Annotations Upon Isaiah, Chapter 15
CHAP. XV.
VERSE. 1. THE burden of Moab, &c.] See the Notes Chap. 13.1. and 2 Reg. 9.25. Some ſay the deſtruction here threatned, was brought upon them by the Aſſyrian, either Salmanaſſur, or Ezarhaddon, of which Amos they ſay propheſyed in the days of Uzziah, Amos 2.2. and others, by Nebuchadnezzar after he had taken and deſtroyed Jeruſalem; concerning which it is hard to determine any thing; yet the laſt ſeems the moſt probable, becauſe that deſtruction of Moa… of which Jeremy prophecyed Chap. 48. muſt needs be that by the Babylonians. And this may be well deemed to be the ſame with that, becauſe Jeremy ſeems to deſcribe the Deſtruction with many of the ſame expreſſions that are uſed here; but ſee the Note Chap. 16.14. It may well be, that both the one and the other are here intended.
Becauſe in the night, &c.] And ſo ſuddenly and unexpectedly, when they were ſecure and fearleſs, and muſt be needs ſtruck with the greater terror; Ar of Moab (ſee the Notes Numb. 21.28 and Deut. 2.9.) is laid waſte and brought to ſilence, that is, the inhabitants thereof are deſtroyed and ſlain (See the Note 1 Sam. 2.9.) or the Place thereof is deſtroyed and left deſolate. And beſides, in this expreſſion of her being brought to ſilence, there may be a cloſe intimation of the juſt hand of God upon her, in that her inhabitants, that had wont to let looſe their tongues to blaſpheme the God of Iſrael, and to inſult over, abuſe, and deride his people, ſhould then have their mouths ſtopped. But this clauſe may be read, as it is in the margin, Ar of Moab is laid waſte and cut off, that is, not only ſpoiled and plundered, but alſo utterly ruined and deſtroyed; becauſe in the night Kir of Moab is laid waſte and brought to ſilence; and this was another chief City of the Moabites, called here haply Kir of Moab, to diſtinguiſh it from another City of that name in Media, 2 King. 16.9. but elſewhere Kir-hereſeth and Kirhareſh, Chap. 16.7, 11.
Ver. 2. He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places to weep.] That is, the Moabites, the people of Moab, ſhall in this their great diſtreſs go up to their high places at Bajith, and Dibon, and elſewhere, to bewail their miſery before their Idol-Gods (Chemoſh eſpecially, ſee the Note Numb. 21.29.) and with much weeping and howling, and many ſacrifices offered, to cry to them for help and defence. And this is added by way of deriding their folly in ſteeing thus, ſome to one high place, and ſome to another; and perhaps in running from one God, and from one altar to another for relief and ſuccor, when alas, neither the one nor the other were able to help them.
Moab ſhall howl over Nebe, and over Medeba, &c.] To wit, for the miſeries already come upon theſe Cities, or ready to come upon them. As for the Cities or Towns here mentioned, Dibon, and Neb…, and Medeba; it is evident, that they were in the poſſeſſion of the Tribes of Iſrael without Jordan; ſee Numb. 21.3…. and 32.3. and Joſh. 13.9, 16. But it ſeems in aftertimes they were again recovered from the Iſraelites, and repoſſeſſed by the Moabites: on all their heads ſhall be baldneſs, and every beard cut off; ſee the Notes Lev. 19.27. and 21.5. and Deut. 14.1. and Job. 1.20.
Ver. 3. In their ſtreets they ſhall gird themſelves with ſackcloth, &c.] See the Note Chap. 3.24. On the tops of their houſes, and in their ſtreets every one ſhall howl, weeping abundantly; that is, within their doors and without, there ſhall be nothing but weeping and howling. The tops of their houſes (concerning which, ſee the Note, Deut. 22.8.) are mentioned, becauſe thither they might flee, to get as far as they could from the enemy; or that thence they might ſee what the enemy did in the ſtreets; or becauſe thither they were wont to go up to pray, and to cry to heaven for help, as it is ſaid, Jer. 32.29. that on their roofs they offered incenſe, unto Baal, and Zeph. 1.5. That they worſhipped the hoſt of heaven on the houſe-tops. As for thoſe laſt words, weeping abundantly, it is in the Hebrew, deſcending into weeping, or, coming down with weeping; and that which is intended thereby, ſeems to be either, that they were diſſolved into weeping, or that their eyes ran down with tears; or rather, that as they went up to their high places, and to the tops of their houſes to weep, ſo they came down again weeping, not finding any hope of help or Comfort there.
