21:30 We have overpowered them; 1
Heshbon has perished as far as Dibon.
We have shattered them as far as Nophah,
which 2 reaches to Medeba.”
15:2 They went up to the temple, 4
the people of Dibon went up to the high places to lament. 5
Because of what happened to Nebo and Medeba, 6 Moab wails.
Every head is shaved bare,
every beard is trimmed off. 7
1 tc The first verb is difficult. MT has “we shot at them.” The Greek has “their posterity perished” (see GKC 218 §76.f).
2 tc The relative pronoun “which” (אֲשֶׁר, ’asher) posed a problem for the ancient scribes here, as indicated by the so-called extraordinary point (punta extraordinaria) over the letter ר (resh) of אֲשֶׁר. Smr and the LXX have “fire” (אֵשׁ, ’esh) here (cf. NAB, NJB, RSV, NRSV). Some modern scholars emend the word to שֹׁאָה (sho’ah, “devastation”).
3 tn The words “their territory started” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
4 tn Heb “house.”
5 tn Heb “even Dibon [to] the high places to weep.” The verb “went up” does double duty in the parallel structure.
6 tn Heb “over [or “for”] Nebo and over [or “for”] Medeba.”
7 sn Shaving the head and beard were outward signs of mourning and grief.