Isaiah 15:1

KJV

¶ The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, [and] brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, [and] brought to silence;

KJV (with Strong's)

The burden {H4853} of Moab {H4124}. Because in the night {H3915} Ar {H6144} of Moab {H4124} is laid waste {H7703}, and brought to silence {H1820}; because in the night {H3915} Kir {H7024} of Moab {H4124} is laid waste {H7703}, and brought to silence {H1820};

Complete Jewish Bible

This is a prophecy about Mo'av: The night 'Ar is sacked, Mo'av is ruined. The night Kir is sacked, Mo'av is ruined.

Berean Standard Bible

This is the burden against Moab: Ar in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night! Kir in Moab is devastated, destroyed in a night!

American Standard Version

The burden of Moab. For in a night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to nought; for in a night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to nought.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 15:1 commences a solemn prophetic oracle, a "burden," directed against Moab, a nation historically characterized by antagonism toward Israel. This opening verse immediately establishes a tone of impending and devastating judgment, vividly portraying the sudden, nocturnal destruction of two prominent Moabite cities, Ar and Kir. It underscores the swift and complete desolation that will befall these strongholds, signifying an abrupt cessation of all life and activity, and powerfully illustrating God's universal sovereignty and righteous governance over all nations.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 15:1 inaugurates a distinct section within the book of Isaiah, specifically the "burdens" or "oracles against the nations" (chapters 13-23). These prophecies serve to demonstrate God's absolute sovereign control over all peoples, not merely Israel, and His unwavering righteous judgment against sin and idolatry wherever they are found. This particular oracle against Moab follows pronouncements against formidable powers like Babylon and Philistia, positioning Moab's impending judgment as an integral part of a broader divine reckoning with the surrounding world. The use of "burden" (Hebrew: *massâ'*) functions as a technical prophetic term, signaling a weighty, divinely inspired pronouncement, frequently one of doom, which the prophet is compelled by God to deliver. The swift and comprehensive destruction depicted in this opening verse sets the somber tone for the lament and desolation that characterize the remainder of the chapter, highlighting the severity and finality of God's decree.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Moab was an ancient kingdom situated east of the Dead Sea, possessing a long and frequently contentious history with the nation of Israel. Descended from Lot, the nephew of Abraham, as recorded in [Genesis 19:37](/genesis/19-37 "Genesis 19:37 - Origin of Moab"), Moabites were kin to Israel but consistently acted as adversaries. Their historical interactions included opposing Israel during the Exodus (e.g., Balak and Balaam in [Numbers 22:1-25:5](/numbers/22 "Numbers 22-25 - Balak, Balaam, and Peor")), oppressing them during the period of the Judges ([Judges 3:12-30](/judges/3-12 "Judges 3:12-30 - Eglon of Moab")), and practicing egregious idolatry, particularly the worship of their national god, Chemosh. Geographically, Ar and Kir were strategically significant Moabite cities, likely serving as vital administrative, military, or religious centers. While the precise historical fulfillment of this prophecy is debated among scholars, many connect it to the devastating Assyrian campaigns of the 8th or 7th century BC, particularly under rulers like Tiglath-Pileser III or Sargon II, who systematically ravaged many nations in the region, including Moab, as part of their imperial expansion.

