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Isaiah 15

Oracle Against Moab

1The burden of Moab. For in a night, Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to nothing. For in a night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to nothing.

2They have gone up to Bayith, and to Dibon, to the high places, to weep. Moab wails over Nebo and over Medeba. Baldness is on all of their heads. Every beard is cut off.

3In their streets, they clothe themselves in sackcloth. In their streets and on their housetops, everyone wails, weeping abundantly.

4Heshbon cries out with Elealeh. Their voice is heard even to Jahaz. Therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud. Their souls tremble within them.

5My heart cries out for Moab! Her nobles flee to Zoar, to Eglath Shelishiyah; for they go up by the ascent of Luhith with weeping; for on the way to Horonaim, they raise up a cry of destruction.

6For the waters of Nimrim will be desolate; for the grass has withered away, the tender grass fails, there is no green thing.

7Therefore they will carry away the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have stored up, over the brook of the willows.

8For the cry has gone around the borders of Moab, its wailing to Eglaim, and its wailing to Beer Elim.

9For the waters of Dimon are full of blood; for I will bring yet more on Dimon, a lion on those of Moab who escape, and on the remnant of the land.

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Isaiah delivers a prophetic oracle announcing the sudden and devastating judgment that will befall Moab, with its major cities Ar and Kir destroyed in a single night. The chapter vividly depicts the widespread mourning and lamentation that will grip the entire nation, as Moabites flee their homeland and engage in traditional expressions of grief. Remarkably, the prophet expresses personal compassion for Moab's suffering, demonstrating that God's judgment, while certain, is not without divine sorrow over human tragedy.

Context

This oracle against Moab is the first in a series of judgments against foreign nations (chapters 13-23) that demonstrate God's sovereignty over all peoples.

Key Themes

Outline

  • 1
    Swift Destruction of Moab's CitiesThe oracle opens with the sudden nighttime devastation of Ar and Kir, Moab's principal cities.
  • 2-4
    National Mourning and LamentationMoabites engage in widespread grief rituals including weeping at high places, wearing sackcloth, and cutting hair and beards.
  • 5
    The Prophet's Compassionate ResponseIsaiah expresses personal anguish over Moab's fate as nobles flee toward southern refuge cities.
  • 6-7
    Environmental Devastation and FlightWaters dry up, vegetation withers, and survivors carry their possessions as they flee across borders.
  • 8-9
    Universal Grief and Continued JudgmentWailing spreads throughout Moab's territory while God promises additional judgment, including lions for escapees.

Oracle Against Moab

15:1–16:14
prophecymournful

A prophetic oracle announcing God's judgment upon Moab, describing widespread destruction and mourning throughout the nation. Despite the judgment, there are hints of compassion and future restoration through submission to God's authority.

geographic

Dibon's appearance in both Israel's conquest narratives and this judgment oracle creates a literary bridge between Moab's historical defeats and prophetic destruction.

Isaiah 15:1

Obadiah 1:5lexical

“If thieves came to you, if robbers by night—oh, what disaster awaits you—wouldn’t they only steal until they had enough…

Isaiah 15:2

Jeremiah 48:37lexical

For every head is bald, and every beard clipped. There are cuttings on all the hands, and sackcloth on the waist.

Numbers 21:30lexical

We have shot at them. Heshbon has perished even to Dibon. We have laid waste even to Nophah, Which reaches to Medeba.”

Joshua 13:9lexical

from Aroer, that is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all th…

Numbers 32:3lexical

“Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,

Jeremiah 48:22lexical

on Dibon, on Nebo, on Beth Diblathaim,

Isaiah 15:3

Isaiah 22:12lexical

In that day, the Lord, GOD of Armies, called to weeping, to mourning, to baldness, and to dressing in sackcloth;

Jeremiah 49:3lexical

“Wail, Heshbon, for Ai is laid waste! Cry, you daughters of Rabbah! Clothe yourself in sackcloth. Lament, and run back a…

Joel 1:13lexical

Put on sackcloth and mourn, you priests! Wail, you ministers of the altar. Come, lie all night in sackcloth, you ministe…

Jeremiah 4:8lexical

For this, clothe yourself with sackcloth, lament and wail; for the fierce anger of the LORD hasn’t turned back from us.

Lamentations 2:10lexical

The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground. They keep silence. They have cast up dust on their heads. They hav…

Isaiah 15:4

Jeremiah 48:34lexical

From the cry of Heshbon even to Elealeh, even to Jahaz they have uttered their voice, from Zoar even to Horonaim, to Egl…

Numbers 32:3lexical

“Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,

Numbers 32:37lexical

The children of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

Isaiah 16:9lexical

Therefore I will weep with the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah. I will water you with my tears, Heshbon, and Ele…

Isaiah 15:5

Jeremiah 48:34lexical

From the cry of Heshbon even to Elealeh, even to Jahaz they have uttered their voice, from Zoar even to Horonaim, to Egl…

Jeremiah 48:5lexical

For they will go up by the ascent of Luhith with continual weeping. For at the descent of Horonaim they have heard the d…

Jeremiah 48:3lexical

The sound of a cry from Horonaim, desolation and great destruction!

Isaiah 15:6

Psalms 37:2lexical

For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb.

Jeremiah 48:34lexical

From the cry of Heshbon even to Elealeh, even to Jahaz they have uttered their voice, from Zoar even to Horonaim, to Egl…

Interlinear

Word-by-word original language

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Historical Context

Places and events in this chapter

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