The Egyptians had defeated Philistia, but the Babylonians would destroy both Philistia (chap. 47) and Moab (chap. 48). The Babylonian army would be like a rising river (47:2) and a sword in the hands of the Lord (47:6).
Moab was known for its pride (48:29, 42), so the Lord brought those people low. They relied on a false god and trusted material wealth (48:7), so their god was captured and their wealth was plundered. They lost all their defenses!
Moab was also known for its wine. But the vessels would be emptied and broken, and the people would become drunk with God’s wrath (48:12, 26, 38). The Babylonians were God’s “wine-workers” to give Moab a “new taste” they had never had before (48:11). Sometimes God has to pour us “from vessel to vessel” to make us what He wants us to be.
The bottles were broken (48:12), the staff was broken (48:17), and their arm was broken (48:25): “How she is broken down!” (48:39). Had Moab been broken before the Lord, she would not have been broken by the Lord.