* **Key Themes:** The opening verse of Isaiah's oracle against Moab introduces and powerfully articulates several profound theological and narrative themes. Firstly, it emphatically asserts **Divine Judgment**, demonstrating that God's moral governance and judicial authority extend far beyond the borders of Israel to encompass all nations. Moab's persistent idolatry, national pride, and antagonism toward God's covenant people rendered them fully accountable to His righteous standards, proving that no nation is exempt from divine reckoning. Secondly, the repeated phrase "in the night" and the stark descriptors "laid waste, and brought to silence" emphasize the **Suddenness and Completeness of Destruction**. This highlights the unexpected, overwhelming, and utterly comprehensive nature of God's judgment, bringing about total desolation and an absolute cessation of all life and activity in the targeted cities. This theme resonates powerfully with other biblical warnings about sudden destruction for those unprepared, as seen in [1 Thessalonians 5:2-3](/1_thessalonians/5-2 "1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 - The Day of the Lord Comes Like a Thief"). Lastly, the prophecy profoundly underscores the **Sovereignty of God** over human history and international affairs. Despite the apparent dominance of earthly empires like Assyria, the prophet reveals that God is the ultimate orchestrator of the rise and fall of nations, executing His divine plan and purposes through various human agents and historical events.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Burden (Hebrew, _massâʼ'_):** From H4853, a primitive root meaning "to lift, carry, bear." In this context, *massâʼ* signifies a heavy, weighty prophetic pronouncement, a solemn oracle, often one of judgment or doom. It implies the message is a heavy load for the prophet to deliver and a crushing judgment for the recipients to bear, akin to a heavy burden that causes distress.
* **Night (Hebrew, _layil'_):** From H3915, properly meaning "a twist (away of the light)." The specific mention of "night" emphasizes the suddenness, unexpectedness, and perhaps the stealthy, overwhelming nature of the attack and destruction. It suggests a time when people are most vulnerable and unprepared, amplifying the shock and completeness of the devastation. Figuratively, it can also allude to a season of profound adversity or spiritual darkness.
* **Brought to silence (Hebrew, _dâmâh'_):** From H1820, a primitive root meaning "to be dumb or silent; hence, to fail or perish; trans. to destroy." This word powerfully conveys the utter annihilation and desolation. It implies not merely a defeat or conquest but a complete cessation of sound, life, and activity. The cities are not just conquered; they are rendered "silent," signifying their complete ruin, the end of their vibrant existence, and the extinguishing of their very being.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"¶ The burden of Moab."**: This opening phrase functions as the authoritative title or heading for the entire prophetic oracle against the nation of Moab. "Burden" (Hebrew: *massâʼ*) denotes a weighty, divinely authoritative pronouncement, indicating that the following message is a solemn word from God, specifically concerning the destiny and judgment of Moab. It immediately sets a serious, ominous, and divinely ordained tone for the prophecy that follows.
* **"Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, [and] brought to silence;"**: This clause introduces the immediate cause and the devastating nature of Moab's impending doom. The phrase "in the night" emphatically highlights the sudden, unexpected, and swift nature of the destruction, implying a surprise attack when the inhabitants are most vulnerable. Ar of Moab, a significant city, is depicted as being utterly "laid waste" (meaning destroyed, ravaged, or despoiled) and "brought to silence" (rendered desolate, lifeless, and devoid of all activity or sound), signifying its complete and irreversible annihilation.
* **"because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, [and] brought to silence;"**: This second clause precisely mirrors the first, reinforcing both the severity and the comprehensive scope of the divine judgment. Kir of Moab, another prominent and likely fortified city, faces the identical, sudden, nocturnal devastation, resulting in total desolation and silence. The deliberate parallelism and repetition underscore the widespread and comprehensive nature of the destruction, indicating that no major stronghold or center of Moabite life will escape the impending and overwhelming judgment.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 15:1 employs several powerful **Literary Devices** to convey its stark message of impending doom and desolation. The most prominent is **Repetition**, particularly of the phrase "in the night... is laid waste, and brought to silence." This insistent repetition serves to emphasize the suddenness, completeness, and overwhelming nature of the destruction, creating a rhythmic and chilling effect that underscores the inevitability and finality of Moab's fate. **Parallelism** is also strikingly evident, as the identical fate is pronounced for two distinct and important cities, Ar and Kir, reinforcing the widespread and comprehensive nature of the judgment that will sweep across the entire nation. The term "burden" (Hebrew: *massâʼ*) functions as a potent **Metaphor**, representing a heavy, divinely imposed pronouncement of judgment, a spiritual and physical weight that both the prophet carries in delivering the message and the nation must endure as it faces its calamitous consequences. Furthermore, the phrase "brought to silence" is a powerful piece of **Imagery** and **Hyperbole**, vividly portraying absolute desolation where all life, sound, and activity have ceased. This goes beyond mere destruction to suggest utter annihilation and an eerie emptiness, evoking a profound sense of finality and the complete cessation of existence for these once-vibrant centers.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 15:1, as the opening salvo of a divine oracle against Moab, profoundly illustrates God's universal sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to justice. It reveals that the Lord is not merely the God of Israel, but the supreme ruler over all nations, holding every people accountable for their actions, their idolatry, and their treatment of His chosen people. The sudden and complete destruction of Moabite cities serves as a stark reminder that earthly power, security, and wealth are fleeting and ultimately subject to divine decree. This prophecy underscores the biblical truth that sin, whether individual or national, will inevitably face God's righteous judgment, emphasizing the imperative need for humility, repentance, and reliance on the eternal rather than the temporal.

