ירמיהו, פרק מ״ח, פסוק מ״ו

The prophecy of destruction aimed at Moab echoes an ancient parable found in the Torah, yet subtle shifts in the message reveal a far more severe fate for the nation [רד״ק]. The impending doom targets a people defined by their misplaced faith, specifically those who trust in and worship the idol Chemosh [מצודת דוד]. According to ancient tradition, this object of devotion was a black stone carved in the shape of a woman, which had stood since antiquity and served as the foundation for an idolatrous altar [חומת אנך].

This current tragedy is significantly worse than the historical disaster. In the older accounts, the sons of Moab were described as refugees who managed to flee from their attackers. Now, however, escape is no longer an option. Both the sons and the daughters fall directly into the hands of the enemy, taken into captivity without any chance of running away [מלבי״ם].