Isaiah15
King James Version · Public Domain
1The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence;
2He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba: on all their heads shall be baldness, and every beard cut off.
3In their streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth: on the tops of their houses, and in their streets, every one shall howl, weeping abundantly.
4And Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh: their voice shall be heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out; his life shall be grievous unto him.
5My heart shall cry out for Moab; his fugitives shall flee unto Zoar, an heifer of three years old: for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping shall they go it up; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry of destruction.
6For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing.
7Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, shall they carry away to the brook of the willows.
8For the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab; the howling thereof unto Eglaim, and the howling thereof unto Beer–elim.
9For the waters of Dimon shall be full of blood: for I will bring more upon Dimon, lions upon him that escapeth of Moab, and upon the remnant of the land.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 15.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The Divine judgments about to come upon the Moabites. (1-9).
vv1-9
This prophecy coming to pass within three years, would confirm the prophet's mission, and the belief in all his other prophecies. Concerning Moab it is foretold, 1. That their chief cities should be surprised by the enemy. Great changes, and very dismal ones, may be made in a very little time. 2. The Moabites would have recourse to their idols for relief. Ungodly men, when in trouble, have no comforter. But they are seldom brought by their terrors to approach our forgiving God with true sorrow and believing prayer. 3. There should be the cries of grief through the land. It is poor relief to have many fellow-sufferers, fellow-mourners. 4. The courage of their soldiers should fail. God can easily deprive a nation of that on which it most depended for strength and defence. 5. These calamities should cause grief in the neighbouring parts. Though enemies to Israel, yet as our fellow-creatures, it should be grievous to see them in such distress. In 6-9, the prophet describes the woful lamentations heard through the country of Moab, when it became a prey to the Assyrian army. The country should be plundered. And famine is usually the sad effect of war. Those who are eager to get abundance of this world, and to lay up what they have gotten, little consider how soon it may be all taken from them. While we warn our enemies to escape from ruin, let us pray for them, that they may seek and find forgiveness of their sins.
Key Words
מַשָּׂא: a burden; specifically, tribute, or (abstractly) porterage; figuratively, an utterance, chiefly adoom, especially singing; mental, desire
מוֹאָב: Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants
כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
עָר: Ar, a place in Moab
שָׁדַד: properly, to be burly, i.e. (figuratively) powerful (passively, impregnable); by implication, to ravage
לַיִל: properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity
דָּמָה: to be dumb or silent; hence, to fail or perish; trans. to destroy
קִיר: Kir, a place in Assyrian; also one in Moab
עָלָה: to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Cross References
Isaiah 15Jeremiah heavily incorporates this entire prophecy in his own extended burden concerning Moab.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel description of extreme mourning customs in Moab: baldness and cut-off beards.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct parallel describing Moab's loud wailing like a three-year-old heifer.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies the specific geographical locations of Luhith and Horonaim in Moab's flight.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The prophet's deep internal, empathetic grief for Moab's devastating judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Illustrates literal lions sent by God as a judgment upon the remnant of the land.
Supported by JFB
Ar of Moab identified historically as the chief territory belonging to Lot's descendants.
Supported by Matthew Poole
An ancient poetic reference to a fire going out of Ar of Moab.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contextual law regarding shaving head and beard, practiced by Moab in heathen mourning.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Nebo adjacent to the mountain where Moses looked out and Chemosh was worshipped.
Supported by JFB
Explains flat roof architecture where easterners resorted to weep and howl.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Verbal parallel in Hebrew for being cut off and shaving in grief.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies Dibon and the high places of Baal (Bajith) in Reuben's territory.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Illustrates 'three years old' as implying full physical strength and vigor.
Supported by JFB