Isaiahchapter 15

9 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 114 cross-references outward and receives 116 — heaviest partner: Jeremiah.

Chapter summary

Moab's burden falls in a single night: Ar and Kir are laid waste and brought to nought. The chapter is a lament tour of Moabite towns — Bayith, Dibon, Nebo, Medeba, Heshbon, Elealeh, Jahaz — where every head is shaved bald, every beard cut off, and sackcloth fills streets and housetops. Even Moab's armed men cry aloud, their souls trembling. Fugitives flee south to Zoar by the weeping ascent of Luhith and the way of Horonaim, carrying their stored abundance over the brook of the willows. The waters of Nimrim go desolate, the grass withers, and the cry rings around Moab's borders to Eglaim and Beer-elim. The speaker's own heart cries out for Moab, yet the waters of Dimon run with blood, and a lion awaits even the escaped remnant.

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Prophecy · Isaiah — see the Isaiah overview for the book's full setting.

1 The burden of Moab. For in a night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to nought; for in a night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to nought.

2 They are gone up to Bayith, and to Dibon, to the high places, to weep: Moab waileth over Nebo, and over Medeba; on all their heads is baldness, every beard is cut off.

3 In their streets they gird themselves with sackcloth; on their housetops, and in their broad places, every one waileth, weeping abundantly.

4 And Heshbon crieth out, and Elealeh; their voice is heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud; his soul trembleth within him.

5 My heart crieth out for Moab; her nobles flee unto Zoar, to Eglath-shelishi-yah: for by the ascent of Luhith with weeping they go up; for in the way of Horonaim they raise up a cry of destruction.

6 For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate; for the grass is withered away, the tender grass faileth, there is no green thing.

7 Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, shall they carry away over the brook of the willows.

8 For the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab; the wailing thereof unto Eglaim, and the wailing thereof unto Beer-elim.

9 For the waters of Dimon are full of blood; for I will bring yet more upon Dimon, a lion upon them of Moab that escape, and upon the remnant of the land.

Continue: Isaiah 16 →