Jeremiah 48:11

“Moab hath been at ease from his youth, etc.] Lived in great peace and prosperity from the time they became a kingdom; being very little disturbed with wars by their neighbours, or very rarely; so that they were in very prosperous and flourishing circumstances, which occasioned that pride and haughtiness they were notorious for. This is an emblem of unregenerate men; who, though sinners from their birth, and liable to the curse of the law, subject to the stroke of death, and must come to judgment; yet stupid and quite at ease, having no sight of sin, nor feeling of the burden of its guilt, nor grief or trouble for it; no sense of danger, or fear of hell; but in the utmost security: all which…”

“settled on . . . lees--(See on Isa 25:6; Zep 1:12). As wine left to settle on its own lees retains its flavor and strength (which it would lose by being poured from one vessel into another), so Moab, owing to its never having been dislodged from its settlements, retains its pride of strength unimpaired. emptied from vessel, &c.--To make it fit for use, it used to be filtered from vessel to vessel. scent--retaining the image: the bouquet or perfume of the wine.”

“Moab from the time it conquered the Emims Deuteronomy 2:9-10, and so became a nation, had retained quiet possession of its land, and enjoyed comparative prosperity. From the Moabite Stone we gather that King Mesha, after the death of Ahab threw off the yoke of Israel; nor except for a short time under Jeroboam II was Israel able to bring the Moabites back into subjection. They gradually drove the Reubenites back, and recovered most of the territory taken from the Amorites by Moses, and which originally had belonged to them. He hath settled on his lees - Good wine was thought to be the better for being left to stand upon its sediment Isaiah 25:6, and in all cases its flavor was rendered…”

“At ease - The Moabites ever since they began to be a people, have been a quiet people. Settled - Like a cask of wine, that has not been racked but has continued in the same state. Not emptied - A metaphor of wine which is drawn out from vessel to vessel, when it is drawn off the lees. It is expounded by the next words. Therefore - And this is the reason why they retain their old sins, pride, presumption, and luxury. Jeremiah 48:12”

“48:11-12 Moab had a long history of relative peace and a culture that its people highly valued. Vineyards were plentiful in Moab. After the juice was squeezed from the grapes, the wine was stored in clay flasks until it became fragrant and smooth.”

“hath been: Psa 55:19, Psa 73:4-8, Psa 123:4; Pro 1:32 \*marg. Zac 1:15 he hath: Isa 25:6; Zep 1:12 emptied: Jer 51:34; Isa 24:3; Nah 2:2, Nah 2:10, thereof, Jer 48:29; Isa 16:6; Eze 16:49, Eze 16:50 remained: Heb. stood Jeremiah 48:12”