Isaiah Chapter 15    

“burden.” The word of the Lord can be a burden to the prophet, and then, when it is spoken, can be a burden to the people. It might have been more clear in English to say “burdensome message” instead of “burden,” but the Hebrew word is “burden.”

[For more information on “burden,” see commentary on Malachi 1:1.]

“every head is shaved bald.” Like Jeremiah 48:37, Isaiah 15:2 portrays tremendous mourning in Moab. One mourning custom was shaving the head (see commentary on Jer. 47:5). Another was for a man to cut off his beard (cp. Jer. 41:5). Isaiah 15:2-3 has a lot in common with Jeremiah 48:37-38, which was written over 100 years later (see commentary on Jer. 48:5).

“Heshbon cries out with Elealeh. Their voice is heard even to Jahaz.” Isaiah 15:4 is similar to Jeremiah 48:34, which was written over 100 years later (see commentary on Jer. 48:5).

“for they go up by the ascent of Luhith.” This is quite similar to Jeremiah 48:5, which was written over 100 years later. Actually, there is a lot about Moab in Isaiah that is similar to the material about Moab in Jeremiah (see commentary on Jer. 48:5).