Clarke's Bible Commentary - Isaiah 15:1
Verse 1. Because in the night] lylb beleil. That both these cities should be taken in the night is a circumstance somewhat unusual; but not so material as to deserve to be so strongly insisted upon. Vitringa, by his remark on this word, shows that he was dissatisfied with it in its plain and obvious meaning, and is forced to have recourse to a very hard metaphorical interpretation of it. Noctu vel nocturno impetu; vel metaphorice, repente, subito, inexpectata destructione: placet posterius. Calmet conjectures, and I think it probable, that the true reading is lylk keleil, as the night. There are many mistakes in the Hebrew text arising from the very great similitude of the letters b beth, and k caph, which in many MSS., and some printed editions, are hardly distinguishable.
Admitting this reading, the translation will be,] "Because Ar is utterly destroyed, Moab is undone! Because Kir is utterly destroyed, Moab is undone!"
Matthew Henry Commentary
The Divine judgments about to come upon the Moabites.
This prophecy coming to pass within three years, would confirm the prophet's mission, and the belief in all his other prophecies Concerning Moab it is foretold, Is. 15:1. That their chief citie should be surprised by the enemy. Great changes, and very dismal ones may be made in a very little time. Is. 15:2. The Moabites would have recourse to their idols for relief. Ungodly men, when in trouble, have no comforter. But they are seldom brought by their terrors to approac our forgiving God with true sorrow and believing prayer. Is. 15:3 There should be the cries of grief through the land. It is poor relie to have many fellow-sufferers, fellow-mourners. Is. 15:4. The courag of their soldiers should fail. God can easily deprive a nation of tha on which it most depended for strength and defence. 5. These calamitie should cause grief in the neighbouring parts. Though enemies to Israel yet as our fellow-creatures, it should be grievous to see them in suc distress. In Is. 15:6-9, the prophet describes the woful lamentation heard through the country of Moab, when it became a prey to the Assyrian army. The country should be plundered. And famine is usuall the sad effect of war. Those who are eager to get abundance of thi world, and to lay up what they have gotten, little consider how soon it may be all taken from them. While we warn our enemies to escape from ruin, let us pray for them, that they may seek and find forgiveness of their sins __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
משׂא 4853 מואב 4124 כי 3588 בליל 3915 שׁדד 7703 ער 6144 מואב 4124 נדמה 1820 כי 3588 בליל 3915 שׁדד 7703 קיר 7024 מואב 4124 נדמה׃ 1820