Ver. 4. And Heſhbon ſhall cry, and Elealeh, &c.] Theſe places were alſo formerly in the poſſeſſion of the Iſraelites, Numb. 32.57. but were, it ſeems, in after-times, gotten from them by the Moabites: Their voice ſhall be heard even unto Jahaz, a Town in the utmoſt border of Moab, Numb. 21.23. ſo that hereby is implyed, either that there ſhould be an out-cry of the people all the land over, or how lamentable their out-cry ſhould be, in that it ſhould be heard ſo far off; therefore the armed ſoldiers of Moab ſhall cry out, that is, the ſoldiers themſelves ſhall be ſo perplexed and terrified with the howling of the people, that even they alſo inſtead of fighting, ſhall cry out with the reſt; his life, that is, the life of each man of the Moabites, or of the armed ſoldiers, ſhall be grievous unto him, they ſhall be all weary of their lives. Yet ſome would have theſe words imply, that every man ſhould be afflicted for his own danger, not minding his neareſt Relations.
Ver. 5. My heart ſhall cry out for Moab, &c.] Some take theſe to be the words of the Moabites, or of the armed men of Moab (mentioned in the foregoing verſe) profeſſing how heartily they were grieved for the miſery that was come upon their poor Country; and that hereby is implied, how lamentable a ſight it would be, to ſee ſuch a goodly Country lay deſolate. But the moſt of Expoſitors, take them to be the words of the Prophet, as if he ſhould have ſaid, Though the Moabites be enemies, yet my very heart is troubled for them, and I cannot but mourn inwardly, when I think of the cruel and dreadful deſtruction that is coming upon them. And this ſeems the more probable, becauſe we find the very ſame thing in a manner, ſpoken concerning the Moabites, by the Prophet Jeremy, Chap. 48.31. Therefore will I howl for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab. And again, verſe 36. Therefore mine heart ſhall ſound for Moab like pipes, and mine heart ſhall ſound like pipes for the men of Kir-heres. And of this ſorrow and mourning the reaſon ſeems to be given in the following words, his fugitives ſhall flee unto Zoar, that is, thoſe of the Moabites that endeavor to eſcape the rage of their enemies, ſhall flee unto Zoar, there to ſecure themſelves; or that from thence they might flee out of the Land. And indeed, if Zoar ſtood in the utmoſt borders of Moab (as ſome ſay it did) it is like that this laſt is hinted thereby. And then for the following words, an heifer of three years old, thereby is meant an heifer that is in her prime, as at thoſe years they uſe to be fat and luſty, and ſtrong, and fair, and wanton, and never yet brought under the yoke. And this ſome apply to Zoar as holding that ſhe is compared to an heifer of three years old, either to imply, that this City, however little at firſt, was become by degrees, a place of much ſtrength and beauty, that had never yet been ſubdued, and that this was the cauſe why the Moabites fled thither for refuge; or elſe to imply, that her inhabitants had lived as a wanton Heifer, in great plenty and pleaſure, and had never ſeen ſorrow, though then ſhe ſhould ſhare in the miſery that was come upon the whole Country. And indeed, in Jer. 48.34. it ſeems to be Zoar, that is there compared to an Heifer of three years old; from Zoar, even unto H…ronaim, as an heifer of three years old. And ſome alſo apply it to Moab, or the fugitives of Moab; and ſo apprehend the meaning to be, that though Moab had hitherto lived in great abundance and wantonneſs, and had never been brought under the yoke of her enemies, like a young heifer, yet then ſhe ſhould flee before her enemies, even to Zoar; or elſe, that they ſhould flee to Zoar, as a young Heifer is wont to run from one place to another when ſhe wants any thing, lowing and crying out as ſhe runs. Thus, I ſay, this difficult paſſage may be underſtood as it is rendered in our Tranſlation. But now if we read it according to the Tranſlation that is ſet in the Margin of our Bibles, My heart ſhall cry out for Moab to the borders thereof, unto Zoar, even as an heifer of three years old; then the meaning ſeems to be, that his heart ſhould cry out aloud, after the lowing of a luſty ſtrong Heifer, ſo that it ſhould be heard, even to Zoar, which was in the borders of Moab. And taking theſe to be the words of the Moabitiſh ſoldiers, as is before ſaid, then that which ſome ſay, may be the meaning, to wit, That they ſhould cry aloud to the flying Moabites, to ſtay and defend the ſtrong places in the borders of Moab; and that their crying with ſo loud voice, as a luſty ſtrong heifer, was, becauſe otherwiſe their voice would not have been heard in the midſt of that out-cry and howling that was amongſt the people.
