon all the hands shall be cuttings, incisions such as the heathen made in deep sorrow, and upon the loins sackcloth, the whole nation lamenting on account of the great losses which had come upon the entire land.

v. 38. There shall be lamentation generally, nothing but wailing, upon all the housetops of Moab, and in the streets thereof, both at home and abroad; for I have broken Moab like a vessel wherein is no pleasure, saith the Lord, like a worthless vase which is cast aside without so much as a backward glance.

v. 39. They shall howl, literally, "How is it broken!" saying, How is it broken down! How hath Moab turned the back with shame! no longer proud and insolent, but utterly broken in spirit. So shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all them about him, an object of scorn, mockery, and horror.

v. 40. For thus saith the Lord, Behold, he, namely, Nebuzar-adan, the captain of Nebuchadnezzar, shall fly as an eagle and shall spread his wings over Moab, to pounce upon them as a welcome prey, to tear them to pieces.

v. 41. Kerioth, Cf v. 24, is taken, and the strongholds are surprised, and the mighty men’s hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs, full of fear and terror.

v. 42. And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, losing its identity among the nations, because he hath magnified himself against the Lord, and Jehovah resisteth the proud.

v. 43. Fear and the pit, used by the hunter of big game, and the snare, used by the fowler, shall be upon thee, O inhabitant of Moab, saith the Lord, some sort of catastrophe being sure to strike the proud and defiant people.

v. 44. He that fleeth from the fear, trying to escape the general horror, shall fall into the pit, and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare, one or the other of the calamities will be sure to catch him; for I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation, saith the Lord.

v. 45. They that fled, the fugitives who escaped the slaughter, stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force, powerless in the face of the danger confronting them; but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, the city in which they hoped to find refuge, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, the ancient king of the Amorites, and shall devour the corner of Moab, so that it would be totally destroyed, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones, of the sons of warlike confusion. The prophet here applies the ancient hymn. Num 21:27-28, to the circumstances before him; for as in ancient times Sihon, king of the Amorites, came forth from his city, Heshbon, like a devouring flame, which consumed Moab, so the Chaldeans, starting from Heshbon, would descend upon the country of the Moabites and destroy their power.

v. 46. Woe be unto thee, O Moab! The people of Chemosh perisheth, the idolaters with their false god; for thy sons are taken captives, led away into prison, and thy daughters captives, dragged into exile.

v. 47. Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the Lord, the Messianic idea becoming evident in this promise of restoration. Thus far is the judgment of Moab. The Lord has His children even in the midst of a people which has rejected Him, which, for this reason, He is bound to punish according to His holiness. The Gospel-message has reached many Gentiles, and the Gospel-blessings have descended upon many persons outside of Israel according to the flesh.

Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

my heart is lamenting for Moab like a flute

Here "heart" represents the whole person. The person's sad crying is compared to the sad music played on a flute at a funeral. AT: "I cry sadly for Moab. My cries are like the sad music a person plays on a flute at a funeral" (See: Synecdoche and Simile)

my heart

Possible meanings are 1) "my" refers to Jeremiah or 2) "my" refers to Yahweh.

Kir Hareseth

Kir Hareseth was an ancient capital of Moab. See how you translated this name in Jeremiah 48:31. (See: How to Translate Names)

For every head is bald and every beard shaved. Incisions are on every hand, and sackcloth is around their waists

These are all things that the people of Moab did when they were mourning or expressing deep sorrow. (See: Symbolic Action)

Incisions

cuts made on the skin

translationWords

lament

flute

people group

head

sackcloth

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

because they dealt haughtily יתרת עשה. Because they dealt haughtily, they perished.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.