As we previously noted chapters 13 to 24 of Isaiah deal with the judgment of the nations. Chapter 13:1 to 14:23 (plus chapter 21:1 – 10) dealt with Babylon. The remainder of chapter 14, and chapters 15 and 16 deal with Assyria, Philistia and (most extensively) Moab.
Chapter 14: 24 – 27. The devastation of Assyria.
Ancient Assyria comprised of the northern part of modern Iraq and part of what is now Syria. These verses describe the judgment on the Assyrians at the hands of the Babylonians in the 7th.century BC. At the time of Isaiah’s writing Assyria had dominion over Babylon, but before long, roles would be reversed. The armies of Assyria will be crushed in the mountains of Israel.
Looking further forward to the end-times, Assyria will be defeated when the king of the North is defeated as he tries to sweep down over Israel. In the messianic kingdom, peace will come between Israel and Assyria by means of conversion.
Isaiah 19:23 – 24.
“In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria – a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”
An economic unit will encompass Egypt, Asyria and Israel. In the kingdom, when peace will be restored, all borders in the region will be open and a highway established for economic co-operation. This will occur because of conversion. Serving the same God will make these three a blessing in the land.
Chapter 14:24,25.
“The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying “Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand: that I shall break the Assyrian in My land, and on My mountains tread him underfoot, then his yoke shall be removed from them, and his burden removed from their shoulders.”
Before the coming of the messianic kingdom, Assyria is to face defeat and devastation as the Lord asserts His authority to protect His people.
Isaiah 10:27. Of Assyria; the “his” referred to here.
“It shall come to pass in that day that his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.”
The armies of Assyria will be crushed in the mountains of Israel and their land devastated.
Micah 5:5,6.
“When the Assyrians come into our land, and when he treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princely men. They shall waste with the sword the land of Assyria, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; thus He shall deliver us from the Assyrian, when he comes into our land and when he treads within our borders.”
Chapter 14:26,27.
“This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?”
Whilst offering protection to Israel, Adonai has purposed to exercise judgment on the whole earth, and nothing can hold Him back.
Daniel 4:35.
“All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, “What have You done?””
Zephaniah 3:6,7.
“I have cut off nations, their fortresses are devastated; I have made their streets desolate, with none passing by. Their cities are destroyed; there is no one, no inhabitant. I said, “Surely you will fear Me, you will receive instruction – so that her dwelling would not be cut off, despite everything for which I punished her, but they rose early and corrupted all their deeds.”
In these verses we see that Adonai will exercise judgment on all the earth. What the Babylonians did to Assyria, is a foretaste of this. Assyria, in the end-times, will receive only partial destruction and in the millennial kingdom, it will serve the true God and be linked with Egypt and Israel.
Chapter 14:28 – 32. Philistia destroyed.
The Philistines are associated with the so-called “sea people”; a confederation of maritime raiders. Probably they originated in Crete. In the 12th.century BC they settled in the southeastern coast of Canaan. They established a confederation of city-states including Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron and Gath.
Having been at war with Israel, Egypt, Assyria and Babylon, they disappeared as a people in the 5th. Century BC. The last mention of the Philistines is in the Book of Zechariah. Therefore, Philistia does not appear among the nations of the messianic kingdom.
Jeremiah 47:1,2.
“The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before Pharaoh attacked Gaza. Thus says the Lord, “Behold, waters rise out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood; they shall overflow the land and all that is in it, the city and all who dwell within; then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall wail.”
In Isaiah chapter 14 verses 28 – 32, Philistia faces Babylon. Destruction is coming because of divine judgment. The judgment has been long withheld, but now the long-suffering of the Lord has reached its end. Babylon conquered Philistia at the same time as the invasion of Judah (588 – 586 BC). Both Pharoah Nophra and Babylon attacked Philistia in 587 BC.
Chapter 14 verses 28,29.
“This is the burden that came in the year that King Ahaz died. “Do not rejoice all of you of Philistia, because the rod that struck you is broken; for out of the serpent’s roots will come forth a viper, and its offspring will be a fiery flying serpent.””
King Ahaz of Judah died in 720 BC, but the Philistines need “not rejoice”. Ahaz, here described as “the rod” was weak but his grandson Uzziah would strike the Philistines (2 Chronicles 26:6,7), as would his descendant, Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:8).
These wars with Judah were part of the reason that the Philistines disappeared and there will be no nation of Philistia in the messianic kingdom. Like the Babylonians, the Philistines will have no remnant.
Chapter 14 verse 30.
“The firstborn of the poor will feed, and the needy will lie down in safety; I will kill the roots with famine, and I will slay your remnant.”
Adonai’s poor and needy will be safe, but the Lord will visit the Philistines with famine and slay the survivors. The poor of Judah who depend on the Lord will find Him to be a refuge. But the philistines are doomed; there will be no “remnant”.
Chapter 14:31,32.
“Wail, O gate! Cry, O city! All you of Philistia are dissolved: for smoke will come from the north, and no one will be alone in his appointed times.” What will they answer the messengers of the nation? That the Lord has founded Zion, and the poor of His people shall take refuge in it.”
The “gate” of any walled city was its weakest feature. When the gate fell, the city could be taken. The invading Assyrians will come “from the north” like a cloud of “smoke”. That “no one will be alone” may refer to the closed ranks of the Assyrian army.
The destruction by the Assyrians would leave no refuge for the Philistines. The only place to take refuge would be Jerusalem, the city built by Adonai. That will be the place that the “poor” of all nations would come, becoming Adonai’s people.
If any Gentile courier asked what was going on, he would be told that the Lord is protecting the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Adonai is Zion’s only security.
Psalm 87:1,5.
“His foundation is in the holy mountains. The Lord loves with gates of Zion more than the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God … And of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her; and the Most High Himself shall establish her.”
Isaiah chapters 15 and 16.
These chapters describe Adonai’s proclamation against Moab and its destruction.
The Moabites were descendants of Lot, arising from his incestuous (if not deliberate on his part) intercourse with his elder daughter (Genesis 19:30 – 35). The kingdom of Moab was located in the central region of what is now the Kingdom of Jordan.
In the tribulation, Moab will suffer destruction, but it will not be total. Those who survive will come to repentance and a remnant will return.
Jeremiah 48:47.
“Yet I will bring back the captives of Moab in the latter days”, says the Lord.”
Peace will come between Israel and central Jordan in the messianic kingdom. This will be achieved by the partial destruction of Moab leading to national salvation. There will be a saved nation of Moab in the messianic kingdom.
Chapter 15 verses 1 and 2.
“The burden against Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste and destroyed, because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste and destroyed, he has gone up to the temple and Dibon, to the high places to weep. Moab will wail over Nebo and over Medeba; on all their heads there will be baldness, and every beard cut off.”
Verses 1 – 9 of chapter 15 records Moab’s destruction by Assyria.
Ar and Kir Hareseth were cities of Moab which will be destroyed by the Assyrians; they are destroyed suddenly, “in the night”. The towns and hamlets of Moab are plunged into mourning.
“Dibon” was the location of the temple to Chemosh, the national god of Moab. The failure of this god to protect Moab is the cause of this weeping.
“Nebo” is the mountain at the north end of the Dead Sea, east of the River Jordan. This was the location from which Moses was allowed to view the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 34:1).
“Medeba” was five miles southeast of Nebo.
Shaving heads and beards (verse 2) were expressions of disgrace, humiliation and mourning.
The evil of Moab was outlined by Zephaniah.
Zephaniah 2:8,9.
“I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the insults of the people of Ammon, with which they have reproached My people, and made arrogant threats against their borders. Therefore as I live, “says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, surely Moab shall be like Sodom, and the people of Ammon like Gomorrah – overrun with weeds and sandpits, and a perpetual desolation. The residue of My people will plunder them, and the remnant of My people shall possess them.”
Chapter 15 verses 3 and 4.
“In their streets they will clothe themselves with sackcloth; on the tops of their houses and in their streets everyone will wail, weeping bitterly. Heshbon and Elealeh will cry out, their voices will be heard as far as Jahaz; therefore the armed soldiers of Moab will cry out; his life will be burdensome to him.”
The towns and villages mention here are all in mourning. Heshbon is just under 20 miles east of the northern end of the Dead Sea. Elealeh was about a mile from Heshbon and Jahaz was 10 miles south of Heshbon.
The hardened fighting men of Moab will know that all is lost (verse 4).
Chapter 15 verse 5.
“My heart will cry out for Moab; his fugitives shall flee to Zoar, like a three-year-old heifer. For by the Ascent of Luhith they will go up with weeping: for in the way of Horonaim they will raise up a cry of destruction.”
The prophets of Israel are not like the prophets of other nations. The prophets of Adonai mourn for the nations, and we see this clearly here with Isaiah. He is moved to sympathy and compassion even though Moab had mistreated Adonai’s people.
“Zoar” to which refugees from Moab will flee was a southwestern border city in Moab, at the south end of the Dead Sea. It is not known exactly where “Luhith” or “Horonaim” were located. However, the “Ascent of Luhith” and “Horonaim” are also mentioned by Jeremiah in his lament over Moab (Jeremiah 48:5).
One commentator suggests that the reference to the “three-year-old heifer” is in fact a mistranslation of the name of a city (Eglath-shalishiyah) whose location is unknown.
Isaiah 15:6 – 9.
“For the waters of Nimrim will be desolate, for the green grass has withered away; the grass fails, there is nothing green. Therefore the abundance they have gained, and what they have laid up, they will carry away to the Brook of the Willows. For the cry has gone all around the borders of Moab, its wailing to Eglaim and its wailing to Beer Elim. For the waters of Dimon will be full of blood; because I will bring more upon Dimon, lions upon him who escapes from Moab, and on the remnant of the land.”
It may be that “Nimrim” is the Wadi Numeira. The drying up of these waters along with the dead grass, pictures the widespread devastation in Moab; the grass having been trampled down by the numerous refugees fleeing with what they can carry.
“The Brook of Willows”, possibly refers to the River Zerod. The refugees from Moab had to cross that river to enter Edom and escape the invaders.
The cries of Moab will be heard in the north (Eglaim) and in the south (Beer Elim).
“Dimon” is perhaps another spelling of “Dibon” (verse 2). Dimom was the centre of religious paganism in Moab and may be being used her to refer to the whole land. Those who do escape Moab would face further dangers (“lions”).
Chapter 16 verses 1 and 2.
“Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, from Sela to the wilderness, to the mount of the daughter of Zion. For it shall be as a wandering bird thrown out of the nest; so shall be the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon.”
Verses 1 – 4 of chapter 16, describe Moab’s attempts to find protection in Judah in the face of the attack from Assyria. But the text continues the description of the devastation of Moab.
The Moabites have fled to Sela in Edom (this may be Petra or somewhere nearby). They are counselled to send “the lamb to the ruler of the land” i.e. to Judah. To send a lamb was to pay tribute and seek assistance. This was an action of submission to an overlord.
The “mount of the daughter of Zion” is of course Jerusalem. The “daughters of Moab” are the women of the nation. Many have fled south to escape the Assyrian army entering Moab from the north, till they reach the River Arnon. They are extremely distraught at the impending calamity.
Verses 3 – 5.
“Take counsel, execute judgment; make your shadow like a night in the middle of the day; hide the outcasts, do not betray him who escapes. Let My outcasts dwell with you, O Moab; be a shelter to them from the face of the spoiler. For the extortioner is at an end, devastation ceases, the oppressors are consumed out of the land. In mercy the throne will be established; and One will sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David, judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness.”
Frankly, this seems to be a rather difficult passage.
