Isaiah 15-16

Note: Isaiah 15 and 16 appear to be one prophecy. The sections are divided by “voice” . The centre focuses on the throne of David. Translations differ on the identity of  the refugees – are they Moabite or Israelis?  i suggest the latter and that this is a prophecy of the effects of the Gogian invasion. 

A. Moab’s ruin foretold
15:1 The burden of Moab.
Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence;
because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence;

B. Moab weeps and howls
2 He is gone up to Bajith,  and to Dibon,
the high places, to weep:
Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba:
on all their heads shall be baldness,  and every beard cut off.
3 In their streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth:
on the tops of their houses, and in their streets,
every one shall howl, weeping abundantly.
4 And Heshbon shall cry,  and Elealeh:
their voice shall be heard even unto Jahaz:
therefore the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out;
his life shall be grievous unto him.

C. The LORD grieves for Moab – food stocks gone
5 My heart shall cry out for Moab;
his fugitives shall flee unto Zoar, an heifer of three years old:
for by the mounting up of Luhith  with weeping shall they go it up;
for in the way of Horonaim  they shall raise up a cry of destruction.
6 For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate:
for the hay is withered away,
the grass faileth, there is no green thing.
7 Therefore the abundance they have gotten,
and that which they have laid up,
shall they carry away to the brook of the willows.
8 For the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab;
the howling thereof unto Eglaim,
and the howling thereof unto Beerelim.
9 For the waters of Dimon shall be full of blood:
for I will bring more upon Dimon,
lions upon him that escapeth of Moab,
and upon the remnant of the land.

D. Moab to seek the protection of the ruler in Zion
a. 16:1 Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land
from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.
2 For it shall be, that,  as a wandering bird cast out of the nest,
so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.

b. 3 Take counsel, execute judgment;
make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday;
hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth.

b’. 4 Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab;
be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler:

a’. for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth,
the oppressors are consumed out of the land.
5 And in mercy shall the throne be established:
and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David,
judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.

B’. Moab’s weeps and howls
6 We have heard of the pride of Moab; he is very proud:
even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath:
but his lies shall not be so.
7 Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab,
every one shall howl:
for the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn;
surely they are stricken.
8 For the fields of Heshbon languish,  and the vine of Sibmah:
the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof,
they are come even unto Jazer,
they wandered through the wilderness:
her branches are stretched out,
they are gone over the sea.

C’. The LORD’s grief over Moab’s plight – no harvest
9 Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah:
I will water thee with my tears,
O Heshbon, and Elealeh:
for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen.
10 And gladness is taken away,  and joy out of the plentiful field;
and in the vineyards there shall be no singing,
neither shall there be shouting:
the treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses;
I have made their vintage shouting to cease.
11 Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab,
and mine inward parts for Kirharesh.
12 And it shall come to pass,
when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place,
that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray;
but he shall not prevail.

A’. Moab’s Ruin foretold
13 This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning Moab since that time. 14 But now the LORD hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and feeble.

2 thoughts on “Isaiah 15-16”

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