Isaiah 15:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Balak, son of Zippor, witnessed all that Israel had accomplished against the Amorites, leading to great fear among the Moabites as their population was significantly outnumbered, and they felt humiliated before the Israelites (Num. 22:1-3).

In response to this, Balak, filled with malice, sought to hire Balaam of Mesopotamia—a false prophet known for divination—asking him to bless Israel, believing that anyone he blessed would indeed be blessed and anyone he cursed would be cursed (Num. 22:6). Balaam engaged in sorcery, constructing altars and offering sacrifices. Yet to Balak's dismay, rather than cursing Israel, Balaam ended up blessing them repeatedly beyond all expectations (Num. 23 and Num. 24). After encountering failure in his primary scheme, he devised a more insidious plan to lead the Israelites astray by enticing them with the allure of the Moabite women, prompting them to turn away from God’s love and worship Baal-Peor, Moab's idol. This is conveyed in Numbers: The Israelites camped in Shittim, and the people engaged in sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab. They summoned their idols for the sacrifices, consuming the offerings and worshiping the deities, thus provoking the Lord’s fierce anger against them (Num. 25:1-3).

When God shielded Israel, they were formidable and invincible. However, through treachery and malice, the Moabites encouraged Israel to insult the Almighty, taking advantage of Israel’s misfortunes when they turned from God. In their arrogance, they mocked and insulted the Lord, scorning His promises of salvation to those who seek Him. The prophet Jeremiah witnesses this and proclaims a vision, declaring, "The horn of Moab is cut off, and his muscle is broken; drink him up, for he has been exalted against the Lord" (Jer. 48:25, 26). He continues to declare, "Thus says the Lord: Arioph is taken, and its strongholds shall be destroyed; and Moab shall perish from being a people, as it has risen against the Lord" (Jer. 48:40-42).

The Assyrian and Babylonian rulers came to desolate Judah and conquered the cities of Samaria. The Moabites, in their mockery of the fallen, continued to scorn the glory of God. Consequently, they faced total destruction along with their cities and inhabitants, to the point where it seemed as if they had never existed. Therefore, this prophetic vision serves as a reminder of their fate, brought about by divine wrath, stating, "By night the land of Moab shall be destroyed; by night the wall of Moab shall fall." Those who have studied this carefully report that when the Babylonians prepared for war against Moab, an earthquake violently shook the city, causing the entire wall to collapse on its own during the darkness of night. This catastrophic event occurred before the enemy’s arrival, resulting in a near-total loss of hope for the Moabites. Hence, the prophecy foretells that the land of Moab will meet its demise during the night.

24:1), who was an advisor in the ways of sexual immorality and idol worship (cf. Num. 31:16). It is recounted that the people were led into sin with the Moabite women, and their idols were worshipped (cf. Num. 25:1-2). Consider also the account of Ruth from Moab, who became a part of Israel’s lineage and attained such honor that both David and our Lord descend from her (see: Matthew 1:5). Strive in every way to uncover insights about the territory of Moab, where threats and promises are intertwined. Yet, these matters are often presented veiled, so that the obscurity associated with the reading of the Old Testament might be lifted from us if we grieve and genuinely turn to the Lord (cf. 2 Cor. 3:14, 16). The judgments upon the land of Moab shall come swiftly; the defenses of Moab shall be destroyed in darkness! The suffering experienced during the night is more grievous. Even during the day, those facing calamity find solace in the light. However, the night, fraught with its own sorrow, magnifies hardships when coupled with affliction and trouble. Envision the surprise assault from the enemy, the sudden encroachment, the captivity of families, the plundering of possessions, the slaying of those captured, the downfall of walls, and the burning of cities. The fortifications of Moab will fall at night, and those who have relied upon their defenses will inevitably face demise along with their false sense of security.