* [Amos 1:13-15](/amos/1-13 "Amos 1:13-15 - Judgment Against Ammon") - A similar prophetic judgment pronounced against a neighboring nation, Ammon, highlighting God's consistent justice for their transgressions against humanity and divine law.
* [Jeremiah 48:1-2](/jeremiah/48-1 "Jeremiah 48:1-2 - Prophecy Against Moab") - Another extensive and detailed prophecy against Moab from a later prophet, echoing themes of desolation and the fall of their cities, reinforcing the consistent divine judgment against their pride and rebellion.
* [Psalm 9:17](/psalms/9-17 "Psalm 9:17 - The Wicked Turn to Sheol") - "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." This verse broadly affirms God's righteous judgment upon all nations that disregard Him and His ways, paralleling the ultimate fate of Moab.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 15:1 serves as a timeless and sobering reminder that God's justice is universal, inescapable, and often comes with startling suddenness. No nation, community, or individual is exempt from divine accountability. The swift and complete desolation of Ar and Kir of Moab compels us to reflect deeply on the inherent fragility of earthly security and the profound futility of placing our ultimate trust in anything other than the Almighty God. In a world where nations rise and fall, and where human achievements often seem monumental and enduring, this verse reorients our perspective, reminding us that true and lasting security, peace, and significance are found only in God's eternal kingdom and His unwavering faithfulness. It calls us to examine our own lives and priorities with honest introspection: Are we building our lives on fleeting earthly foundations, or are we investing our energies and affections in that which possesses eternal value? The "night" of judgment, whether personal or societal, can indeed come unexpectedly, urging us to live in constant spiritual readiness, aligning our lives with God's revealed will and seeking His righteousness and kingdom above all else. This passage challenges us to recognize God's active, sovereign involvement in human history and to stand in reverent awe of His omnipotent power, which orchestrates the destinies of all peoples and brings to pass His perfect purposes.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the suddenness of Moab's destruction challenge my own sense of security and control in life, prompting me to re-evaluate my ultimate reliance?**
* **In what specific ways might I be placing my trust in "earthly strongholds" (such as wealth, career success, social status, or personal reputation) rather than in God's eternal kingdom and His unfailing provision?**
* **What profound truths about God's character—His justice, sovereignty, and holiness—does His judgment on Moab reveal, and how should this understanding shape my reverence, obedience, and walk with Him?**
* **Given the unexpected nature of divine reckoning, how can I cultivate a consistent state of spiritual readiness, acknowledging God's absolute sovereignty over all aspects of my life and the world around me?**

### FAQ
**What does "The burden of Moab" mean?**
Answer: The phrase "The burden of Moab" (Hebrew: *massâʼ*) is a specific prophetic technical term frequently used in the Old Testament. It signifies a heavy, weighty, and divinely inspired pronouncement, often one of judgment or doom, that the prophet is compelled by God to deliver. It implies that the message itself is a "load" or "burden" for the prophet to carry and for the recipient nation to endure due to its severe implications. In this context, it introduces a solemn oracle detailing the impending destruction and suffering of the nation of Moab. This type of heading is common in the "oracles against the nations" found in prophetic books like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel (e.g., [Isaiah 13:1](/isaiah/13-1 "Isaiah 13:1 - The Burden of Babylon") or [Nahum 1:1](/nahum/1-1 "Nahum 1:1 - The Burden of Nineveh")).

**Why was Moab singled out for such a harsh prophecy?**
Answer: Moab, despite being related to Israel through Lot, had a long and consistent history of antagonism, idolatry, and national pride that brought them into direct conflict with God's people and His righteous standards. Their offenses included hiring Balaam to curse Israel ([Numbers 22:1-6](/numbers/22-1 "Numbers 22:1-6 - Balak Sends for Balaam")), seducing Israelites into idolatry and immorality at Peor ([Numbers 25:1-3](/numbers/25-1 "Numbers 25:1-3 - Israel Sins at Peor")), oppressing Israel during the Judges period ([Judges 3:12-30](/judges/3-12 "Judges 3:12-30 - Eglon of Moab")), and exhibiting excessive pride and arrogance (as seen in [Isaiah 16:6](/isaiah/16-6 "Isaiah 16:6 - Moab's Pride")). God's judgment on Moab, therefore, was not arbitrary but a righteous and just response to their persistent rebellion, deep-seated idolatry, and sustained hostility towards His divine purposes and His chosen people. It also served to powerfully demonstrate God's universal sovereignty over all nations, proving that none are beyond His ultimate authority and judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Isaiah 15:1 describes a specific historical judgment against the ancient nation of Moab, its underlying theological principles find ultimate fulfillment and profound significance in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The "burden" of judgment pronounced upon Moab foreshadows the ultimate and decisive judgment that will be executed by Christ, who is appointed by God the Father as the righteous judge of all the living and the dead ([Acts 10:42](/acts/10-42 "Acts 10:42 - Jesus, Judge of the Living and the Dead")). The sudden, nocturnal destruction of Ar and Kir, bringing them to "silence," serves as a powerful type and shadow of the unexpected "Day of the Lord" when Christ will return in glory, not only to judge the nations according to their deeds ([Matthew 25:31-33](/matthew/25-31 "Matthew 25:31-33 - The Judgment of the Nations")) but also to definitively silence all opposition to God's reign, including sin, death, and the powers of darkness ([1 Corinthians 15:25-26](/1_corinthians/15-25 "1 Corinthians 15:25-26 - Christ Must Reign Until All Enemies Are Under His Feet")). Furthermore, just as Moab's destruction was a direct consequence of their rebellion and idolatry, Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross bore the full "burden" of God's righteous judgment against humanity's sin, offering a gracious way for all who believe to escape the ultimate silence of eternal separation from God ([Romans 5:8-9](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8-9 - God Demonstrates His Love")). Thus, the judgment on Moab points forward to the Christ who is both the righteous Judge before whom every knee will ultimately bow and every tongue confess ([Philippians 2:10-11](/philippians/2-10 "Philippians 2:10-11 - Every Knee Shall Bow")) and the compassionate Savior who delivers from the "burden" of sin and its eternal consequences.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Amos 2:1

¶ Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:

Amos 2:3

And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 48:1

¶ Against Moab thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Woe unto Nebo! for it is spoiled: Kiriathaim is confounded [and] taken: Misgab is confounded and dismayed.

Jeremiah 48:47

Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the LORD. Thus far [is] the judgment of Moab.

Numbers 21:28

For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, [and] the lords of the high places of Arnon.

Ezekiel 25:8

¶ Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah [is] like unto all the heathen;

Ezekiel 25:11

And I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they shall know that I [am] the LORD.