The Burden Against Moab

Following the proclamation of the destruction of Assyria and Babylon, this chapter proclaims the destruction of Moab. It appears to list the cities of Moab that will be destroyed including Ar, Kir, Dibon, Nebo, Heshbon and Elealeh. There will be lots of weeping, even the armed soldiers of Moab will cry out. Other places mentioned are Hononaim, Nimrim, Eglaim, Dimon. Although Moab had not conquered Judah and Israel, it had been a thorn to them on various occasions.



Isaiah 15
Proclamation Against Moab

1 The burden against Moab.
Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste
And destroyed,
Because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste
And destroyed,
2 He has gone up to the temple[a] and Dibon,
To the high places to weep.
Moab will wail over Nebo and over Medeba;
On all their heads will be baldness,
And every beard cut off.
3 In their streets they will clothe themselves with sackcloth;
On the tops of their houses
And in their streets
Everyone will wail, weeping bitterly.
4 Heshbon and Elealeh will cry out,
Their voice shall be heard as far as Jahaz;
Therefore the armed soldiers[b] of Moab will cry out;
His life will be burdensome to him.
5 “My heart will cry out for Moab;
His fugitives shall flee to Zoar,
Like a three-year-old heifer.[c]
For by the Ascent of Luhith
They will go up with weeping;
For in the way of Horonaim
They will raise up a cry of destruction,
6 For the waters of Nimrim will be desolate,
For the green grass has withered away;
The grass fails, there is nothing green.
7 Therefore the abundance they have gained,
And what they have laid up,
They will carry away to the Brook of the Willows.
8 For the cry has gone all around the borders of Moab,
Its wailing to Eglaim
And its wailing to Beer Elim.
9 For the waters of Dimon[d] will be full of blood;
Because I will bring more upon Dimon,[e]
Lions upon him who escapes from Moab,
And on the remnant of the land.”