Isaiah16
King James Version · Public Domain
1Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.
2For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.
3Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth.
4Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land.
5And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.
6We have heard of the pride of Moab; he is very proud: even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: but his lies shall not be so.
7Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kir–hareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken.
8For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come even unto Jazer, they wandered through the wilderness: her branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea.
9Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen.
10And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall there be shouting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses; I have made their vintage shouting to cease.
11Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kir–heres.
12And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray; but he shall not prevail.
13This is the word that the Lord hath spoken concerning Moab since that time.
14But now the Lord hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and feeble.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 16.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Moab is exhorted to yield obedience. (1-5). The pride and the judgments of Moab. (6-14).
vv1-5
God tells sinners what they may do to prevent ruin; so he does to Moab. Let them send the tribute they formerly engaged to pay to Judah. Take it as good advice. Break off thy sins by righteousness, it may lengthen thy quiet. And this may be applied to the great gospel duty of submission to Christ. Send him the lamb, the best you have, yourselves a living sacrifice. When you come to God, the great Ruler, come in the name of the Lamb, the Lamb of God. Those who will not submit to Christ, shall be as a bird that wanders from her nest, which shall be snatched up by the next bird of prey. Those who will not yield to the fear of God, shall be made to yield to the fear of every thing else. He advises them to be kind to the seed of Israel. Those that expect to find favour when in trouble themselves, must show favour to those in trouble. What is here said concerning the throne of Hezekiah, also belongs, in a much higher sense, to the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Though by subjection to Him we may not enjoy worldly riches or honours, but may be exposed to poverty and contempt, we shall have peace of conscience and eternal life.
vv6-14
Those who will not be counselled, cannot be helped. More souls are ruined by pride than by any other sin whatever. Also, the very proud are commonly very passionate. With lies many seek to gain the gratification of pride and passion, but they shall not compass proud and angry projects. Moab was famous for fields and vineyards; but they shall be laid waste by the invading army. God can soon turn laughter into mourning, and joy into heaviness. In God let us always rejoice with holy triumph; in earthly things let us always rejoice with holy trembling. The prophet looks with concern on the desolations of such a pleasant country; it causes inward grief. The false gods of Moab are unable to help; and the God of Israel, the only true God, can and will make good what he has spoken. Let Moab know her ruin is very near, and prepare. The most awful declarations of Divine wrath, discover the way of escape to those who take warning. There is no escape, but by submission to the Son of David, and devoting ourselves to him. And, at length, when the appointed time comes, all the glory, prosperity, and multitude of the wicked shall perish.
Key Words
שָׁלַח: to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
כַּר: a ram (as full-grown and fat), including a battering-ram (as butting); hence, a meadow (as for sheep); also a pad or camel's saddle (as puffed out)
מָשַׁל: to rule
אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
סֶלַע: Sela, the rock-city of Idumaea
מִדְבָּר: a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs)
הַר: a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
בַּת: a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
צִיּוֹן: Tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of Jerusalem
Cross References
Isaiah 16Moab previously paid a heavy tribute of lambs, which they are now exhorted to restore.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Jeremiah's parallel oracle matching Isaiah's description of the pride and haughtiness of Moab.
Supported by JFB
Parallel lament over the vine of Sibmah whose branches reached the sea.
Supported by JFB
Sela (Petra) was captured by Amaziah, bringing it under Judah's dominion.
Supported by JFB
David originally subdued the Moabites and brought them under tribute.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel text where the prophet laments for the men of Kir-hareseth.
Supported by JFB
Parallel imagery of the heart sounding like pipes or a harp for Moab.
The established throne in David's tabernacle points typologically to King Messiah.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallel description of joy taken away from the plentiful field and quiet presses.
Supported by JFB
Identical phrase 'years of an hireling' used to specify a precise three-year judgment.
The metaphor of a shadow/refuge from the heat and storm matches the advice to Moab.
Supported by JFB
God will tread down Moab's pride like straw is trodden down in dunghills.
Supported by JFB
Torah law forbidding the betrayal of escaped servants, paralleling the call to shelter outcasts.
The ideal King who judges in righteousness and delivers the needy from oppressors.
Supported by JFB
Wages and terms of a hireling representing a strict, legally measured period.