Translation: ESV
An oracle concerning Moab. Because Ar of Moab is laid waste in a night, Moab is undone; because Kir of Moab is laid waste in a night, Moab is undone.
God's judgment can fall suddenly overnight, and even the strongest city can be laid waste in an instant.
▸The oracle against Moab begins.
The oracle against Moab begins. 'In a night' two cities fall—this emphasizes the suddenness and completeness of the judgment. Ar and Kir are major cities of Moab.
He has gone up to the temple, and to Dibon, to the high places to weep; over Nebo and over Medeba Moab wails. On every head is baldness; every beard is shorn.
Running to idols and wailing cannot bring true help; the only true refuge is God alone.
▸The grieving of the Moabites before judgment is depicted.
In the streets they wear sackcloth; on the housetops and in the squares everyone wails and melts in tears.
When God's judgment falls, the entire community is plunged into lamentation—this is the real weight of judgment.
▸The Moabites mourn in the streets and on the rooftops.
Heshbon and Elealeh cry out; their voice is heard as far as Jahaz; therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud; his soul trembles.
The sound of judgment is heard far and wide, and even military strength trembles before God's judgment.
▸The cries of Heshbon and Elealeh are heard as far as Jahaz.
My heart cries out for Moab; her fugitives flee to Zoar, to Eglath-shelishiyah. For at the ascent of Luhith they go up weeping; on the road to Horonaim they raise a cry of destruction.
God's judgment is not an occasion for joy but for grief, and the prophet's tears reflect God's own heart.
▸Isaiah himself grieves for Moab.
For the waters of Nimrim are a desolation; the grass is withered, the vegetation fails, the green things are no more.
God's judgment on sin affects both society and the natural environment, causing the sources of life to disappear.
▸The devastation of nature is depicted as a result of judgment.
Therefore the abundance they have gained and what they have laid up they carry away over the Brook of the Willows.
Before judgment, even possessions are no help; the only option is to flee—a situation of utter despair.
▸The scene shows the Moabites fleeing with their possessions.
For a cry has gone around the land of Moab; her wailing reaches to Eglaim; her wailing reaches to Beer-elim.
God's judgment is not partial but comprehensive, reaching throughout the entire nation.
▸The cry reaching all around Moab indicates that judgment has covered the entire nation.
For the waters of Dibon are full of blood; for I will bring upon Dibon even more, a lion for those of Moab who escape, for the remnant of the land.
Escaping one judgment does not mean escaping all danger; unless one returns to God, judgment continues.
▸That the waters of Dibon are full of blood indicates that a massive slaughter has already occurred.