ISAIAH 15-16

The fulfillment of these prophecies against Moab occurred in 715-713 BC when King Sargon invaded them.

Chapter 15

The background seems to be a nocturnal attack on Moab or some natural disaster that led to depopulation. The exact history behind it is unknown. However, during the break-up of the Assyrian Empire, Arab tribes invaded Moab and neighboring lands, and they never recovered. Jeremiah 48-49 concerning Moab is very similar and may be dependent on Isaiah, or vice versa. Only some of the place names in this chapter have been identified. Not much is known through archeology about Moabite history. There was an uneasy relationship between Judah and Moab with the latter often siding with Judah's enemies. Most of the cities mentioned were once part of Judah's territory.

verse 5 Pity for Moab is shown here and also in 16:9 and 11. Three possibilities: (1) Felt by one commentator to be mock pity given ironically, (2) the prophet inserts his own feelings here, or (3) pity shown by God. For the last opinion-- “intense sympathy, ready to alleviate judgment but powerless to avert it...Sensitivity to the miseries of war and generosity towards an enemy are not uncommon in the OT, but they are seldom combined as poignantly as here.” (New Bible Commentary) Also read Matthew 23:37-39.

verse 6 Waters may have been dammed up by the enemy, or it may have been due to drought.

verse 9 “Lion” (Hebrew text) becomes “vision” with the change of two letters.

Chapter 16

verses 1-4 an appeal to Judah to shelter refugees from Moab. “It is a little classic on the caring church, calling it to give its mind (counsel), its conscience (grant justice) and its strength (vv. 3b-4) to the welfare of these outcasts (whom God seems to name, strikingly, “my” outcasts—only in the ancient translations; Hebrew has “the” outcasts). (NBC)

verse 1 Lambs are sent as gifts to try to influence Judah to accept the refugees.

verse 2 Moabite women are particularly vulnerable.

Verses 3-4 are addressed to Judah

verses 4b-5 prophecy of a golden time of Judah's reign in the future.

verses 6-7 At last this identifies Moab's sin (self-sufficiency). Because of this, they would refuse to submit to Israel's God and therefore were doomed. Lament for raisin cakes (no grape crop) seems sarcastic. Raisin cakes baked in form of a goddess were used in Moabite worship and presented to her as “Queen of Heaven.”

verses 7-11 chiasm in the names:

Moab

    Kir-hareseth

        Heshbon

            Sibmah

                Jazer

                Jazer

            Sibmah

        Heshbon

    Kir-hareseth

Moab

verse 8 Moab was known for its grape crop.

verse 8b. NIV gives a different idea-- the lords tear down the vines?

verse 11 May be crude joke; bowels make a loud noise.

verse 13 supposedly illustrates a long period of composition for the book.

verse 14 Other three-year signs appear at 20:3 and 37: