Isaiah 15
DOYLYChap. XVI. ver. 1. Send ye the lamb &c.] The Moabites were subdued by David, and became his tributaries,
Isaiah 15:2
- He is gone to Bajith, and to Dibon.] “He” is used for the people of Moab. “Bajith” and “Dibon” are in the Chaldee and Syriack versions made into the name of one place; Beth-Dibon: Beth may signify the house or temple of an idol. Bp. Lowth, W. Lowth.
—on all their heads shall be baldness, &c.] Tokens of great mourning; see chap. xxii. 12; Jer. vii. 29; Ezra ix. 3. W. Lowth.
The lamentable state of Moab. She is exhorted to obedience, Before CHRIST about 726. descending into weeping; or, coming down with weeping. Or, to the borders thereof, even to Zoar, as an heifer. 34. breaking. desolations. Or, valley of the Arabians.
Isaiah 15:3
3.—on the tops of their houses.] See the note on Deut. xxii. 8. All Pagans sacrifice on high places and terraces. Sir J. Chardin. In the temple of Belus, the uppermost story of all was the most sacred, and where the chiefest devotions were performed. Dean Prideaux. 5.—his fugitives shall flee unto Zoar; Rather, “his fugitives shall cry unto Zoar as an heifer,” &c. The particle as is frequently understood; see chap. xxi. 8. W. Lowth. —on heifer of three years old.] The meaning seems to be, that the cry of Moab should be continued on from city to city, till the whole country resounded as with the lowing of a young cow, that runs from place to place in search of her calf, that has been taken from her. An image singularly expressive. Dr. Blayney.
3.—make thy shadow as the night &c.] The Prophet speaks by way of advice to the Moabites, to shew kindness to their brethren the Jews, as in reason and justice they ought, in the time of their distress: adding however, that there should be no great occasion for their help, as God Himself would preserve them. W. Lowth, Dr. Wells.
Isaiah 15:4
4.—for the extortioner is at an end, &c.] This applies perhaps to the Israelites, who in Ahaz’s time invaded Judah, 2 Chron. xxviii. 5, 6. With those former times of distress is contrasted the security and flourishing state of the kingdom under Hezekiah, who should govern with an equal mixture of justice and mercy, and therein prefigure the Messiah. Bp. Lowth, W. Lowth. Before CHRIST about 728. additions. Or, Petra. Or, a west forsaken. bringer. trooders down.
Isaiah 15:6
6.—the waters of Nimrim] This place was famous for good pasture, and meadows well-watered. See Numb. xxxii. 3. 36. W. Lowth. —for the hay is withered away.] Rather, “the herbage,” for in those countries they make no hay; and, if they did, it appears from inspection that hay could hardly be the meaning of the original word, either here or in Prov. xxvii. 25. Parkhurst
Isaiah 15:7
7.—carry away to the brook of the willows.] That is, to Babylon: see Ps. cxxxvii. 2. Dean Prideaux, Bp. Lowth. Or, we may read, as the margin gives it, “to the valley of the Arabians;” whither the Assyrians might carry the booty thee took, it being the direct way from Moab to Assyria. W. Lowth.
Isaiah 15:9
9.—waters of Dimon shall be full of blood:] St. Jerome tells us, that Dimon is the same with Dibon, ver. 2. Vitringa. —for I will bring more &c.] I will bring more and more calamities; and they that fly to escape the present evil shall fall into worse; as if a man that fled from