Jeremiah confirms the renown of this place with the declaration, "there is no more rejoicing in Moab," followed by, "you relied on your fortifications and treasures"; again emphasizing, "Moab has been fruitful from his youth, sitting securely, never overflowing from vessel to vessel, nor undergoing deportation, thus his flavor remains unchanged." Additionally, he reveals, "how is the rod of the mighty broken," and mentions, "we have heard of Moab's pride; he is prideful beyond measure. The arrogance, haughtiness, and pride, along with the exaltation of his heart, I know, says the Lord" (Jer. 48:2-30). Therefore, just as the prophet previously foretold the oppression of Judah by Babylon and the Philistines, he now proclaims the impending devastation of the Moabites, that is, the people of Arabia, at the hands of the Assyrians and Babylonians. They were crushed by both powers during the time when Sennacherib captured Israel and when Nebuchadnezzar brought destruction to Jerusalem. Moab rejoiced during the invasions against Israel as Jeremiah recounts, "Moab shall be brought low in his own vomit, and shall be mocked" (Jer. 68:26-28). Thus, for these reasons, due to the words you have spoken against him, you shall be carried off into captivity. And the phrases, "Ar was desolate by night, Moab is silent," serve as an apt introduction to the rebuke, indicating the desolation of one conceived through shameful relations in darkness; unless the night can also be interpreted as the terror of despair, or perhaps he was deceived into believing in his own stronghold. An Areopolitan confirmed to me, supported by local records, that a great earthquake occurred during my youth when cataclysmic floods swept across the globe, causing the walls of this city to collapse that very night.

The burden of Moab. The LXX translates this as a word against the land of Moab. Simmachus and Theodotion refer to the taking of Moab. Just as circumcision encompasses both carnal and spiritual elements, the apostle states, "We are the circumcision, who serve God in spirit, and boast in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh" (Phil. 3:3). Distinguishing the spiritual from the carnal, it is said, "Behold Israel according to the flesh" (1 Cor. 10:18), and "You Gentiles, who are in the flesh" (Eph. 2:11). Hence, spiritually speaking, Moab signifies offspring of the father or progeny of the father's waters—product of incest and drunkenness, seeming to be born without a father and outside the father's intent. Moab's mention is found throughout the Scriptures, particularly in Numbers, where Balak, king of Moab, called upon Balaam to pronounce a curse, and among his prophecies he revealed, "A star will rise from Jacob, and a man will rise from Israel, and he shall strike down the leaders of Moab" (Num. 24:17). The pronouncement continues, "For by night Ar is desolate, Moab is still; for by night, the wall has fallen, Moab remains silent." The LXX states that by night, the land of Moab perished, affirming the destruction of its wall. The account identifies the city of Ar accurately, as Theodotion, in contrast to Aquila and Symmachus, clearly articulates by reading it according to Hebrew; it must be noted that the letters for 'city' don’t include a yodh which would otherwise clarify it. The worldly wisdom, which the Lord foretold will be dismantled: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the understanding of the prudent I will cast away," as affirmed in various Scriptures, emerges from a flawed understanding rooted in creation, thereby equating Moab's origin with incest born of treachery against God’s people. Consequently, as one conceived in darkness, wisdom succumbed to eternal error through devastation. In the dark of the night, like the Egyptians who were swallowed by the sea at dawn (Ex. 14), the deliverance of Lot from Sodom in the night yielded to the dawn (Gen. 19). The blessed Apostle thus writes, "We are not children of the night, nor darkness, but children of the day. For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, we must stay alert and put on faith and love as a breastplate” (1 Thess. 5:5-8). Similarly, the believer must recognize, "The night is nearly over; the day is almost here; so let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light" (Rom. 13:12-13). With the destruction of Moab's land at night, even its wall, constructed through carnal reasoning, was brought low into eternal silence. Hence, Ar, meaning adversary, represents the wisdom that opposes God, which has been vanquished by the Church's proclamation.

It would be more prudent for you, dear reader, to turn to the instructors of truth, whose guidance I intend to share with you, so you may delve deeper into the concealed realities. In portraying the desolation and mourning of Moab, Jeremiah figuratively reveals the nature of the Prince of Peace: “There is a lamentation upon all the roofs of Moab, and in its streets; for I have shattered Moab like a vessel that is not fit for use, says the Lord” (Jeremiah 48:38). Let us also remember Isaiah’s declaration: “Behind them the soldiers of Moab weep; his soul trembles within him. And he likewise states, ‘On its roofs and in its squares all is mourning.’” Thus they weep, bereaved of their people, continually mourning their devastation. Therefore, they never cease to attack us, harbouring the hope of seizing those who stray from their path.