Isa 15:5-9 | KingComments | STEP | Isaiah mourns intensely over the downfall of Moab ( ). His heart cries out. Here we see that a prophecy in which judgment is foretold on an enemy people deeply touches the feelings of the prophet ( ; cf. ). Like God, Isaiah has no pleasure in the death of the wicked ( ). Pronouncing a message on behalf of God is not a mechanical matter. The servant who utters the message is fully involved. The special thing here is that we are dealing with a heathen people. Isaiah is seized by pity for what happens to these people. If we have to pass on a message of judgment, either in the gospel or for God’s people, this should not happen without feeling. In Isaiah describes Moab's flight from the enemy. “Zoar” is a fortress in the south. “Eglath-shelishiyah” is a well-known place ( ). The meaning of the name is ‘a heifer of three years old’. This gives the picture that Moab is a heifer in the power of its life that has not yet been under a yoke. To this not yet conquered fortress Moab’s fugitives take refuge from the enemy from the north. Then Isaiah follows in spirit the fugitives. They are chased by the enemy to the south. First they have climbed the slope to Luhith in the middle of the country. Then they descended again to Horonaim, wailing over the destruction of the country. The enemy has destroyed everything by dampening the waters of Nimrim with the result that nothing grows there anymore ( ). They also spared nothing in their advance, but trampled everything with their feet. The few possessions the Moabites were able to take with them they carry off over the brook of Arabim ( ) to take refuge in the area of Edom. Everywhere in Moab there is loud and desperate wailing ( ). The cries of the Moabites has gone around the whole country. From Eglaim to Beer-elim means from the far north of Moab to the far south, as in Israel from Dan to Berseba ( ). There is no place where it does not penetrate. And no matter how much blood has flowed, it will get worse ( ). To illustrate this, the prophet changes the name of the city of Dibon to Dimon, a word related to the word blood. In Hebrew it reads: ‘The city of blood is full of blood.’ Even the fugitives who are a remnant will not escape the judgment that the LORD has decided and executed over them.

‏ Isaiah 15:5-9

On the Run

Isaiah mourns intensely over the downfall of Moab (Isa 15:5). His heart cries out. Here we see that a prophecy in which judgment is foretold on an enemy people deeply touches the feelings of the prophet (Isa 16:9 ; Isa 21:3 ; 4 ; Isa 22:4; cf. Jer 9:1). Like God, Isaiah has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Eze 18:23 ; 32).

Pronouncing a message on behalf of God is not a mechanical matter. The servant who utters the message is fully involved. The special thing here is that we are dealing with a heathen people. Isaiah is seized by pity for what happens to these people. If we have to pass on a message of judgment, either in the gospel or for God’s people, this should not happen without feeling.

In Isa 15:5-9 Isaiah describes Moab's flight from the enemy. “Zoar” is a fortress in the south. “Eglath-shelishiyah” is a well-known place (Jer 48:34). The meaning of the name is ‘a heifer of three years old’. This gives the picture that Moab is a heifer in the power of its life that has not yet been under a yoke. To this not yet conquered fortress Moab’s fugitives take refuge from the enemy from the north.

Then Isaiah follows in spirit the fugitives. They are chased by the enemy to the south. First they have climbed the slope to Luhith in the middle of the country. Then they descended again to Horonaim, wailing over the destruction of the country.

The enemy has destroyed everything by dampening the waters of Nimrim with the result that nothing grows there anymore (Isa 15:6). They also spared nothing in their advance, but trampled everything with their feet. The few possessions the Moabites were able to take with them they carry off over the brook of Arabim (Isa 15:7) to take refuge in the area of Edom.

Everywhere in Moab there is loud and desperate wailing (Isa 15:8). The cries of the Moabites has gone around the whole country. From Eglaim to Beer-elim means from the far north of Moab to the far south, as in Israel from Dan to Berseba (Jdg 20:1). There is no place where it does not penetrate.

And no matter how much blood has flowed, it will get worse (Isa 15:9). To illustrate this, the prophet changes the name of the city of Dibon to Dimon, a word related to the word blood. In Hebrew it reads: ‘The city of blood is full of blood.’ Even the fugitives who are a remnant will not escape the judgment that the LORD has decided and executed over them.