USB ~ Isaiah 15

Moab†

1 Oracle on Moab: Laid waste in a night, Ar of Moab is destroyed; Laid waste in a night, Kir of Moab is destroyed.

2 Daughter Dibon has gone up to the high places to weep; Over Nebo and over Medeba Moab is wailing. Every head is shaved, every beard sheared off.† a

3 In the streets they wear sackcloth, and on the rooftops; In the squares everyone wails, streaming with tears. b

4 Heshbon and Elealeh cry out, they are heard as far as Jahaz. At this the loins of Moab tremble, his soul quivers within him; c

5 My heart cries out for Moab, his fugitives reach Zoar, Eglath-shelishiyah: The ascent of Luhith they ascend weeping; On the way to Horonaim they utter rending cries; d

6 The waters of Nimrim have become a waste, The grass is withered, new growth is gone, nothing is green.

7 So now whatever they have acquired or stored away they carry across the Wadi of the Poplars.

8 The cry has gone round the territory of Moab; As far as Eglaim his wailing, even at Beer-elim his wailing.

9 † The waters of Dimon are filled with blood, but I will bring still more upon Dimon: Lions for those who are fleeing from Moab and for those who remain in the land!

Footnotes

†. 15:1-16:14 Both the historical situation reflected in this oracle against Moab and the date of composition are uncertain. Variants of the same poem are found in Jer 48, and there are connections with Nm 21:27-30 as well.

†. 15:2 Shaved…sheared off: traditional signs of grief.

†. 15:9 There is a play on words between “Dimon” and dam, the Hebrew word for blood.

15:2 Jer 48:37; Ez 7:18; Am 8:10.
15:3 Is 22:12; Jer 48:38.
15:4 Jer 48:34.
15:5 Jer 48:5, 34.