Isaiah 15
DortA Prophecy concerning the cruel desolation and miseries that should be fall the land of the Moabites, by reason of the Assyrians, and that in the just judgement of God; which the Prophet describeth with many circumstances, both in general, and in particular.
1. The burden of Moab. [That is, the sore judgement that should come upon the Moabites, namely, by the Assyrians, in the time of King Salmanasser. See below, chap.16.on vers.14. Compare Jerem.48.1. Ezech.25.8. Amos 2:1.] Surely in night Ar of Moab [that is, Ar lying in the land of the Moabites. This was the chief City of the Moabites, Numbers 21:28. Deutrom.2.18,29.] is laid waste, [that is, it shall surely be laid waste; to wit, by the King of Assyria. See below, ch.16.14. Both here and elsewhere by the prophets often, mention is made of a thing that is to be done, as if it were already done: And that by reason of the certainty of the predictions or prophecies] it is cut off surely in the night. [that is, suddenly , unexpectedly, unawares] Kir of Moab [otherwise called, Kirheres, below, chap.16.11. and 48.31. and 36. Also, Kirhareseth, Jerem.16.7. One of the chiefest Cities of the Moabites. There was also in Media a City or Country, called Kir, as appeareth, 2 Kings 16:9.] is laid waste, it is cut off. [Oth. When Ar of Moab was laid waste, (he) was cut off. The meaning is, The Moabites were utterly undone the same night, when both their chiefest Cities, with other strong holds of their land, was taken and laid waste by their enemies.]
2. He [To wit, Moab] goeth up to Baith, [This City is other-ways called Been, Baal-Meon, and, Beth-Baal-Meon, Numb.32.3. and 38. Jos.13.17. It was famous for the Idolatry that was there committed. The Moabites, when they were in distress, used to address themselves to an Idol that was there, and to other Cities where there were Idols, to seek aid and counsel of them, and to lay their wants and grievances open before them] and (to) Dibon, [A City allotted to the Reubenites. See Jos.13.17. Below, verse 9. It is (according to the opinion of some) called Dimon] (and to) Bamoth, [otherwise called, Bamoth Baal, Jos.13.17. Oth. To the high places, or upon the high places] to weep: [to wit, to weep there before the images of their gods or idols, and to move them with tears to help and succour them. Oth. Baith and Dimon are gone up; to wit, to Bamoth, or to the high places, to weep there] Moab shall howl over Shebo, and over Moleha; [to wit, because those Cities were destroyed, or should be suddenly destroyed. Nebo was a City allotted to the Reubenites, Numb.32.38. Medeba was a City in the land of the Moabites, Numb.21.30. Jos.13.17.] on all their heads is baldness, every (ones) heard is cut off. [The meaning is, there shall be grief and sorrow throughout the whole land of the Moabites. This and that which followeth, must be understood of the custom and practice of the Moabites, and some other Nations, who, in token of grief or sorrow, made cuttings and lancings in their flesh. They plucked the hair out of their head, and cut their beard clean off. But Levit.19.27. and Deut.14.1. God forbad his people to do this. Compare Jer.48.37. Ezech.7.18.]
3. In their lanes they girded themselves with sacks; [That is, with mourning garments] on the tops their houses, and in their streets they howl altogether, [Intimating that when they prayed, they did it on the house-steps, Zephan.1.5.] going down with weeping. [As they went up to the tops of their houses weeping, so do they likewise come down again weeping, having received no comfort at all.]
4. Both Hesbon shall cry, and Eleale, [To wit, for anguish and fear. Heb. And Hesbon and Eleale, &c. Of Hesbon and Eleale, see Jos.13.17. Numb.32.37.] their voice shall be heard unto Jahaz, [of Jahaz see Numb.21.23.] therefore the prepared ones, [or the armed souldiers] of Moab make a cry, [or, shall make a cry. The meaning is, the cry of the citizens shall terrify and affrighten the armed souldiers] everyone soul it ill disposed in him. [that is, they are all discotented. Oth. Their life is ill-disposed, or, is grievous unto them. (in him) That is, in himself, and understand here Moab, together with all those that side with him.]
