Jeremiah 49:3
Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro by the hedges; for their king shall go into captivity, and his priests and his princes together.
Original Language Analysis
הֵילִ֨ילִי
Howl
H3213
הֵילִ֨ילִי
Howl
Strong's:
H3213
Word #:
1 of 20
to howl (with a wailing tone) or yell (with a boisterous one)
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
3 of 20
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
שֻׁדְּדָה
is spoiled
H7703
שֻׁדְּדָה
is spoiled
Strong's:
H7703
Word #:
4 of 20
properly, to be burly, i.e., (figuratively) powerful (passively, impregnable); by implication, to ravage
צְעַקְנָה֮
cry
H6817
צְעַקְנָה֮
cry
Strong's:
H6817
Word #:
6 of 20
to shriek; (by implication) to proclaim (an assembly)
בְּנ֣וֹת
ye daughters
H1323
בְּנ֣וֹת
ye daughters
Strong's:
H1323
Word #:
7 of 20
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
רַבָּה֒
of Rabbah
H7237
רַבָּה֒
of Rabbah
Strong's:
H7237
Word #:
8 of 20
rabbah, the name of two places in palestine, east and west
שַׂקִּ֔ים
you with sackcloth
H8242
שַׂקִּ֔ים
you with sackcloth
Strong's:
H8242
Word #:
10 of 20
properly, a mesh (as allowing a liquid to run through), i.e., coarse loose cloth or sacking (used in mourning and for bagging); hence, a bag (for grai
סְפֹ֕דְנָה
lament
H5594
סְפֹ֕דְנָה
lament
Strong's:
H5594
Word #:
11 of 20
properly, to tear the hair and beat the breasts (as middle easterners do in grief); generally to lament; by implication, to wail
וְהִתְשׁוֹטַ֖טְנָה
and run to and fro
H7751
וְהִתְשׁוֹטַ֖טְנָה
and run to and fro
Strong's:
H7751
Word #:
12 of 20
properly, to push forth; (but used only figuratively) to lash, i.e., (the sea with oars) to row; by implication, to travel
כִּ֤י
H3588
כִּ֤י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
14 of 20
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
בַּגּוֹלָ֣ה
into captivity
H1473
בַּגּוֹלָ֣ה
into captivity
Strong's:
H1473
Word #:
16 of 20
exile; concretely and collectively exiles
יֵלֵ֔ךְ
H1980
יֵלֵ֔ךְ
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
17 of 20
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
כֹּהֲנָ֥יו
and his priests
H3548
כֹּהֲנָ֥יו
and his priests
Strong's:
H3548
Word #:
18 of 20
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
Cross References
Jeremiah 48:7For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together.Isaiah 15:2He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba: on all their heads shall be baldness, and every beard cut off.Jeremiah 48:37For every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands shall be cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth.Jeremiah 4:8For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the LORD is not turned back from us.Jeremiah 46:25The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings; even Pharaoh, and all them that trust in him:1 Kings 11:5For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.1 Kings 11:33Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.2 Kings 23:13And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile.
Historical Context
Heshbon was originally Moabite, conquered by Sihon the Amorite (Numbers 21:26), then taken by Israel and assigned to Reuben/Gad (Numbers 32:37, Joshua 13:17). Its shifting control reflects the contested border region between Israel, Moab, and Ammon. When Babylon invaded, Ammonite leadership was indeed captured—their king and nobles were exiled. The reference to 'their king' (possibly Milcom) going into captivity echoes Isaiah 46:1-2, where Babylonian gods Bel and Nebo are carried into exile. Archaeological excavations at Rabbah (modern Amman) show destruction layers from the 6th century BC consistent with Babylonian conquest.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the command for Ammon's cities to 'howl' and 'lament' teach about the certainty and severity of God's judgment on those who oppose His people?
- How does the exile of both Ammon's human king and their god Milcom demonstrate the impotence of false gods and worldly power?
- In what ways should Christians soberly recognize that neither political power nor false religion can ultimately protect those who reject the true God?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah. God commands Ammonite cities to lament their coming destruction. 'Howl' (yalal, יָלַל) is a cry of anguish, wailing in grief—often associated with funeral mourning. Heshbon, originally an Amorite city conquered by Israel, had apparently fallen under Ammonite control. 'Ai is spoiled' (shuddad, שֻׁדַּד, devastated/destroyed) refers either to an Ammonite town named Ai or uses 'Ai' generically meaning 'ruin.' The 'daughters of Rabbah' are the dependent villages surrounding the capital.
Gird you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro by the hedges. Three mourning rituals are commanded:
These are actions of those facing inescapable doom.
For their king shall go into captivity, and his priests and his princes together. The phrase 'their king' (malkam, מַלְכָּם) is deliberately ambiguous—it could mean (1) their human king, or (2) Milcom/Molech, the Ammonite deity (1 Kings 11:5, 33). Likely both meanings apply: both political and religious leadership will be exiled. The comprehensive judgment includes rulers ('princes'), religious leaders ('priests'), and the god they worshiped. This fulfills the pattern: gods cannot save their worshipers (Isaiah 46:1-2).