Isaiah 15:2-9

2 Dibon has gone up to the temple, to the high places to weep; over Nebo and over Medeba Moab wails. On every head is baldness, every beard is shorn;

3 in the streets they bind on sackcloth; on the housetops and in the squares everyone wails and melts in tears.

4 Heshbon and Elealeh cry out, their voices are heard as far as Jahaz; therefore the loins of Moab quiver; his soul trembles.

5 My heart cries out for Moab; his fugitives flee to Zoar, to Eglath-shelishiyah. For at the ascent of Luhith they go up weeping; on the road to Horonaim they raise a cry of destruction;

6 the waters of Nimrim are a desolation; the grass is withered, the new growth fails, the verdure is no more.

7 Therefore the abundance they have gained and what they have laid up they carry away over the Wadi of the Willows.

8 For a cry has gone around the land of Moab; the wailing reaches to Eglaim, the wailing reaches to Beer-elim.

9 For the waters of Dibon are full of blood; yet I will bring upon Dibon even more— a lion for those of Moab who escape, for the remnant of the land.

Isaiah 15:2-9 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Cn: Heb [the house and Dibon]
• [b]. Cn Compare Gk Syr: Heb [the armed men of Moab cry aloud]
• [c]. Q Ms Vg Compare Syr: MT [Dimon]
• [d]. Q Ms Vg Compare Syr: MT [Dimon]