Isaiah 15:1

The burden of Moab. Or, “a solemn message concerning Moab.” In chs. 15 and 16 Isaiah delivers a prophecy against Judah’s eastern neighbor, Moab. Little is known of the political geography and history of Moab, and therefore much in this prophecy is not clear. Israel and Moab were frequently at war with each other. The famous Moabite Stone, found in the ruins of Dibon in 1868 (see Vol. I, pp. 120, 121; Vol. II, pp. 864, 865), tells of the subjection of Moab by Omri and Ahab and of its successful revolt under its own king, Mesha (see 2 Kings 3:4-7). Such cities as Dibon, Nebo, Medeba, Jahaz (Yahas), and Horonaim (Hauronen) mentioned in this prophecy (Isa. 15:2, 4, 5) are also named on the Moabite Stone. A similar judgment upon Moab, couched in much the same language, is recorded in Jer. 48.

Ar. Heb. ‘ar, thought to be a variant of ‘ir, meaning “city.” No city by the name of Ar is known. Compare “a city of Moab” in Num. 22:36.