Isaiah 15:1-8

1 This is a message about Moab. ¹ The cities of Ar and Kir are destroyed in a single night, and silence covers the land of Moab.

2 The people of Dibon climb the hill to weep at the shrine. The people of Moab wail in grief over the cities of Nebo and Medeba; they have shaved their heads and their beards in grief.

3 The people in the streets are dressed in sackcloth; in the city squares and on the rooftops people mourn and cry.

4 The people of Heshbon and Elealeh cry out, and their cry can be heard as far away as Jahaz. Even the soldiers tremble; their courage is gone.

5 My heart cries out for Moab! The people have fled to the town of Zoar, and to Eglath Shelishiyah. Some climb the road to Luhith, weeping as they go; some escape to Horonaim, grieving loudly.

6 Nimrim Brook is dry, the grass beside it has withered, and nothing green is left.

7 The people go across the Valley of Willows, trying to escape with all their possessions.

8 Everywhere at Moab's borders the sound of crying is heard. It is heard at the towns of Eglaim and Beerelim.

Isaiah 15:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 15

This chapter is a prophecy of the destruction of the Moabites; two of their principal cities are mentioned as made desolate, Isa 15:1 the inhabitants in divers places are represented as weeping and mourning, and showing various signs of it, Isa 15:2,3 yea, not only the common people, but the armed soldiers also, Isa 15:4 nay, even the prophet himself, Isa 15:5 the reasons of which were the great drought, so that there were no grass, nor green thing, Isa 15:6 the carrying away of their good things, either by themselves or others, Isa 15:7 the flight and cry of the people to the very borders of the land, Isa 15:8 and the great effusion of blood, Isa 15:9.

Cross References

• 1. 15.1--16.14Isaiah 25.10-12;Jeremiah 48.1-47;Ezekiel 25.8-11;Amos 2.1-3;Zephaniah 2.8-11.

Footnotes

• [a]. [Probable text] people of Dibon; [Hebrew] people and Dibon.