15:1 Here is a message about Moab: Indeed, in a night it is devastated, Ar of Moab is destroyed! Indeed, in a night it is devastated, Kir of Moab is destroyed!
Isaiah looked into the future and saw the destruction of Moab. Moab was the cousin of Israel through the incestuous relationship of Lot and one of his daughters. Moab was always a dangerous enemy to Israel. Moab learned that she could not defeat Israel in military combat, so King Balak hired Balaam to curse Israel. When this did not work, Moab sent pretty girls to dance in the moonlight and seduce Israel into idolatry. This was a violation of the Abrahamic Covenant.
The message to Moab is a heavy message of doom. Ar was the capital of Moab. Kir was the military fortress of Moab. Both Ar and Kir will be destroyed by the Assyrians in one night.
15:2 They went up to the temple, the people of Dibon went up to the high places to lament. Because of what happened to Nebo and Medeba, Moab wails. Every head is shaved bare, every beard is trimmed off.
The Moabites went up to their temple and to their pagan high places to pray and offer human sacrifices to Chemosh. Their heads were shaved as a sign of humiliation. They were shaving their heads and practicing human sacrifice in the hope of gaining the sympathy of their gods. They were asking their gods to save them from the Assyrians.
15:3 In their streets they wear sackcloth; on their roofs and in their town squares all of them wail, they fall down weeping.
The Moabites wore sackcloth in the streets, hoping that their gods would have sympathy on them and save them from the Assyrians.
15:4 The people of Heshbon and Elealeh cry out, their voices are heard as far away as Jahaz. For this reason Moab’s soldiers shout in distress; their courage wavers.
Heshbon and Elealeh were two other Moabite cities. They cried out to their demonic gods as well, but there was no answer. Moab’s soldiers were about to lose their courage.
15:5 My heart cries out because of Moab’s plight, and for the fugitives stretched out as far as Zoar and Eglath Shelishiyah. For they weep as they make their way up the ascent of Luhith; they loudly lament their demise on the road to Horonaim.
Isaiah felt compassion for Moab, just as God feels compassion for those whom He must judge. The Moabites fled south.
15:6 For the waters of Nimrim are gone; the grass is dried up, the vegetation has disappeared, and there are no plants.
The Moabites fled further south, but there was no water or food available.
15:7 For this reason what they have made and stored up, they carry over the Stream of the Poplars.
The Moabites carried over their last food and water supply to the Stream of the Poplars, which was even further south.
15:8 Indeed, the cries of distress echo throughout Moabite territory; their wailing can be heard in Eglaim and Beer Elim.
The cries of the Moabites could be heard all through the land.
15:9 Indeed, the waters of Dimon are full of blood! Indeed, I will heap even more trouble on Dimon. A lion will attack the Moabite fugitives and the people left in the land.
The water supply at Dimon was bloody, indicating much death and destruction had occurred there. Flight from invading armies would not bring security, but they would bring new dangers from the beasts of the wilderness.