Chapter Overview
Summary
Oracle against Moab. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST HEAVILY DIVERGENT OAN CHAPTERS. LXX ch. 31 (9th and last in LXX OAN order) is SIGNIFICANTLY shorter than MT ch. 48. MT ch. 48 is the longest OAN oracle (47 verses); LXX has extensive omissions and abbreviations throughout.
Notable Variants
LXX is approximately 25-30% shorter than MT in this chapter. Multiple verses are absent or heavily abbreviated. The list of Moabite cities and the poetic laments over Moab are significantly condensed in LXX. MT appears to have expanded the oracle with material drawn from Isaiah 15-16 (the Isaiah Moab oracle). LXX may preserve the earlier, shorter form before this Isaianic material was added.
Structural Notes
MT ch. 48 = LXX ch. 31. Moab is 3rd in MT OAN order but LAST (9th) in LXX OAN order.
Concerning Moab — this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Woe to Nebo, for it is destroyed! Kiriathaim is put to shame, it is captured. The fortress is put to shame and shattered.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Moab's glory is no more. In Heshbon they have plotted evil against her: 'Come, let us cut her off as a nation!' You too, Madmen, will be silenced — the sword will pursue you.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
A cry rings out from Horonaim — devastation and great destruction!
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Moab is shattered! Her little ones cry out in anguish.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
On the ascent of Luhith weeping rises upon weeping, and on the descent to Horonaim cries of anguish over destruction are heard.
Masoretic (WLC)
כִּי בְמַעֲלֵה הַלֻּחִית בְּכִי יַעֲלֶה־בֶכִי
For on the ascent of Aloth...
Septuagint (LXX)
ὅτι ἐν τῇ ἀναβάσει Αλωθ
For on the ascent of Luhith, weeping upon weeping shall go up.
LXX is shorter — omits part of the description of the cry on the ascent of Luhith.
Flee! Save your lives! Be like a juniper bush in the wilderness.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Because you trusted in your achievements and your treasures, you too will be captured. Chemosh will go into exile, his priests and officials together.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
The destroyer will come against every city — no city will escape. The valley will perish and the plateau will be ruined, as the LORD has declared.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Give wings to Moab, for she must fly away! Her cities will become desolate, with no one living in them.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Cursed is the one who carries out the LORD's work halfheartedly, and cursed is the one who holds back his sword from blood.
Masoretic (WLC)
אָרוּר עֹשֶׂה מְלֶאכֶת יְהוָה רְמִיָּה
Septuagint (LXX)
ἐπικατάρατος ὁ ποιῶν τὰ ἔργα κυρίου ἀμελῶς
LXX slightly different in the curse on those who hold back the sword.
Moab has been undisturbed since his youth, settling on his dregs. He has never been poured from vessel to vessel or gone into exile. So his flavor has stayed in him and his aroma has not changed.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Therefore the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will send tilters to him who will tilt him over. They will empty his vessels and smash his jars.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh, just as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel, their confidence.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
How can you say, 'We are warriors, men of valor for battle'?
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Moab is destroyed and her cities overrun. The best of her young men go down to the slaughter, declares the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Moab's disaster is near at hand, and his calamity rushes swiftly.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Grieve for him, all who surround him, all who know his name. Say: 'How the mighty scepter is broken, the staff of splendor!'
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Come down from your glory and sit in parched ground, you who dwell in Daughter Dibon! For the destroyer of Moab has come up against you; he has ruined your fortifications.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Stand by the road and watch, you who dwell in Aroer! Ask the man fleeing and the woman escaping, say: 'What has happened?'
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Moab is put to shame, for he is shattered! Wail and cry out! Declare it at the Arnon: Moab is destroyed!
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Judgment has come upon the plateau — upon Holon, upon Jahazah, upon Mephaath,
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
upon Dibon, upon Nebo, upon Beth-diblathaim,
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
upon Kiriathaim, upon Beth-gamul, upon Beth-meon,
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
upon Kerioth, upon Bozrah, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far and near.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Moab's horn is cut off and his arm is broken, declares the LORD.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Make him drunk, for he exalted himself against the LORD! Moab will wallow in his own vomit and become an object of ridicule himself.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Was not Israel a laughingstock to you? Was he caught among thieves, that whenever you spoke of him you shook your head in scorn?
