Isaiah 15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 15

This chapter, and that which follows it, are the burden of Moab?a prophecy of some great desolation that was coming upon that country, which bordered upon this land of Israel, and had often been injurious and vexatious to it, though the Moabites were descended from Lot, Abraham's kinsman and companion, and though the Israelites, by the appointment of God, had spared them when they might both easily and justly have cut them off with their neighbours. In this chapter we have, I. Great... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 15:1-5

The country of Moab was of small extent, but very fruitful. It bordered upon the lot of Reuben on the other side Jordan and upon the Dead Sea. Naomi went to sojourn there when there was a famine in Canaan. This is the country which (it is here foretold) should be wasted and grievously harassed, not quite ruined, for we find another prophecy of its ruin (Jer. 48:1-47), which was accomplished by Nebuchadnezzar. This prophecy here was to be fulfilled within three years (Isa. 16:14), and therefore... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 15:6-9

Here the prophet further describes the woeful and piteous lamentations that should be heard throughout all the country of Moab when it should become a prey to the Assyrian army. ?By this time the cry has gone round about all the borders of Moab,? Isa. 15:8. Every corner of the country has received the alarm, and is in the utmost confusion upon it. It has reached to Eglaim, a city at one end of the country, and to Beer-elim, a city as far the other way. Where sin has been general, and all flesh... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 15

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 15 This chapter is a prophecy of the destruction of the Moabites; two of their principal cities are mentioned as made desolate, Isaiah 15:1 the inhabitants in divers places are represented as weeping and mourning, and showing various signs of it, Isaiah 15:2 yea, not only the common people, but the armed soldiers also, Isaiah 15:4 nay, even the prophet himself, Isaiah 15:5 the reasons of which were the great drought, so that there were no grass, nor green... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 15:1

The burden of Moab ,.... A heavy, grievous prophecy, concerning the destruction of Moab. The Targum is, "the burden of the cup of cursing, to give Moab to drink.' This seems to respect the destruction of it by Nebuchadnezzar, which is prophesied of in Jeremiah 48:1 for that which was to be within three years, Isaiah 16:14 looks like another and distinct prophecy from this; though some think this was accomplished before the times of Nebuchadnezzar, either by Shalmaneser king of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 15:2

He is gone up to Bajith ,.... That is, Moab; the king or people of Moab, particularly the inhabitants of the above cities. Bajith signifies house; and here a house of idolatry, as Kimchi interprets it; it was an idol's temple, very likely the temple of their god Chemosh, the same which is called Bethbaalmeon, Joshua 13:17 "the house of Baal's habitation", and is mentioned with Dibon and Bamoth, as here; hither the Moabites went in their distress, to lament their case, ask advice, make... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 15:3

In their streets they shall girt themselves with sackcloth ,.... Instead of their fine clothes, with which they had used to deck themselves, being a very proud people; see Isaiah 16:6 this was usual in times of distress on any account, as well as a token of mourning for the dead; see Joel 1:8 . The word for "streets" might be rendered "villages", as distinct from cities, that were "without" the walls of the cities, though adjacent to them; and the rather, seeing mention is made of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 15:4

And Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh ,.... Two other cities in the land of Moab. The first of these was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who took it from the Moabites, Numbers 21:25 it came into the hands of the Reubenites, Numbers 32:3 and afterwards was again possessed by the Moabites, Jeremiah 48:2 . Josephus F20 Antiqu. l. 13. c. 15. sect. 4. calls it Essebon, and mentions it among the cities of Moab; it goes by the name of Esbuta in Ptolemy F21 Geograph. l. 5. c.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 15:5

My heart shall cry out for Moab ,.... These seem to be the words of the prophet, pitying them as they were fellow creatures, though enemies; which shows humanity in him, and signifies that their calamities were very great, that a stranger should be concerned for them, and such to whom they had been troublesome; so Jarchi understands it, who observes the difference between the true and false prophet, particularly between Isaiah and Balaam; but others, as Kimchi, interpret it of the Moabites... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 15:6

For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate ,.... Or dried up, through a great drought that should come upon the land at this time; or being defiled with the blood of the slain, as Jarchi: it may denote the well watered pastures about Nimrim, that should become the forage of the enemy, and be trodden under foot by its army, or be forsaken by the proprietors of them. Josephus F13 De Bello Jud. l. 7. c. 6. sect. 3. Ed. Hudson. speaks of fountains of hot water springing up in the country... read more

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