The Destruction of Moab's Cities
Study note
Moab was located east of the Dead Sea in what is now the country of Jordan. The Moabites were distant relatives of the Israelites, descended from Lot, Abraham's nephew. Two major cities, Ar and Kir, are destroyed in a single night. The people go to their temples and high places to weep, but their gods cannot help them. They shave their heads and cut off their beards, which were signs of extreme mourning in the ancient Near East. Sackcloth, a rough fabric worn against the skin, was another sign of grief.
1 This is a message about Moab. In a single night, the city of Ar in Moab is wiped out and gone. In a single night, the city of Kir in Moab is destroyed and finished. 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;
2 People rush to their temple and to the hilltop shrines at Dibon to weep. Moab cries over the cities of Nebo and Medeba. Every head is shaved bald, and every beard is cut off as a sign of grief. 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 Out in the streets, people wrap themselves in rough cloth. On the rooftops and in the town squares, everyone cries their hearts out. 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 The people of Heshbon and Elealeh scream out loud. You can hear their voices all the way over in Jahaz. Even Moab's armed soldiers are crying. Their courage has completely drained away. 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.
The Flight of Moab's Refugees
Study note
Isaiah's own heart breaks for Moab. Refugees flee southward toward Zoar, weeping as they go along the roads. The waters of Nimrim dry up, the grass withers, and nothing green is left. The people carry their few possessions across the brook, desperately trying to escape. The cries of grief echo throughout the land. God declares that even worse suffering is coming. This prophecy shows that God's heart is not only for Israel; he grieves over the suffering of all peoples, even when that suffering comes as a result of their own choices.
5 My heart breaks for Moab! Its refugees run all the way to Zoar and Eglath-shelishiyah. They trudge up the road to Luhith weeping the whole way. On the road to Horonaim, they let out screams of devastation. 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 The waters of Nimrim have dried up completely. The grass has turned brown, the plants are dead, and nothing green is left. For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing.
7 So the people grab whatever few things they managed to save and carry them across the Brook of the Willows. Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, shall they carry away to the brook of the willows.
8 Heartbroken cries ring across every corner of Moab. The wailing reaches all the way to Eglaim and Beer-elim. For the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab; the howling thereof unto Eglaim, and the howling thereof unto Beer-elim.
9 The waters of Dimon are red with blood. But even more trouble is on the way for Dimon. A lion will chase down anyone who escapes from Moab and anyone still left in the land. 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.