Jesaja 15

1 De last van Moab. Zekerlijk, in den nacht is Ar-Moabs verwoest, zij is uitgeroeid; zekerlijk, in den nacht is Kir-Moabs verwoest, zij is uitgeroeid!

2 Hij gaat op naar Baith en Dibon, en naar Bamoth, om te wenen; over Nebo en over Medeba zal Moab huilen; op al hun hoofden is kaalheid, aller baard is afgesneden.

3 Op hun wijken hebben zij zakken aangegord; op hun daken en op hun straten huilen zij altemaal, afgaande met geween.

4 Zo Hesbon als Eleale schreeuwt, hun stem wordt gehoord tot Jahaz toe; daarom maken de toegerusten van Moab een geschrei, eens iegelijks ziel in hem is kwalijk gesteld.

5 Mijn hart schreeuwt over Moab, haar grendelen zijn naar Zoar toe, de driejarige vaars; want hij gaat op met geween naar den opgang van Luhith, want op den weg naar Horonaim verwekken zij een jammergeschrei.

6 Want de wateren van Nimrim zullen enkel verwoesting wezen; want het gras is verdord, het tedere gras is vergaan, er is geen groente.

7 Daarom zullen zij den overvloed, dien zij vergaderd hebben, en hetgeen zij weggelegd hebben, aan de beek der wilgen voeren.

8 Want dat geschreeuw zal omgaan door de landpale van Moab, haar gehuil tot Eglaim toe, ja, tot Beer-Elim toe zal haar gehuil zijn.

9 Want de wateren van Dimon zijn vol bloeds, want Ik zal Dimon nog meer toeschikken: te weten leeuwen over de ontkomenen van Moab, mitsgaders over het overblijfsel des lands.

Jesaja 15 Commentary

Chapter 15

The Divine judgments about to come upon the Moabites.

- 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 ver. ( 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.

Chapter Summary

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.