Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
under . . . shadow of Heshbon—They thought that they would be safe in Heshbon.
because of the force—that is, "they that fled because of the force" of the enemy: they that fled from it. GLASSIUS translates, "through want of strength." So the Hebrew particle is translated (Psalms 109:24), "faileth of fatness," that is, "faileth through want of fatness"; also Lamentations 4:9.
but a fire, etc.—copied in part from Sihon's hymn of victory (Numbers 21:27-28). The old "proverb" shall hold good again. As in ancient times Sihon, king of the Amorites, issued forth from his city, Heshbon, as a devouring "flame" and consumed Moab, so now the Chaldeans, making Heshbon their starting-point, shall advance to the destruction of Moab.
midst of Sihon—that is, the city of Sihon.
corner of Moab—that is, Moab from one corner to the other.
crown of . . . head—the most elevated points of Moab. Making some alterations, he here copies Balaam's prophecy (Numbers 24:17). Margin there translates "princes" for corners; if so, "crown of . . . head" here refers to the nobles.
tumultuous ones—sons of tumult; those who have tumultuously revolted from Babylon. Heshbon passed from the Amorite to the Israelite sway. Moab had wrested it from Israel and helped the Chaldeans against the Jews; but revolting from Babylon, they brought ruin on themselves in turn.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Jeremiah 48:45:
Jeremiah 48:2
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