For by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping ſhall they go it up, &c.] that is, as they go up this high hill, they ſhall cry and weep all the way as they go. And to the ſame purpoſe is the following clauſe, for in the way of Horonaim (concerning which place, ſee the Note Neh. 2.10.) they ſhall raiſe up a cry of deſtruction, that is, they ſhall cry out as people uſe to do, when enemies are killing and deſtroying them. And this is here added, as ſome think, to ſhew why the ſoldiers ſhould cry out with ſuch a loud voice for the ſtaying of the people, as is ſaid in the foregoing Note. But I rather think, that the drift of it, is to ſet forth, that as the people fled to the mountains, or as they fled to Zoar; or that all the land over, all places ſhould be filled with weeping and outcries.
Ver. 6. For the waters of Nimrim ſhall be deſolate, &c.] See the Note, Numb. 32.3. The meaning is, that even Nimrim, though a place ſo gallantly watered, and therefore exceeding pleaſant, and fruitful, and populous, ſhould lye utterly deſolate, both the Inhabitants and their cattel being either ſlain or carried away. For the hay is withered away; that is, the graſs, which ſhould have grown up for hay: The graſs faileth, that is, the herbage newly grown up: There is no green thing, to wit, becauſe the Paſtures ſhould be quite ſpoiled, as being either eaten up by the enemies horſe, o… trampled into the mire with their feet. This I conceive to be the true meaning of this place; and that this is added, to imply what juſt cauſe there ſhould be of that general out-cry in the land, foretold in the foregoing Verſes. Yet becauſe this which is ſaid here, That there ſhould be no green thing, ſeems to be added with reference to that which went before, for the waters of Nimrah ſhall be deſolate; Therefore ſome hold, that by the deſolation of the waters of Nimrah, is meant that the waters of Nimrim ſhould by the enemy be diverted elſewhere in other channels, and ſo the land thereabouts ſhould become dry and barren. And others again would have the meaning of the whole verſe to be only this, That by the deſtruction which the enemy ſhould make amongſt the Inhabitants, even the rich paſtures and land about Nimrim ſhould lye as deſolate, as if there were neither waters nor graſs growing there for the uſe of them that ſhould dwell in that place.
Ver. 7. Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, ſhall they carry away to the brook of the willows.] Firſt, this may be underſtood, either of the inhabitants of Nimrim, (mentioned in the foregoing verſe) that they, becauſe there was no water nor paſture there, ſhould remove their cattel and other goods to ſome well-watered grounds elſewhere, called The brook of the willows; or elſe of the Moabites in general, That they, when the enemy ſhould break in with ſuch rage upon them, ſhould carry away what they could of the great riches which they had ſtored up, and hide it in ſome obſcure place amongſt the Willows, or it may be in the very River it ſelf; to wit, ſo much of it as might be kept there without damage, in hope afterwards to find it there again; and that becauſe there was no place of ſtrength in the land, where they could hope to ſecure it from the enemy. But, Secondly, it may rather be underſtood of the enemy; to wit, that they ſhould carry away the abundance and mighty ſpoil, which they had gotten from the Moabites, to ſome place in or near to the land of Moab, called, The brook of the willows, and there to leave it together under ſome guard, with a purpoſe afterward to go thither again, when they had done pillaging the Country, and to divide the booty amongſt themſelves. Yea, and ſome that underſtand this of the enemies carrying away the riches of Moab to the brook of the willows, do yet think that the foregoing words, The abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, muſt be underſtood of the Moabites; and ſo would have the meaning of the place to be this, that though the Moabites ſhould get in all the wealth and proviſion they could, that they might be the better able to hold it out in their ſtrong places againſt their enemies, when they ſhould beſiege them; yet their enemies ſhould break in upon them, and empty all their Store-houſes, and carry all away with them: Or, that though the Moabites ſhould hide in abundance ſo much of the beſt of their wealth and treaſures, as they could poſſibly get together, at leaſt of that which was left; yet their enemies ſhould find it, ſeize upon it, and carry it away to the brook of the willows. And beſides, becauſe the words which are rendred in our Bibles, The brook of the willows, may be tranſlated, as it is in the Margin, The valley of the Arabians; therefore the meaning may be, either that the Arabians ſhould carry away the ſpoil of the Moabites Country, either as ſerving under the Aſſyrians or Babylonians; or as afterwards entring the land, to pillage and carry away what the Aſſyrians or Babylonians had left: or elſe, that the Aſſyrians and Babylonians ſhould carry away the prey they had gotten from the Moabites, to the valley of the Arabians; their Confederates, there to be kept a while by them, intending afterwards to convey them from thence into their own Countrey. But however clear it is, that this is mentioned as one cauſe of the great outcry in the land of Moab, of which the Prophet is here ſpeaking.
