ירמיהו, פרק מ״ח, פסוק מ״ג

A severe and unavoidable chain of disasters awaits the inhabitants of Moab, illustrated through vivid imagery drawn from the world of hunting. Rather than a simple list of dangers, the warning outlines an inescapable system of pits and nets where one crisis directly triggers another [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Together, these elements represent the many strange and varied troubles that will soon strike the nation [מצודת דוד].

The sequence is designed to leave the victim with absolutely no way out. It begins with sheer terror, which causes a person to flee in a blind panic. This reckless and hurried escape leads them to fall straight into a deep pit that was already prepared in their path [רש״י].

This terrifying progression perfectly mirrors the exact methods used to trap wild animals. Hunters first use dogs to strike fear into their prey. Driven by panic, the fleeing animal runs blindly and falls into a large, purposely dug pit. If the creature somehow manages to climb out and escape, it is immediately caught in a net or trap intentionally set at the very edge [מלבי״ם]. In the exact same way, every tragedy that strikes Moab will serve as the direct cause for the next disaster. They will be caught in a relentless cycle, with every attempt to find safety only leading them straight into another trap.