Isaiah 15 DBY
Summary: Isaiah delivers "the burden of Moab," describing sudden, night-time destruction of Moab's chief cities — Ar and Kir — leaving the population shaved bald, dressed in sackcloth, wailing on rooftops and in streets. The prophet pictures refugees fleeing toward Zoar, Luhith, and Horonaim weeping as they go, crossing the brook of the willows with what they can carry, while the waters of Nimrim run dry. Isaiah himself is moved to tears over Moab's cry reaching as far as Eglaim and Beerelim, and describes the land's waters filled with blood and further calamity added upon the fugitives and survivors. The chapter reads as an extended lament rather than gloating, emphasizing the scale of Moab's suffering.
1The burden of Moab: For in the night of being laid waste, Ar of Moab is destroyed; for in the night of being laid waste, Kir of Moab is destroyed!
2He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, to the high places, to weep; Moab howleth over Nebo, and over Medeba; on all their heads is baldness, every beard is cut off.
3In their streets they are girded with sackcloth; on their roofs, and in their broadways, every one howleth, melted into tears.
4And Heshbon crieth, and Elealeh: their voice is heard unto Jahaz. Therefore the armed men of Moab cry out: his soul trembleth in him.
5My heart crieth out for Moab; their fugitives [have fled] unto Zoar, unto Eglath-Sheli-shijah: for by the ascent of Luhith, with weeping they go up by it; for in the way of Horonaim they raise up a cry of destruction.
6For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate; for the herbage is withered away, the grass hath failed, there is no green thing.
7Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, do they carry away to the torrent of the willows.
8For the cry goeth round about the borders of Moab; the howling thereof unto Eglaim, and the howling thereof unto Beer-elim.
9For the waters of Dimon are full of blood, for I will lay yet more upon Dimon: a lion upon them that are escaped of Moab, and upon that which remaineth of the land.
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