INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 15 This chapter is a prophecy of the destruction of the Moabites; two of their principal cities are mentioned as made desolate, Isaiah 15:1 the inhabitants in divers places are represented as weeping and mourning, and showing various signs of it, Isaiah 15:2 yea, not only the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BURDEN OF MOAB,.... A heavy, grievous prophecy, concerning the destruction of Moab. The Targum is, "the burden of the cup of cursing, to give Moab to drink.'' This seems to respect the destruction of it by Nebuchadnezzar, which is prophesied of in Jeremiah 48:1 for that which was to be within... [ Continue Reading ]
HE IS GONE UP TO BAJITH,.... That is, Moab; the king or people of Moab, particularly the inhabitants of the above cities. Bajith signifies house; and here a house of idolatry, as Kimchi interprets it; it was an idol's temple, very likely the temple of their god Chemosh, the same which is called Beth... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THEIR STREETS THEY SHALL GIRT THEMSELVES WITH SACKCLOTH,.... Instead of their fine clothes, with which they had used to deck themselves, being a very proud people; see Isaiah 16:6 this was usual in times of distress on any account, as well as a token of mourning for the dead; see Joel 1:8. The wo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HESHBON SHALL CRY, AND ELEALEH,.... Two other cities in the land of Moab. The first of these was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who took it from the Moabites, Numbers 21:25 it came into the hands of the Reubenites, Numbers 32:3 and afterwards was again possessed by the Moabites, Jeremia... [ Continue Reading ]
MY HEART SHALL CRY OUT FOR MOAB,.... These seem to be the words of the prophet, pitying them as they were fellow creatures, though enemies; which shows humanity in him, and signifies that their calamities were very great, that a stranger should be concerned for them, and such to whom they had been t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE WATERS OF NIMRIM SHALL BE DESOLATE,.... Or dried up, through a great drought that should come upon the land at this time; or being defiled with the blood of the slain, as Jarchi: it may denote the well watered pastures about Nimrim, that should become the forage of the enemy, and be trodden... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE THE ABUNDANCE THEY HAVE GOTTEN, AND THAT WHICH THEY HAVE LAID UP,.... The great substance which the Moabites had got, and hoarded up: SHALL THEY CARRY AWAY TO THE BROOK OF THE WILLOWS; either the Moabites should carry their substance to some brook, it may be near Nimrim, where many willow... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE CRY IS GONE FOUND ABOUT THE BORDERS OF MOAB,.... The cry of destruction and howling because of it; the places mentioned, as is observed by some, being upon the borders of the land. Heshbon was on the north east, Elealeh on the north west, Jahaz on the south west, Horonaim further west, Zoar... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE WATERS OF DIMON SHALL BE FULL OF BLOOD,.... Of the slain, as the Targum adds. This was a river in the land of Moab, as say Jarchi and Kimchi; it had its name from the blood of the slain, Some take it to be the name of a city, and the same with Dibon, Isaiah 15:2 but, because of the abundanc... [ Continue Reading ]