Isaiah 15

1

The burden of Moab. For in a night, Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to nothing. For in a night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to nothing.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 1. Moab. Which would be visited in three years’ time (chapter 16:14) either by Ezechias, or by Sennacherib, though history be silent on this head. The Moabites had been very crue., Amos 1 and 2.—Night. Suddenly. Calmet.—Their misery was so much the greater. Worthington.—Ar. The capital. Calmet.

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2

They have gone up to Bayith, and to Dibon, to the high places, to weep. Moab wails over Nebo and over Medeba. Baldness is on all of their heads. Every beard is cut off.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 2. House. Prot. “he is come up to Baith,” ( Bible.) or the royal family is gone to the temple of their idol, Chamos, to lament. Saint Jerome Menochius. Calmet.—Shaven. As in mourning. Jeremiah 48:37.

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3

In their streets, they clothe themselves in sackcloth. In their streets and on their housetops, everyone wails, weeping abundantly.

4

Heshbon cries out with Elealeh. Their voice is heard even to Jahaz. Therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud. Their souls tremble within them.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 4. Itself. Every one shall deplore his own distress.

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5

My heart cries out for Moab! Her nobles flee to Zoar, to Eglath Shelishiyah; for they go up by the ascent of Luhith with weeping; for on the way to Horonaim, they raise up a cry of destruction.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 5. My. A charitable heart will grieve for the misfortune of an enemy. Worthington.—I shall join in the general lamentations, though Moab has always been so great an enemy of Israel. Calmet.—Septuagint “the heart of Moab cries in itself to Segor.” Bible.—We will retire thither. Chal.—Bars. Princes. Prot. “his fugitives shall,” and so forth—Heifer. Strong and ungovernable. Hebrew “to Heglath and to Shelishia for,” and so forth though we may as well adhere to the Vulg. Septuagint and so forth

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6

For the waters of Nimrim will be desolate; for the grass has withered away, the tender grass fails, there is no green thing.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 6. Nemrim. Or Nemra, (Numbers 32:3) to the north of Segor. Calmet.—The country around hence became barren. Saint Jerome

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7

Therefore they will carry away the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have stored up, over the brook of the willows.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 7. Willows. That is, as some say, the waters of Babylon; others render it a valley of the Arabians, ( Challoner.) or “of crows,” to which their bodies will be exposed. Calmet. 57:6.

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8

For the cry has gone around the borders of Moab, its wailing to Eglaim, and its wailing to Beer Elim.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 8. Cry. Of iniquity, or rather of grief.

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9

For the waters of Dimon are full of blood; for I will bring yet more on Dimon, a lion on those of Moab who escape, and on the remnant of the land.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 9. Dibon. Septuagint and so forth read, “Dimon,” which signifies, “blood.” I will give it a better claim to this appellation.—Lion. Nabuchodonosor. Calmet.—Septuagint “I will bring the Arabs up on Dimon, and will take away the seed of Moab, and Ariel, and the remnant of Adama.” Bible.

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