Frameworks:
Isaiah 15: A prophecy against Moab
v.1-4
How central and northern Moab will suffer
v.5-9
How the south will suffer
[Introductory
Comment: Moab, on the east side of the
Dead Sea, to the south of the tribal area of Reuben, now comes
under the divine spotlight with a warning of destructive judgment
that is coming to both the central and northern areas, but also
the far south.]
v.1-4
How central and northern Moab will suffer
v.1
(The two main strongholds
of Moab will be destroyed) A
prophecy against Moab:
Ar
in Moab is ruined,
destroyed in a night!
Kir in Moab is ruined,
destroyed in a night!
v.2
(The worship in the capital
city of Moab will suffer) Dibon
goes up to its temple,
to its high places to weep;
Moab wails over Nebo and Medeba.
Every head is shaved
and every beard cut off.
v.3 In
the streets they wear sackcloth;
on the roofs and in the public squares
they all wail,
prostrate with weeping.
v.4 (Moabite
cities further north & east will be included) Heshbon
and Elealeh cry out,
their voices are heard all the way to
Jahaz.
Therefore the armed men of Moab cry out,
and their hearts are faint.
v.5-9
How the south will suffer
v.5
(People will flee this
country) My
heart cries out over Moab;
her fugitives flee as far as Zoar, [south
of the Dead Sea]
as far as Eglath Shelishiyah.
They go up the hill to Luhith,
weeping as they go;
on the road to Horonaim
they lament their destruction.
v.6
(The far south of Moab
the very land will suffer) The
waters of Nimrim are dried up
and the grass is withered;
the vegetation is gone
and nothing green is left.
v.7 (Their
plundered wealth will be taken south) So
the wealth they have acquired and stored up
they carry away over the Ravine of the
Poplars.
v.8 (Their
anguish will be heard in the south) Their
outcry echoes along the border of Moab;
their wailing reaches as far as Eglaim,
their lamentation as far as Beer Elim.
v.9 (The
blood of slaughter will pollute their rivers) The
waters of Dimon are full of blood,
but I will bring still more upon Dimon –
a lion upon the fugitives of Moab
and upon those who remain in the land.
CONTINUE
TO CHAPTER 16