Analysis of Isaiah 15:1 and Isaiah 16:1 SECTION I - THE TIME OF THE PROPHECY This and the following chapter make one entire prophecy, and should not have been divided. At what time it was delivered is unknown. The only period which is designated is, that it was to be fulfilled in three years from t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BURDEN OF MOAB - (see the note at Isaiah 13:1). This is the title of the prophecy. The Chaldee renders this, ‘The burden of the cup of malediction which is to come upon Moab.’ BECAUSE IN THE NIGHT - The fact that this was to be done in the night denotes the suddenness with which the calamity wo... [ Continue Reading ]
HE IS GONE UP - That is, the inhabitants of Moab in consternation have fled from their ruined cities, and have gone up to other places to weep. TO BAJITH, AND TO DIBON - Lowth supposes that these two words should be joined together, and that one place is denoted. The Chaldee renders it, ‘Ascend into... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THEIR STREETS - Publicly. Everywhere there shall be lamentation and grief. Some shall go into the streets, and some on the tops of the houses. THEY SHALL GIRD THEMSELVES WITH SACKCLOTH - The common token of mourning; and also worn usually in times of humiliation and fasting. It was one of the ou... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HESHBON SHALL CRY - This was a celebrated city of the Amorites, twenty miles east of the Jordan Joshua 13:17. It was formerly conquered from the Moabiltes by Sihon, and became his capital, and was taken by the Israelites a little before the death of Moses Numbers 21:25. After the carrying away o... [ Continue Reading ]
MY HEART SHALL CRY OUT FOR MOAB - This is expressive of deep compassion; and is proof that, in the view of the prophet, the calamities which were coming upon it were exceedingly heavy. The same sentiment is expressed more fully in Isaiah 16:11; see also Jeremiah 48:36 : ‘My heart shall sound for Moa... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE WATERS OF NIMRIM - It is supposed by some that the prophet here states the cause why the Moabites would flee to the cities of the south, to wit, that the “waters” of the northern cities would fail, and the country become desolate, and that they would seek support in the south. But it is more... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE, THE ABUNDANCE THEY HAVE GOTTEN - Their wealth they shall remove from a place that is utterly burned up with drought, where the waters and the grass fail, to another place where they may find water. TO THE BROOK OF WILLOWS - Margin, ‘The valley of the Arabians.’ The Septuagint renders it,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE CRY IS GONE ROUND ABOUT ... - The cry of distress and calamity has encompassed the whole land of Moab. There is no part of the land which is not filled with lamentation and distress. THE HOWLING - The voice of wailing on account of the distress. UNTO EGLAIM - This was a city of Moab east o... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE WATERS OF DIMON - Probably the same as “Dibon” Isaiah 15:2. Eusobius says it was a large town on the northern bank of the river Arnon. Jerome says that the letters “m and b” are often interchanged in oriental dialects (see the note at Isaiah 15:2). SHALL BE FULL OF BLOOD - That is, the numbe... [ Continue Reading ]