John Gill Commentary Jeremiah 48:27

"For was not Israel a derision unto thee? was he found among thieves? for as often as thou speakest of him, thou waggest the head." — Jeremiah 48:27 (ASV)

For was not Israel a derision to you ? &c.] In the time of his calamity, when the ten tribes were carried captive by the Assyrians some years ago; and of late the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin by the Chaldeans; the Moabites rejoiced at this, which they ought not to have done, upon the common principles of humanity; and especially since they were not only neighbours, but akin; and therefore, according to the law of retaliation, it was but just that they should be had in derision themselves:

was he found among thieves ? that is, Israel; that he should be a derision to any, as thieves are when they are taken; men rejoice at it, insult them, and deride them; but was this the case of Israel? had he robbed any? had he done any injury to Moab, or any other? no, verily: why this derision then?

for since you spoke of him, you skipped for joy ; or, "shookedst thyself" ^F3 ; whenever the Moabites spoke of the distresses and calamities of Israel, and of their captivity, they laughed till they shook themselves; not only shook their heads, but their whole bodies.

The Vulgate Latin version is, "therefore, because of your words which you have spoken against him, you shall be carried captive"; and Jarchi mentions such a sense of the words, as given by some of their Rabbins; and to this agrees the Targum,

``and because you have multiplied words against them, therefore you shall go into captivity.''

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FOOTNOTES:

• F3: (ddwntt) "commovisti te", Vatablus, Calvin; "commoves te", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "motitas te", Schmidt.