5. Mine heart cryeth for Moab, [As if the Prophet had said, the misery that shall befall the Moabites shall be so great, that I cannot forbear crying, when I think upon it. See below, chap.16.18. and 21.3. Jerem.48.5,31,34,38. Some take it thus, that the Prophet here representeth in his own person, that which Moab should do in his own misery and suffering] her bars are unto Zoar the heifer of three years old: [Her bars, etc. That is, the chief and mighty men of Moab, who are compared unto bars, because they are the strength of the land. Oth. Her fugitives (flee) etc. Oth. Mine heart crieth for Moab, and (for) his bars, unto Zoar, (as) a cow of three years old. Unto Zoar; That is, so that it may be heard even unto Zoar, although it lie in the outermost borders of the land of the Moabites toward Judea. Of Zoar, see Genes.19 22. (the heifer of three years old) That is, strong, wild, and wanton. This may be understood of Zoar, or Moab. In Jeremy it is spoken of Horonaim. See Jerem.28.34. with the annotations] for be goeth up with weeping, [or, he goeth up weeping] to the ascent of Luhith, for in the way to Horonaim they raise up a pitifull cry. [or, they lift up a broken cry. Oth. A destruction cry, or, a cry of destruction. Hebr. A cry of breaking, or, of breaking to pieces; that is, as some take it, such a cry as those make, that are cruelly broken to pieces, and destroyed by their enemies.]
6. For the waters of Nimrim shall be a meer desolation: [That is, the low and watery grounds at Nimrim, or about Nimrim, shall lie dry, waste, and desolate. The meaning is, the whole land of Moab shall be brought to extreme ruine, so that even in those places where abundance of water was wont to be, there shall be great drought. (of Nimrim) called Nimra, and Beth-Nimrah, Numbers 32:31,36. This place was given to the sons of Gad, Joshua 13:27, 28.] for the grass is withered, the tender grass is perished, there is no greenness.
7. Therefore the abundance (which) they have gathered, [Hebr. Have made] and that which they have laid up, shall they [to wit, the Moabites. Hebr. he laid up, shall they [to wit, the Moabites. Hebr. He; to wit, Moab] carry to the brook of the willows. [or, toward the brook of the Willows; to wit, to hide it there. Oth. Into the valley of the Arabians. And then the sense is this, the Arabians that shall join themselves to the Assyrians, shall help to pillage the treasures of the Moabites, and shall carry them away.
8. For that shall go round about [Or, goeth round about, or, is gone round about: and so in the sequel] through the borders of Moab, the howling thereof unto Eglam, [that is, that cry an howling of the fugitive Moabites, of whom mention is made, vers.1,2,3,4. Shall go through all the border of the Moabites, from one end to other. (unto Eglaim) or, unto the two brooks running together; to wit, unto the brook or well of Arnon (of which mention is made, Numb.21.14.) and unto Beer-Elim] yea, unto Beer-Elim [Oth. Unto the well of Elam; or, unto the well of the mighty; so called, because the Princes of the Israelites had digged it, or had caused it to be digged, Numbers 21.] shall the howling thereof be.
9. For the waters of Dimon are full of blood [To wit, of the slain and wounded Moabites, whom the Assyrians should slay. Or, even the waters of Dimor, etc.] for I will send yet more unto Dimon: [Heb. I will add, or set additions upon Dimon, that is, I will punish it yet more] (to wit) Lions, [Understand withal, and other cruel renting beasts, to tear and rent them in pieces. Hebr. A lion, whereby King Nebuchadnezar may be understood, who is likewise elsewhere compared to a lion Of renting lions sent by God among people that were disobedient, see likewise, 2 Kings 17,25.] upon the escaped ones of Moab, as also upon the remnant of the Land, the same shall be conformed and destroyed. In brief, the Lord threateneth here, that the enemies of his Church shall by no means go unpunished. (upon the remnant of the land) To wit, of the Moabites.]