John Gill Commentary Jeremiah 48:17

"All ye that are round about him, bemoan him, and all ye that know his name; say, How is the strong staff broken, the beautiful rod!" — Jeremiah 48:17 (ASV)

All ye that are about him, bemoan him The neighbouring nations, such as the Ammonites, and others, are called upon to condole the sad case of Moab; all upon the borders of the country of Moab, either within them or without them:

and all ye that know his name ; not only that had heard of his fame and glory, but knew in what grandeur and splendour he lived; these have a form of condolence given them:

say, how is the strong staff broken, [and] the beautiful rod ! the mighty men of war, the staff of the nation, in which they trusted, destroyed; their fortified cities demolished; the powerful kingdom, which swayed the sceptre, and ruled in great glory, and was terrible and troublesome to others, now pulled down.

The Targum is, ``how is the king broken that did evil, the oppressing ruler!''