Dibon's appearance in both Israel's conquest narratives and this judgment oracle creates a literary bridge between Moab's historical defeats and prophetic destruction.
Isaiah 15
Oracle Against Moab
1The burden of Moab. For in a night, Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to nothing. For in a night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to nothing.
2They have gone up to Bayith, and to Dibon, to the high places, to weep. Moab wails over Nebo and over Medeba. Baldness is on all of their heads. Every beard is cut off.
3In their streets, they clothe themselves in sackcloth. In their streets and on their housetops, everyone wails, weeping abundantly.
4Heshbon cries out with Elealeh. Their voice is heard even to Jahaz. Therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud. Their souls tremble within them.
5My heart cries out for Moab! Her nobles flee to Zoar, to Eglath Shelishiyah; for they go up by the ascent of Luhith with weeping; for on the way to Horonaim, they raise up a cry of destruction.
6For the waters of Nimrim will be desolate; for the grass has withered away, the tender grass fails, there is no green thing.
7Therefore they will carry away the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have stored up, over the brook of the willows.
8For the cry has gone around the borders of Moab, its wailing to Eglaim, and its wailing to Beer Elim.
9For the waters of Dimon are full of blood; for I will bring yet more on Dimon, a lion on those of Moab who escape, and on the remnant of the land.
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Theme
Isaiah delivers a prophetic oracle announcing the sudden and devastating judgment that will befall Moab, with its major cities Ar and Kir destroyed in a single night. The chapter vividly depicts the widespread mourning and lamentation that will grip the entire nation, as Moabites flee their homeland and engage in traditional expressions of grief. Remarkably, the prophet expresses personal compassion for Moab's suffering, demonstrating that God's judgment, while certain, is not without divine sorrow over human tragedy.
Context
This oracle against Moab is the first in a series of judgments against foreign nations (chapters 13-23) that demonstrate God's sovereignty over all peoples.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1 Swift Destruction of Moab's Cities The oracle opens with the sudden nighttime devastation of Ar and Kir, Moab's principal cities.
- 2-4 National Mourning and Lamentation Moabites engage in widespread grief rituals including weeping at high places, wearing sackcloth, and cutting hair and beards.
- 5 The Prophet's Compassionate Response Isaiah expresses personal anguish over Moab's fate as nobles flee toward southern refuge cities.
- 6-7 Environmental Devastation and Flight Waters dry up, vegetation withers, and survivors carry their possessions as they flee across borders.
- 8-9 Universal Grief and Continued Judgment Wailing spreads throughout Moab's territory while God promises additional judgment, including lions for escapees.
Oracle Against Moab
15:1–16:14 prophecy mournful
A prophetic oracle announcing God's judgment upon Moab, describing widespread destruction and mourning throughout the nation. Despite the judgment, there are hints of compassion and future restoration through submission to God's authority.
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Dibon's appearance in both Israel's conquest narratives and this judgment oracle creates a literary bridge between Moab's historical defeats and prophetic destruction.
Insights
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Isaiah 15:1 1 reference
Isaiah 15:2 5 references
Lexicals 5
Jeremiah 48:37 Lexical
For every head is bald, and every beard clipped. There are cuttings on all the hands, and sackcloth on the waist.
Numbers 21:30 Lexical
We have shot at them. Heshbon has perished even to Dibon. We have laid waste even to Nophah, Which reaches to Medeba.”
Joshua 13:9 Lexical
from Aroer, that is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all th…
Numbers 32:3 Lexical
“Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,
Jeremiah 48:22 Lexical
on Dibon, on Nebo, on Beth Diblathaim,
Isaiah 15:3 5 references
Lexicals 5
Isaiah 22:12 Lexical
In that day, the Lord, GOD of Armies, called to weeping, to mourning, to baldness, and to dressing in sackcloth;
Jeremiah 49:3 Lexical
“Wail, Heshbon, for Ai is laid waste! Cry, you daughters of Rabbah! Clothe yourself in sackcloth. Lament, and run back a…
Joel 1:13 Lexical
Put on sackcloth and mourn, you priests! Wail, you ministers of the altar. Come, lie all night in sackcloth, you ministe…
Jeremiah 4:8 Lexical
For this, clothe yourself with sackcloth, lament and wail; for the fierce anger of the LORD hasn’t turned back from us.
Lamentations 2:10 Lexical
The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground. They keep silence. They have cast up dust on their heads. They hav…
Isaiah 15:4 4 references
Lexicals 4
Jeremiah 48:34 Lexical
From the cry of Heshbon even to Elealeh, even to Jahaz they have uttered their voice, from Zoar even to Horonaim, to Egl…
Numbers 32:3 Lexical
“Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,
Numbers 32:37 Lexical
The children of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,
Isaiah 16:9 Lexical
Therefore I will weep with the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah. I will water you with my tears, Heshbon, and Ele…
Isaiah 15:5 3 references
Lexicals 3
Jeremiah 48:34 Lexical
From the cry of Heshbon even to Elealeh, even to Jahaz they have uttered their voice, from Zoar even to Horonaim, to Egl…
Jeremiah 48:5 Lexical
For they will go up by the ascent of Luhith with continual weeping. For at the descent of Horonaim they have heard the d…
Jeremiah 48:3 Lexical
The sound of a cry from Horonaim, desolation and great destruction!
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Word-by-word original language
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v. 2
v. 3
v. 4
v. 5
v. 6
v. 7
v. 8
v. 9
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