The destruction was the work of the Lord, and there is a note in verse 10 that cursed is the one who does the work of the Lord with slackness. Now the Lord was bringing judgement and destruction on Moab, citing their trust in their own works and treasures (v. There had been animosity between Israel and Moab since ancient times, when Moab would not help them when they came up out of Egypt, and they tried to hire a prophet to curse them (see Deuteronomy 23:3-6). The firstborn of lot bore a child who she named Moab, who was the father of the Moabites (see Genesis 19:36-37). The Moabites were descendants of Lot after his daughters made him drunk and slept with him, that they might bring up children for their father. Oracle against Moab: The next oracle of judgment in this collection of prophesies against the nations is against Moab. The Lord was destroying the Philistine cities of Gaza and Ashkelon His sword was given charge and it would not be drawn back. It is interesting to note here that the Philistines are associated with Tyre and Sidon, though they were separate places and people, yet they are traditionally paired together (see Joel 3:4). The Lord is bringing about destruction over the Philistines, depicted as a rush of water coming from the north, referring to the Babylonian destruction that was coming upon them.

This second judgement is against the Philistines, who had been historically against Israel (see I Samuel 17 as an example). It was not only Israel that was to be punished for their sin, but also those nations that surrounded them that worshiped false gods and did evil in the sight of the Lord. Oracle against the Philistines: The previous chapter started the last section of the book of Jeremiah, which is a collection of oracles of judgment against various nations outside of Israel.

The philistine prophecy