Study Desk

Concerning ^(C1)Moab. This is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel says: "Woe to ^(C2)Nebo, for it has been destroyed; ^(C3)Kiriathaim has been put to shame, it has been captured; The high stronghold has been put to shame and ^(F1)shattered.

-"There is no longer praise for Moab; In ^(C1)Heshbon they have devised disaster against her: 'Come and let's cut her off from being a nation!' You too, ^(F1)Madmen, will be silenced; The sword will follow you.

-"The sound of an outcry from ^(C1)Horonaim, 'Devastation and great destruction!'

-"Moab is broken, Her little ones have sounded out a cry of distress.

-"For they will go up by the ascent of ^(C1)Luhith With continual weeping; For at the descent of Horonaim They have heard the ^(F1)anguished cry of destruction.

-"^(C1)Flee, save yourselves, So that you may be like a juniper in the wilderness.

-"For because of your ^(C1)trust in your own achievements and treasures, You yourself will also be captured; And ^(C2)Chemosh will go off into exile Together with his priests and his leaders.

-"A destroyer will come to every city, So that no city will escape; The valley also will be ruined And the ^(C1)plateau will be destroyed, As the LORD has said.

-"Give ^(F1)(C1)wings to Moab, For she will ^(F2)flee away; And her cities will become a ^(C2)desolation, Without inhabitants in them.

-"^(C1)Cursed is the one who does the LORD'S work ^(C2)negligently, And cursed is the one who restrains his ^(C3)sword from blood.

"Moab has been ^(C1)at ease since his youth; He has also been ^(C2)peaceful, like wine on ^(F1)its dregs, And he has not been ^(C3)poured from vessel to vessel, Nor has he gone into exile. Therefore ^(F2)he retains his flavor, And his aroma has not changed.

"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 pour out his vessels and smash ^(F1)his jars.

"And Moab will be ^(C1)ashamed of ^(C2)Chemosh, just as the house of Israel was ashamed of ^(C3)Bethel, their confidence.

-"How can you say, 'We are ^(C1)warriors, And men competent for battle'?

-"Moab has been destroyed and ^(F1)men have gone up to ^(F2)his cities; His choicest ^(F3)(C1)young men have also gone down to the slaughter," Declares the ^(C2)King, whose name is the LORD of armies.

"The disaster of Moab will ^(C1)soon come, And his catastrophe has hurried quickly.

-"Mourn for him, all you who live around him, And all of you who know his name; Say, 'How the mighty ^(F1)(C1)scepter has been broken, A staff of splendor!'

-"^(C1)Come down from your glory And sit on the parched ground, O ^(C2)daughter living in ^(C3)Dibon, For the destroyer of Moab has come up against you, He has ruined your strongholds.

-"Stand by the road and keep watch, You inhabitant of ^(C1)Aroer; ^(C2)Ask him who flees and her who escapes And say, 'What has happened?'

-"Moab has been put to shame, for it has been ^(F1)shattered. Wail and cry out; Declare by the ^(C1)Arnon That Moab has been destroyed.

"Judgment has also come upon the plain, upon Holon, ^(C1)Jahzah, and against ^(C2)Mephaath,

against Dibon, Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim,