Isaiah 15:4
4 And Heshbon [Cheshbown] shall
cry [za`aq], and Elealeh ['El`ale']: their voice [qowl] shall
be heard [shama`] even unto Jahaz [Yahats]: therefore the armed soldiers [chalats] of Moab [Mow'ab] shall cry
out [ruwa`]; his life [nephesh] shall be grievous [yara`]
unto him. KJV-Interlinear
4 Heshbon and Elealeh also cry
out, Their voice is heard all the way to Jahaz; Therefore the armed men of Moab
cry aloud; His soul trembles within him. NASB
Three more cities of
Moab are listed in the general destruction.
Heshbon, described by Jeremiah, the pride of Moab, Jere 48, is indicative
of how they viewed life through the pride of their self-worth.
And the destruction and
sorrow and fear will run even through the ranks of their military. The armed soldiers are typically thought of
as the brave and the tough, and yet the terror will extend from the civilians
through to and including the bravest of the brave.
Such will be the extent
and severity of the destruction of the country, that even the very core of the
brave will be shaking like a leaf in a hurricane, in fear of their own life.
And as we will see in the
next several verses, it will be every man for himself. No one will think of anyone but
themselves. No one will help
anyone. All will abandon all and leave
anyone and everyone in order to protect themselves.
But of course even that
will not work out.
And bit by bit, Isaiah
adds to the description of the thoughts and actions of those who will be the
targets of Gods wrath, as well as why they are the target, as well as how they
react to their destruction.
Not one single word
thus far had been said to indicate any semblance of repentance in the face of
judgment. Only reaction and resentment
and fear of losing their way of life (the pride of Moab), is foremost in their
minds.