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Abandon the cities and settle among the rocks, you inhabitants of Moab! Be like a dove that nests on the sides of a gorge's mouth.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
We have heard of Moab's pride — exceedingly proud! — his loftiness, his arrogance, his conceit, and the haughtiness of his heart.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
I know his bluster, declares the LORD — it amounts to nothing. His boasts accomplish nothing.
MT v. 30 contains extended lamentation over Moab that is significantly shorter in LXX. Much of this material parallels Isaiah 15-16 and may have been added to MT from that source.
Therefore I will wail over Moab; for all of Moab I will cry out. For the men of Kir-heres he will moan.
MT v. 31 contains extended lamentation over Moab that is significantly shorter in LXX. Much of this material parallels Isaiah 15-16 and may have been added to MT from that source.
More than the weeping for Jazer I weep for you, O vine of Sibmah! Your branches stretched across the sea, reaching as far as the sea of Jazer. The destroyer has fallen upon your summer fruit and your grape harvest.
MT v. 32 contains extended lamentation over Moab that is significantly shorter in LXX. Much of this material parallels Isaiah 15-16 and may have been added to MT from that source.
Joy and gladness are taken away from the orchards and from the land of Moab. I have stopped the wine from the vats. No one treads the grapes with shouts — the shouts are not shouts of joy.
MT v. 33 contains extended lamentation over Moab that is significantly shorter in LXX. Much of this material parallels Isaiah 15-16 and may have been added to MT from that source.
From the outcry of Heshbon to Elealeh, to Jahaz they raise their voice — from Zoar to Horonaim, to Eglath-shelishiyah — for even the waters of Nimrim have become desolate.
MT v. 34 contains extended lamentation over Moab that is significantly shorter in LXX. Much of this material parallels Isaiah 15-16 and may have been added to MT from that source.
I will put an end in Moab, declares the LORD, to anyone who offers sacrifice at the high places and burns incense to his gods.
MT v. 35 contains extended lamentation over Moab that is significantly shorter in LXX. Much of this material parallels Isaiah 15-16 and may have been added to MT from that source.
Therefore my heart moans for Moab like a flute, and my heart moans for the men of Kir-heres like a flute — for the wealth they gained has perished.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
For every head is shaved bald and every beard is cut short. On every hand are gashes, and on every waist, sackcloth.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
On every rooftop in Moab and in her public squares — everywhere, mourning! For I have shattered Moab like a jar that no one wants, declares the LORD.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
How shattered he is! Wail! How Moab has turned his back in shame! Moab has become an object of ridicule and a horror to all his neighbors.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
For this is what the LORD says: Look — like an eagle he swoops down and spreads his wings over Moab.
LXX shorter in the concluding verses of the Moab oracle.
The cities are captured and the strongholds are seized. On that day the heart of Moab's warriors will be like the heart of a woman in labor.
LXX shorter in the concluding verses of the Moab oracle.
Moab will be destroyed as a people, because he exalted himself against the LORD.
LXX shorter in the concluding verses of the Moab oracle.
Terror, pit, and trap await you, inhabitant of Moab, declares the LORD.
LXX shorter in the concluding verses of the Moab oracle.
The one fleeing from terror will fall into the pit, and the one climbing out of the pit will be caught in the trap. For I will bring upon Moab the year of their punishment, declares the LORD.
LXX shorter in the concluding verses of the Moab oracle.
In the shadow of Heshbon the fugitives stand exhausted, but fire has gone out from Heshbon, a flame from the house of Sihon. It has consumed the forehead of Moab, the skull of the sons of tumult.
LXX shorter in the concluding verses of the Moab oracle.
Woe to you, Moab! The people of Chemosh are lost, for your sons are taken captive and your daughters into exile.
LXX shorter in the concluding verses of the Moab oracle.
Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab in the latter days, declares the LORD. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.
LXX shorter in the concluding verses of the Moab oracle.