Isaiah 15

KJV · Chapter 15/66

1The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence;

2He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba: on all their heads shall be baldness, and every beard cut off.

3In their streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth: on the tops of their houses, and in their streets, every one shall howl, weeping abundantly.

4And Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh: their voice shall be heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out; his life shall be grievous unto him.

5My heart shall cry out for Moab; his fugitives shall flee unto Zoar, an heifer of three years old: for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping shall they go it up; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry of destruction.

6For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing.

7Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, shall they carry away to the brook of the willows.

8For the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab; the howling thereof unto Eglaim, and the howling thereof unto Beer–elim.

9For the waters of Dimon shall be full of blood: for I will bring more upon Dimon, lions upon him that escapeth of Moab, and upon the remnant of the land.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

A detailed lament over the destruction of Moab, Israel's neighboring nation east of the Dead Sea. Entire cities weep, flee, and despair in the face of an imminent catastrophe.

Explanation

Moab was an ancient kingdom descended from Lot (Abraham's nephew, Genesis 19:37) and had a historical relationship of tension and kinship with Israel — it was from there that Ruth came, great-grandmother of King David. The chapter is unusual in its tone: instead of triumph, Isaiah genuinely laments Moab's suffering, showing compassion even for a people historically hostile to Israel. The wealth of specific city names (Ar, Kir, Nebo, Heshbon) reflects detailed geographical knowledge of the Transjordan region. The application today is that announcing judgment on injustice does not mean rejoicing over someone else's suffering — one can weep even over the punishment of enemies.

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