Isaiah 15:1
I. (1-39) Condemnation
A. Chapters 1-12 - Prophecies against Israel and Judah
B. Chapters 13-23 - Prophecies against the Nations
1. \\#Isa 13:1-14:32\\ Babylon
a. \\#Isa 13:1-5\\ An Army of Nations Is Called
b. \\#Isa 13:6-16\\ An End-Time Judgment Against the World
c. \\#Isa 13:17-18\\ A Nearer Judgment Against Babylon
d. \\#Isa 13:19-22\\ The Final Judgment Against Babylon
e. \\#Isa 14:1-3\\ A Word to Israel
f. \\#Isa 14:4-23\\ A Word to Babylon’s King
2. \\#Isa 14:24-28\\ A Word about Assyria
3. \\#Isa 14:29-32\\ A Word to Palestina - Philistines
4. \\#Isa 15:1-16:14\\ A Word to Moab- While it is difficult to know
for certain, most of these prophecies seem to be near-at-hand
prophecy which were fulfilled in the Assyrian conquest.
I. \\#15:1-16:14\\ Moab
a. Many cities are mentioned. They either belong to Moab or were
occupied by them.
\\#1\\ Ar, Kir
\\#2\\ Bajith, Dibon, Nebo, Medeba
\\#4\\ Heshbon, Elealeh, Jahaz - All three of these are Jewish
cities, taken by Israel under Moses from Ammorites. Although the
chapter is directed primarily against Moab, the Assyrians will
bring destruction to all. \\#Is 17:1-3, 22:1-14\\
\\#5\\ Zoar, Luhith, Horonaim
\\#6\\ Nimrim
\\#8\\ Eglaim, Beerelim
\\#9\\ Dimon
b. All of these locations are pictured as either being destroyed
(Assyria) or to be destroyed and the people of Moab are
mourning and weeping.
c. The phrase "in the night" would indicate their destruction came
quickly and unexpectedly (at least to them).
d. As before, all Hebrew names are words or phrases. Some debate whether
all of the names used here were actually cities or perhaps phrases
and vice-versa. For example:
(1) \\#2\\ Some content that Bajith is not a city but should be left
as a phrase, meaning "to the temple." The thought is that the
Moabites will go to their pagan temple in Dibon, where the
god Chemosh was worshipped, to cry and weep for help; but their
god will not answer them.
(2) \\#5\\ Others content that the phrase "an heifer of three years
old" should be translated the proper now, Elealeh, a city also
mentioned in \\#Jer 48:34\\. The reason the translators choose
to leave this phrase as a literal time reference is probably
because the same time reference is given again in this prophecy
\\#Is 16:14\\.
(3) Confusion of this kind over the translation does NOT cast any
doubt on the reliability of our Bible. In both of these verses,
our text has been preserved for us. The problem is with our
understanding. In many passages, good people will come to
different conclusions about what the meaning of a passage is.
Each believer must commit to personal study to determine what
is the best understanding.
e. \\#5\\ "My heart shall cry out for Moab" - Isaiah, seeing what will
become of their Jewish cousins, is moved with compassion.
f. \\#9\\ Even so, God will bring deadly lions upon those who escape
the military conquest of Assyria.
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