John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 48:9

"Give wings unto Moab, that she may fly and get her away: and her cities shall become a desolation, without any to dwell therein." — Jeremiah 48:9 (ASV)

Here is a bitter derision; for it was necessary not only to provoke the Moabites but also to pierce them through, because they were inflated with so much pride and also because they cruelly raged against God’s people, as we will more fully see later. When the Israelites were conquered, these ungodly men uttered their taunts and also betrayed them to their enemies.

Therefore, the Prophet now says, Give wings to Moab. Although the word ציף, tsits, properly means a flower, it means a wing here, standing for wings; as if he had said that the Moabites could not escape destruction except by flying. In short, since they had not only so proudly despised but had also persecuted their miserable brothers, the Prophet says, “The time will come when feet for running or for flight will not be sufficient for you, your enemies being so eager in pursuit; but you will desire to have wings.” But, as we will see, he will soon tell us that Moab had been quiet and settling on its dregs.

He then adds that its cities would be a waste, so as to have no inhabitant. He mentions the reason why Moab would need wings: because there would be no refuge for them, for wherever it would go, it would be driven away from there. For the enemy would take all the cities, so that the whole people would be forced to move elsewhere. He intimates, in short, that there would be no hope of life for the Moabites, except by flight, and that the swiftest. Finally, he adds: