Heshbon and Elealeh cry out: For Heshbon see verse 2. Elealeh was north of Heshbon. The Hebrew text has “From the cry of Heshbon to Elealeh.” Most commentators follow Isa 15.4, which is “Heshbon and Elealeh cry out.” However, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project understands the problem to be primarily one of interpretation and prefers “Because of [the force of] the cry of Heshbon [which is heard] as far as Elealeh, their voices have reached as far as Jahaz.”

Both Jahaz and Zoar were towns.

Horonaim: See verse 3.

Eglath-shelishiyah: In Hebrew this is literally “the third Eglath.” Good News Translation retains the spelling of Revised Standard Version except for the division of the name into two parts, “Eglath Shelishiyah.” This place in Moab is also mentioned in Isa 15.5, but the location is uncertain.

The first half of the verse can be expressed more naturally as “The people of Heshbon have cried out so loudly that they can be heard in Elealeh; they can even be heard as far as Jahaz. From Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath Shelishiyah people can hear them.”

The identity of the waters of Nimrim (Good News Translation “Nimrim Brook”) is uncertain. The waters are desolate, which Good News Translation expresses as “dried up” (so also New International Version and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .