Compiled by WD Kemner January 2024
CHAPTER 15 & 16
The Burden on Moab
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Isaiah Chapter 15 verse 1 |
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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;
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Ar = the main city of Moab. It was given by God unto Abraham’s nephew Lot.
In it’s early history it had been inhabited by a race like Giants.
It was 15 miles south of the Arnon river. The northern border of Moab.
Numbers 21:13-15,28; Deuteronomy 2:9-11, 18, 29
Kir = large city about 6 miles south of Ar.
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Isaiah Chapter 15 verse 2 |
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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.
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“He” = Moab, those left after the destruction that is discussed in this chapter
“Bajith” = is now unknown
“Dibon” = location mentioned several times in scripture
However, both are appearing here as “high places”. They will go there to weep because of the destruction.
Shaving the hair was an indicator of mourning.
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Isaiah Chapter 15 verse 3-9 |
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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.
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.
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.
For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing. Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, shall they carry away to the brook of the willows.
For the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab; the howling thereof unto Eglaim, and the howling thereof unto Beer-elim. 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.
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There will be utter destruction all over Moab. From town to town there will be no one safe. They will be running wild like a “3 year old heifer”.
“…mounting up of Luhith…” – an elevation one mile west of Mount Nebo where idol sacrifices were done.
Eventually even wild beasts will be used to hunt down survivors that flee.
CHAPTER 16
The Moabite purpose
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Isaiah Chapter 16 verse 1-2 |
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Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion. 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.
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Isaiah urges the Moabites to send the tribute lamb to their leaders unto Mount Zion. 2 Kings 3:4 Mesha, king of Moab had sent a tribute to Israel. Isaiah is suggesting a similar thing be done now.
“Sela” = only used in this verse. See the Word Study on Sela.
Moab’s Role in the End Times
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Isaiah Chapter 16 verse 3-5 |
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Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth.
Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land.
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.
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We know this is referencing the end times because God’s outcasts (Jews) are fleeing from someone. We know from other scriptures that they will flee to Edom and Moab to escape the Anti-christ. Revelation 12; Daniel 11:41
Here the Anti-christ is called “the extortioner”. Extortion is the practice of obtaining benefit through coercion.
In the end, God will sit on the throne in the tabernacle of David.
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Isaiah Chapter 16 verse 6-12 |
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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.
Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kir-hareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken.
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.
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.
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.
Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kir-haresh.
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.
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A lament for Moab. Isaiah is broken over what is going to transpire. These verses depict the destruction of Moab and particularly the vineyards. There was celebration when a harvest of a vineyard was made and treading of the grapes began. Now those fields will be destroyed. These people are so weary that they go to their own idols for help and not to God.
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Isaiah Chapter 16 verse 13-14 |
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This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning Moab since that time. 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.
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“contemned” = brought down low”
The people were going to know themselves whether Isaiah was a Prophet or a sham soon enough. God gives a timetable of three years.
Three years from the time of this prophecy the Assyrian nation took the ten-tribe nation of Israel captive. In the process they also conquered the Moabites and other nations. Isaiah 15:1-9 and 16:6-14 were fulfilled and Isaiah’s prophecy held true.