Isaiah 15:2

(Cf. Jeremiah 48:37) He is gone up … to weep The sense of the clause is uncertain. If Bayithbe a proper name the best rendering would be that of R.V. marg. Bayith and Dibon are gone up to the high-places to weep. But Bayithenters so frequently into compound place-names in this region (Beth-Diblathaim, Beth-Baal-meon, Beth-Bamoth) that it is hardly likely to have been used alone of a particular town. Some accordingly take it in its ordinary sense of "house" (here "temple") and translate, "He is gone up to the temple, and Dibon to the high places …," a very harsh construction. The most satisfactory solution of the difficulty is that proposed by Duhm, who changes bayithinto bathand reads the daughter of Dibon (Jeremiah 48:18) is gone up to the high places.… The "high places" are of course the local sanctuary.

Dibon (where the Moabite Stone was found) is only a few miles from the Arnon, and is naturally the first to receive tidings of the fall of the southern fortresses. On the whole the description observes the geographical order south to north.

Moab shall howl Better howleth (other verbs also to be translated as presents), a peculiar onomatopoetic form occurring also in Isaiah 15:3 and Isaiah 26:7.

Nebo is a town mentioned on the Moabite Stone near the mountain of the same name. It lay due east of the mouth of the Jordan; Medebaa short distance to the S. For overrender on.

on all their headsshall be baldness On the signs of mourning mentioned here and in Isaiah 15:3 see ch. Isaiah 3:24; Isaiah 22:12; Micah 1:16; Job 1:20; Jeremiah 41:5.