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Isaiah 15:4

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 15:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Heshbon crieth out, and Elealeh; their voice is heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud; his soul trembleth within him.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Heshbon crieth out, and Elealeh; their voice is heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud; his soul trembleth within him.
Isaiah 15:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 15

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1The 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.
2They are gone up to Bayith, and to Dibon, to the high places, to weep: Moab waileth over Nebo, and over Medeba; on all their heads is baldness, every beard is cut off.
3In their streets they gird themselves with sackcloth; on their housetops, and in their broad places, every one waileth, weeping abundantly.
4And Heshbon crieth out, and Elealeh; their voice is heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud; his soul trembleth within him.
5My heart crieth out for Moab; her nobles [flee] unto Zoar, to Eglath-shelishi-yah: for by the ascent of Luhith with weeping they go up; for in the way of Horonaim they raise up a cry of destruction.
6For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate; for the grass is withered away, the tender grass faileth, there is no green thing.
7Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, shall they carry away over the brook of the willows.
← Isaiah 15:3Isaiah 15:5 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh, &c.] Two other cities in the land of Moab. The first of these was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who took it from the Moabites, (<042125>Numbers 21:25-30) it came into the hands of the Reubenites, (<043203>Numbers 32:3,37) and afterwards was again possessed by the Moabites, (<244802>Jeremiah 48:2,34,45). Josephusf289 calls it Essebon, and mentions it among the cities of Moab; it goes by the name of Esbuta in Ptolemyf290; and is called Esbus by Jeromf291, who says it was a famous city of Arabia in his time, in the mountains over against Jericho, twenty miles distant from Jordan; hence we read of the Arabian Esbonites in Plinyf292. Elealeh was…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Heshbon--an Amorite city, twenty miles east of Jordan; taken by Moab after the carrying away of Israel (compare Jer. 48:1-47). Elealeh--near Heshbon, in Reuben. Jahaz--east of Jordan, in Reuben. Near it Moses defeated Sihon. therefore--because of the sudden overthrow of their cities. Even the armed men, instead of fighting in defense of their land, shall join in the general cry. life, &c.--rather, "his soul is grieved" (Sa1 1:8) [MAURER].”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And Heshbon shall cry - This was a celebrated city of the Amorites, twenty miles east of the Jordan Joshua 13:17. It was formerly conquered from the Moabiltes by Sihon, and became his capital, and was taken by the Israelites a little before the death of Moses Numbers 21:25. After the carrying away of the ten tribes it was recovered by the Moabites. Jeremiah Jeremiah 48:2 calls it ‘the pride of Moab.’ The town still subsists under the same name, and is described by Burckhardt. He says, it is situated on a hill, southwest from El Aal (Elealeh). ‘Here are the ruins of an ancient town, together with the remains of some edifices built with small stones; a few broken shafts of columns are still…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Heshbon - Two other Moabitish cities. Jahaz - Another city in the utmost borders of Moab. Soldiers - Who use to be the most courageous. Isaiah 15:5”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“15:4 Heshbon was the former capital of Sihon (Num 21:23-26). • Elealeh was located close to Heshbon. • Jahaz was between Heshbon and the Arnon River (see Jer 48:34).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Heshbon: Isa 16:8, Isa 16:9; Num 32:3, Num 32:4; Jer 48:34 Jahaz: Num 21:23; Deu 2:32; Jos 13:18; Jdg 11:20 his: Gen 27:46; Num 11:15; Kg1 19:4; Job 3:20-22, Job 7:15, Job 7:16; Jer 8:3, Jer 20:18; Jon 4:3, Jon 4:8; Rev 9:6 Isaiah 15:5”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification