A¹ F 15:1. Past. Devastation of Moab.
G¹ t¹ 15:2-5. Moab. Cry.
u¹ 15:6,7. Reason.
t² 15:8. Moab. Cry.
u² 15:9. Reason.
G² t³ 16:1. Moab. Advise.
u³ 16:2. Reason.
t4 16:3,4-. Moab. Advise.
u4 16:-4,5. Reason.
G³ t5 16:6. Moab. Pride.
u5 16:7,8. Result.
u6 16:9-11. Result.
t6 16:12. Moab. Pride.
F 16:13,14. Future. Enfeeblement of Moab.649 - 588 B.C.
Isaiah 15)
1 The burden (1st of 7) of Moab (had been subdued by Saul [1 Sam. 14:47] and David [2 Sam. 8:2]; and paid tribute to Ahab [2 Kings 1:1; 3:3,4]; Jehoshaphat gained victories [2 Chron. 20:1-30, and 2 Kings 3:4-27]. Tiglath-pilesar carried away tribes east of Jordan, and received tribute from Moab as well as from Ahaz [2 Kings 16:10]). Because in the night Rabbah of Moab is laid waste (see Num. 21:28. Deut. 2:9,18,29), and cut off (or destroyed); because in the night Kir of Moab (now Kirak, east of south end of Dead Sea) is laid waste, and destroyed;
2 He (i.e. Moab) is gone up to Bajith (not identified), and to Dibon (now Dhiban. Num. 21:30; 32:3,34; 33:45,46. Josh. 13:9,17. Jer. 48:18,22), the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo (now Jebel Neba in Moab, overlooking the Jordan valley), and over Medeba (same name today. Cp. Num. 21:30. Josh. 13:9,16. 1 Chron. 19:7): on all their heads shall be baldness, and every beard cut off.
3 In his (i.e. Moab's) open streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth: on the tops of their houses, and in their streets, every one shall howl, coming down with weeping.
4 And Heshbon shall cry in pain (now Heshban. The capital of the Amorites. Rebuilt by Rueben [Num. 32:37]), and Elealeh (now el'Al, near Heshbon. Cp. 16:6. Num. 32:3,37. Jer. 48:34): their voice shall be heard even unto Jahaz (not identified. Num. 2:23. Deut. 2:32. Judg. 11:20): therefore the light-armed troopers of Moab shall shout for joy; his soul shall be vexed within him.
5 My heart shall cry out for Moab; his fugitives shall flee to Zoar (now probably Tell esh Shaghur. Original name was Bela [Gen. 13:10; 14:2,8; 19:22,23,30. Deut. 34:3. Jer. 48:34), [flee] like a heifer of three years old (cp. Jer.48:34): for by the ascent of Luhith (now Tel'at el heith; one mile west of Mount Nebo. Cp. Jer. 48:5) with weeping shall they go it up; for in the way of Horonaim (not identified; probably Wady Ghueir) they shall raise up a cry of destruction.
6 For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolations (probably Wady Nimrim, near south end of Dead Sea): for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing.
7 Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, shall they carry away to the brook of the willows. (or valley of the Arabians. Probably the Wady-el-ahsy separated Kerek from Djebal, or the brook Zered of Deut. 2:13,14)
8 For the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab; the howling thereof to Eglaim (not identified; probably the En-eglaim of Ezek. 47:10), and the howling thereof to Beerelim.
9 For the waters of Dimon (probably Umm Deineh, east of the Dead Sea) shall be full of blood: for I will bring more [howlings] upon Dimon, a lion (fig., put for all wild beasts) upon him that escapes of Moab, and upon the remnant of the land.