Yeshayah 15

1 5 The massa (burden) of Moav. Because in the lailah (night) Ar of Moav is destroyed, and brought to silence; because in the lailah Kir of Moav is destroyed, and brought to silence;

2 He is gone up to the [idol] temple, and to Divon, the [idolatrous] high places, to weep: Moav shall howl over Nevo, and over Medva; on all their rosh shall be shaved heads, and every zakan (beard) cut off.

3 In their chutzot (streets) they shall gird themselves with sackcloth; on their rooftops, and in their rechovot (open areas), every one shall wail, falling down with weeping.

4 And Cheshbon shall cry, and Elealeh; their voice shall be heard even unto Yachatz; therefore the loins of Moav shall shake; his nefesh shall be faint within him.

5 My lev shall cry out for Moav; his fugitives shall flee unto Tzoar, and Eglat-Shelishiyah; for by the Ascent of Luchit with bekhi (weeping) shall they go up; for on the Derech Choronayim they shall raise up a lament because of destruction.

6 For the waters of Nimrim shall be dried up; for the khatzir (grass) is withered away, the desheh (vegetation) faileth, yerek (green) there is none,

7 Therefore the possessions they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, shall they carry away to the Nakhal HaAravim (Ravine of Willows).

8 For the cry is gone all around the borders of Moav; the outcry thereof unto Eglayim, and the wailing thereof unto Be’er Elim.

9 For the waters of Dimon shall be full of dahm; for I will bring more upon Dimon, aryeh (lion) upon him that escapeth of Moav, and upon she’erit adamah (the remnant of the land).

Yeshayah 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.