Isaiah 15:5 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

My heart shall cry out for Moab; their destruction approaching is so dreadful, that although they are a most vile nation, and by their implacable enmity against God and his people do abundantly deserve it, yet the respect which I have to human nature fills me with horror at the very thoughts of it. Compare Isaiah 16:11. His fugitives; or, his bars, as others render it, and as this word is frequently taken, as Exodus 26:26,27 Psa 107:16, &c.; whereby we may understand their valiant men, or their princes and rulers, who as they are called the shields of the earth, Psalms 47:9, because, like shields, they do or should defend their people; so for the same reason they may be called bars, because bars are the strength of the gates of cities or castles, and therefore are mentioned as such, Psalms 147:13 Proverbs 18:19 Jeremiah 51:30. Shall flee unto Zoar; or, shall cry unto Zoar; either shall cry as they go along the way, even till they come to Zoar; or shall cry so as they may be heard to Zoar; which may easily be understood out of the foregoing verse. Zoar was a town bordering upon Moab; of which see Genesis 19:20-22 Deuteronomy 34:3. An heifer of three years old; which some understand of the city of Zoar, so called for her strength and wantonness. But such a description of Zoar seems very improper and impertinent in this place. The words therefore are to be translated here, as they are by our translators, Jeremiah 48:34 as an heifer of three years old; and so they belong to their cry, and signify that it is strong and loud, like that of such an heifer. In the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry; he signifies that the cry should be universal, in all places where they come, and reaching from one side of the country to another. Of Luhith, see Jeremiah 48:4,5. Of destruction; such a cry as men send forth when they are just falling into the pit of destruction.