“My outcasts” suggests that the Lord will identify with the Moabite refugees.
The Lord seems to be still addressing Moab. The “counsel” is perhaps to make plans to hide from the Assyrians till their oppression ends and they disappear from the land. This could be part of Moab asking Judah to protect its people.
In verse 5, the prophet seems to be inspired to write of the coming Messiah who will reign with justice and righteousness. All is not lost. The salvation of Moab and the entire world lie with the coming Messiah.
Verses 6 and 7.
“We have heard of the pride of Moab – he is very proud – of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath; but his lies shall not be so. Therefore Moab shall wail for Moab; everyone shall wail. For the foundations of Kir Hareseth you shall mourn; surely they are stricken.”
Verses 6 – 14 returns to the devastation of Moab by Assyria.
Verse 6 outlines why the wrath of Adonai has come upon Moab; through “haughtiness”, “pride” and “lies”. For this all of Moab will suffer through the devastation brought on them by Assyria.
Pride is a regular target of Adonai’s judgment.
Concerning Moab, we read in Zephaniah 2:10.
“This (desolation) they shall have for their pride, because they have reproached and made arrogant threats against the people of the Lord of hosts.”
Concerning the world in general: –
Isaiah 13:11.
“I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of proud, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.”
Although Moab was a small nation, its pride was well known.
Isaiah 25:11.
“…He will bring down their pride.”
Verses 8 and 9.
“For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah; the lords of the nations have broken down its choice plants, which have reached to Jazer and wandered through the wilderness. Her branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea. Therefore I will bewail the vine of Sibmah, with the weeping of Jazer; I will drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh; for battle cries have fallen over your summer fruits and your harvest.”
“Heshbon” and “Elealeh”, we have already seen were among the principal settlements of Moab. “Sibmah” was a suburb of Heshbon. “Jazer” was on Moab’s western border.
These verses speak of Moab as a whole. Concerning the description of the vines of the land, it is known that in Moab they did not raise their vines on stakes but rather let them grow along the ground. But these vines have not been tended and have grown wild and out of control. These vines are ruined, as is the land. There is widespread mourning in Moab.
“I will bewail”: Isaiah is genuinely moved by the devastation In Moab; so rich an agricultural resource ruined and a people distraught. This reflects the Lord’s response. His righteousness demand judgment but His compassion brings grief over those who are perishing.
Verses 10 and 11.
“Gladness is taken away, and joy from the plentiful field; in the vineyards there will be no singing, nor will there be shouting; no treaders will tread out wine in the presses; I have made their shouting cease. Therefore my heart shall resound like a harp for Moab, and my inner being for Kir Heres.”
This is harvest time. It should be a time of celebration and joy. But not so this year. Gladness has been taken away from Moab.
The Lord and the prophet reflect deep-felt sorrow for Moab over the necessity of judgment upon it. Isaiah expresses his determination to rejoice over Moab. This is a promise of future restoration. Isaiah 15:5 “My heart will cry out for Moab”.
Verses 12 – 14.
“And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he will come to his sanctuary to pray; but he will not prevail. This is the word that the Lord has spoken concerning Moab since that time. But now the Lord has spoken, saying, “Within three years, as the years of a hired man, the glory of Moab will be despised with all that great multitude, and the remnant will be very small and feeble.”
As long as the people of Moab worship false gods, they would be doomed to pain, judgment and recurring trouble. When Moab prays to his idols. No help comes. His religion has utterly failed. Rather than deliverance, the nation found weariness in the repeated rituals to their national god.
The devastation of Moab is certain and indeed will take place within three years (this may refer to the quelling of a rebellion against Sargon in 715 BC). Th reference to “hired men” indicates the exactness of the timing: the hired man watches the clock so as not to exceed his contractual hours of work.
Although it will be “small and feeble”, Moab will have a remnant. Assyria will not obliterate it. Moab has more hope for salvation that Babylon or Philistia.