The Lord’s declaration, As I live,
is a standard oath formula (see, e.g., Numbers 14:21, Numbers 14:28; Isaiah 49:18; Jeremiah 22:24; Jeremiah 46:18; Ezekiel 17:19; Ezekiel 20:3; Ezekiel 33:27). It is often paired in Scripture with declares the Lord
(Numbers 14:28; Isaiah 49:18; Jeremiah 22:24; similar phrasing is in Jeremiah 46:18; Ezekiel 5:11; Ezekiel 14:18, Ezekiel 14:20; Ezekiel 16:48; Ezekiel 17:16; Ezekiel 18:3; Ezekiel 20:31, Ezekiel 20:33; Ezekiel 33:11; Ezekiel 34:8; Ezekiel 35:6, Ezekiel 35:11). The divine declaration is the second most common divine oath in the Old Testament, next to I swear.
1 When God swears by his life, he swears by his own nature and existence. Thus, the oath is as sure as the life of the Lord who swore it. In this instance, as in others, these words are ominous. So far as existence locates in God, so far goes the certainty of the utter devastation of Moab and Ammon.
2 The Lord of hosts will act on behalf of his own. This he makes clear to both his own people and the nations.
9 Therefore, as I live,” declares the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Moab shall become like Sodom, and the Ammonites like Gomorrah, a land possessed by nettles and salt pits, and a waste forever. The remnant of my people shall plunder them, and the survivors of my nation shall possess them.”