Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 15

Verse 1

The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence;

The burden — A prophecy of the destruction of the Moabites, the inveterate enemies of the Jews, begun by the Assyrian, and finished by the Babylonian emperors.

In a night — Suddenly and unexpectedly.

Ar — The chief city of Moab.

Kir — Another eminent city of Moab.

Verse 2

He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba: on all their heads shall be baldness, and every beard cut off.

Bajith — Which signifies an house. It is supposed to be some eminent house or temple of their idols.

Dibon — Another city of Moab.

To weep — To offer their supplications with tears to their idols for help.

Medeba — Two considerable cities, anciently belonging to the Moabites.

Beard — The hair of their heads and beards was shaved, as was usual in great mournings.

Verse 3

In their streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth: on the tops of their houses, and in their streets, every one shall howl, weeping abundantly.

On the tops — Which were made flat, to which men used to go up, to cry to God in heaven, or to men for help.

Verse 4

And Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh: their voice shall be heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out; his life shall be grievous unto him.

Heshbon — Two other Moabitish cities.

Jahaz — Another city in the utmost borders of Moab.

Soldiers — Who use to be the most courageous.

Verse 5

My heart shall cry out for Moab; his fugitives shall flee unto Zoar, an heifer of three years old: for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping shall they go it up; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry of destruction.

Moab — Tho’ they are a most vile nation.

Zoar — Zoar was a town bordering upon Moab.

Of destruction — Such a cry as men send forth when they are just falling into the pit of destruction.

Verse 6

For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing.

Waters — Watery grounds being very fruitful, are commonly most inhabited; but now they also, much more the dry and barren grounds, shall be desolate and without inhabitant.

Verse 7

Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, shall they carry away to the brook of the willows.

They — Their enemies.

Brook — Possibly he means some such river which ran into Euphrates, and so gave them opportunity of carrying their spoils by water unto Babylon.

Verse 8

For the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab; the howling thereof unto Eglaim, and the howling thereof unto Beerelim.

The cry — Their cry fills all the parts of the country.

Verse 9

For the waters of Dimon shall be full of blood: for I will bring more upon Dimon, lions upon him that escapeth of Moab, and upon the remnant of the land.

More — More than hath been already mentioned.

Lions — God shall send lions to find out those that escape the fury of men.