Berean Standard Bible · Public domain

Isaiah 15

The Holy One judges pride and injustice yet promises comfort, a servant, and renewed creation. Read each oracle against its historical horizon before connecting its hope to Christ.

Historical context & book outline

1This is the burden against Moab: Ar in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night! Kir in Moab is devastated, destroyed in a night!

2Dibon goes up to its temple to weep at its high places. Moab wails over Nebo, as well as over Medeba. Every head is shaved, every beard is cut off.

3In its streets they wear sackcloth; on the rooftops and in the public squares they all wail, falling down weeping.

4Heshbon and Elealeh cry out; their voices are heard as far as Jahaz. Therefore the soldiers of Moab cry out; their souls tremble within.

5My heart cries out over Moab; her fugitives flee as far as Zoar, as far as Eglath-shelishiyah. With weeping they ascend the slope of Luhith; they lament their destruction on the road to Horonaim.

6The waters of Nimrim are dried up, and the grass is withered; the vegetation is gone, and the greenery is no more.

7So they carry their wealth and belongings over the Brook of the Willows.

8For their outcry echoes to the border of Moab. Their wailing reaches Eglaim; it is heard in Beer-elim.

9The waters of Dimon are full of blood, but I will bring more upon Dimon—a lion upon the fugitives of Moab and upon the remnant of the land.

Read closely

  1. What repeated words, contrasts, or actions stand out in this chapter?
  2. How does this chapter fit the surrounding chapters and the book’s purpose?
  3. What did it communicate to its first hearers, before applying it to your life?