Jeremiah 48:40
For thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Moab, descended from Lot (Genesis 19:37), occupied the plateau east of the Dead Sea. Though distant cousins to Israel, Moabites were historic antagonists (Numbers 22-25, Judges 3:12-30). By Jeremiah's time (early 6th century BC), Moab had survived Assyrian invasions and temporarily prospered while Judah suffered. Archaeological evidence shows Moabite towns flourished until Nebuchadnezzar's campaigns. Babylonian records confirm Nebuchadnezzar invaded Transjordan around 582 BC, devastating Moab, Ammon, and Edom. The eagle imagery would have terrified Moabites—they had watched Babylon destroy Jerusalem (586 BC) and knew resistance was futile.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's use of pagan Babylon as His instrument of judgment challenge our assumptions about how He works in history?
- What does Moab's fate teach about the danger of gloating over others' misfortunes, especially God's people?
- How should the certainty of God's prophesied judgments affect our view of contemporary world events?
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Analysis & Commentary
He shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab—God employs the imagery of a raptor (nesher, נֶשֶׁר, eagle or vulture) to depict Babylon's swift, unstoppable attack on Moab. The verb da'ah (דָּאָה), 'fly,' conveys swooping speed and predatory intent. Spread his wings (paras kenaphayv, פָּרַשׂ כְּנָפָיו) suggests both the eagle's hunting posture and complete domination—the shadow of those wings offers no protection, only terror.
This eagle is identified in context as Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (cf. Jeremiah 48:40-47, fulfilled c. 582 BC when Nebuchadnezzar invaded Moab). Ezekiel uses identical imagery for Babylon's king (Ezekiel 17:3). The eagle motif recurs throughout Scripture: Deuteronomy 28:49 warned covenant-breakers that God would bring 'a nation from afar, as swift as the eagle'; Daniel 7:4 depicts Babylon as a winged lion. The irony is profound—Moab mocked Israel's God and exulted in Judah's fall (Jeremiah 48:26-27), yet now faces the same divine instrument of judgment.