Matthew Henry Commentary Isaiah 15:1-9

"The burden of Moab. For in a night Ar of Moab is laid waste, [and] brought to nought; for in a night Kir of Moab is laid waste, [and] brought to nought. They are gone up to Bayith, and to Dibon, to the high places, to weep: Moab waileth over Nebo, and over Medeba; on all their heads is baldness, every beard is cut off. In their streets they gird themselves with sackcloth; on their housetops, and in their broad places, every one waileth, weeping abundantly. And Heshbon crieth out, and Elealeh; their voice is heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud; his soul trembleth within him. My heart crieth out for Moab; her nobles [flee] unto Zoar, to Eglath-shelishi-yah: for by the ascent of Luhith with weeping they go up; for in the way of Horonaim they raise up a cry of destruction. For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate; for the grass is withered away, the tender grass faileth, there is no green thing. Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, shall they carry away over the brook of the willows. For the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab; the wailing thereof unto Eglaim, and the wailing thereof unto Beer-elim. For the waters of Dimon are full of blood; for I will bring yet more upon Dimon, a lion upon them of Moab that escape, and upon the remnant of the land." — Isaiah 15:1-9 (ASV)

The Divine judgments about to come upon the Moabites.

This prophecy, coming to pass within three years, would confirm the prophet's mission and the belief in all his other prophecies. Concerning Moab, it is foretold:

1. (Isaiah 15:1) Their chief cities would be surprised by the enemy. Great changes, and very dismal ones, can occur in a very short time.

2. (Isaiah 15:2) The Moabites would resort to their idols for relief. Ungodly men, when in trouble, have no comforter. But they are seldom brought by their terrors to approach our forgiving God with true sorrow and believing prayer.

3. (Isaiah 15:3) There would be cries of grief throughout the land. It is poor relief to have many fellow-sufferers and fellow-mourners.

4. (Isaiah 15:4) The courage of their soldiers would fail. God can easily deprive a nation of that on which it most depended for strength and defence.

In Isaiah 15:5, these calamities would cause grief in the neighbouring regions. Though enemies to Israel, yet as our fellow human beings, it is grievous to see them in such distress.

In Isaiah 15:6-9, the prophet describes the woeful lamentations heard throughout the country of Moab when it became a prey to the Assyrian army. The country would be plundered, and famine is usually the sad consequence of war.

Those who are eager to acquire an abundance of this world, and to store up what they have acquired, little consider how soon it may all be taken from them. While we warn our enemies to escape from ruin, let us pray for them, that they may seek and find forgiveness for their sins.