Ver. 8. For the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab, &c.] That is, Becauſe of theſe grievous miſeries that ſhall come upon the Moabites, there ſhall be a dreadful outcry amongſt them all the land over, both of them that are ſlain, and of them that flee from the enemy: The howling thereof unto Eglaim, and the howling thereof unto Beer-elim; that is, the howling of this cry ſhall reach unto theſe places. See the Notes, Numb. 21.16.
Ver. 9. For the waters of Dimon ſhall be full of blood, &c.] To wit, with the blood of the ſlaughtered Moabites: So that this is alſo added as a reaſon of that great out-cry before ſpoken of, that ſhould be in the land. Whether Dimon be the name of a River, or of a City, is altogether uncertain; for we find it no where elſe mentioned. However it ſeems that there was in this place ſome greater ſlaughter made amongſt the people, than in any other part of the land; either becauſe they here ſtood out longeſt in the defence of ſome place againſt the enemy; or for ſome reaſon that is not expreſſed. And ſome think that Dimon is the ſame City that was before, ver. 2. called Dibon, the name being changed, and of Dimon called Dibon, which ſignifieth bloody, upon that occaſion. Yea and very many learned Expoſitors hold, that there is an Alluſion in theſe words to the Story in 2 King. 3.20, 21, 23. concerning a ſtream of water that came running down from the land of Edem into the Wilderneſs, where there was an Army of three Kings that were going againſt the Moabites, which appeared to the Moabites to be blood, and were afterward indeed died red with their blood; as if the Prophet would have ſaid, That as then the ſtream was onee before died with blood, ſo it ſhould be again: Whereas to me it ſeems more than probable, that the waters mentioned in that place were miraculouſly ſent of God for the refreſhing of thoſe Armies, and were not the waters of a River that did conſtantly run thorow that Wilderneſs. And therefore for thoſe following words, For I will bring more (it is in the Original, additions) upon Dimon; I do not think the meaning of that is, that whereas thoſe waters were made red with blood at that time, when thoſe three Kings ſlew the Moabites; now there ſhould be more blood there, becauſe the ſlaughter of the Moabites by the Babylonians, ſhould be far greater than that formerly was by thoſe three Kings. The meaning of thoſe words rather is; either, 1. That God would add ſtreams of blood to the waters of Dimon, which running into it from ſeveral places, ſhould make the river riſe and ſwell more and more. Or, 2. that God would bring more and greater vengeance upon Dimon, than upon other parts of the land; the ſlaughter ſhould be greater there, and ſo more blood ſhould be ſhed there, than in any other place beſides. Or, 3. that God would bring more evils upon Dimon, than what he had hitherto ſpoken of, concerning the ſpoiling of their paſtures, and the plundering of their goods, ver. 6, 7. even this here mentioned, the ſhedding of their blood in ſo great abundance: yea (ſay ſome) more than that here mentioned, to wit, that after the miſeries brought upon them by the Aſſyrians, the Babylonians ſhould alſo in proceſs of time utterly deſtroy them. Or, 4. That to the judgment here threatned, that the waters of Dimon ſhall be full of blood, he would add yet more; to wit, the judgment ſet forth in the following words, Lions upon him that eſcapeth of Moab, and upon the remnant of the land; which though ſome underſtand of men fierce and ſavage as Lions, as namely the Babylonian, or the Aſſyrian, who though he was only as a Bear to other parts of Moab, yet he would be as a Lion to Dimon: Yet I rather think it is to be underſtood literally, to wit, that thoſe Moabites that had eſcaped the Sword, and were left in the land, ſhould be ſlain by Lions, (and other wild beaſts) to wit, either in the wilderneſs, whither they ſhould flee to eſcape the Sword; or in their own land, which lying deſolate, Lions ſhould breed in it, as it was with the Colonies in Samaria, 2 King. 17.25.