Isaiah 16

Moab will wail — a continuation of the message of chapter 15
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Text
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 1 ¶ Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion. 
.2 For 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.
  1 - Send ye the lamb They were to recall the time when Omri and Ahab had required tribute paid to Israel in sheep 2ki0304. This time they owed a debt to Judah ("the daughter of Zion").
  1 - From Sela The word means "rock" and would represent the headquarters in Edom in contrast to the "mount ... of Zion" where Jerusalem was located.
 3 Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth. 
 4 Let 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. 
.5 And 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.
 5  then a throne will be established in steadfast love and on it will sit in faithfulness in the tent of David one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness." (RSV)
  3 - Take counsel An opportunity to shelter refugees from Judah je4011 when the Babylonians would take Jerusalem je4826f. They could return to divine favor. This counsel they rejected bringing down terrible judgments zp0208.
  5 - Mercy ... throne Although Moab would witness the defeat of Jerusalem, the kingdom of the new David would be established. Nations or people who do right will be blessed.
  5 - Tabernacle Comparing to the sanctuary in the wilderness, Christ would judge as on the Day of Atonement.
.6 ¶ We 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.
.7 Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken. 
 8 For 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.
  6 - Pride of Moab The sin of arrogance je4829, zp0210, pr0616. This lesson we must not overlook for ourselves. "Lies," in this verse is more precisely, "idle talk" je4830.
  7 - Foundations Should read "raisin cakes." Compare ho0301 where the word is "flagons of wine." See on 2sa0619 and on so0205.
.9 Therefore 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. 
 10 And 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.
 11 Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kirharesh.
.12 And 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.
  9 - For the shouting The last part of this verse would be better translated, "for upon thy summer fruits and upon thy harvest a shout has fallen." There would be no rejoicing over the harvest. Jazer is also mentioned in is1504.
  10 - No wine. The fresh juice is called "wine" clarifying that the word is used for grape juice as well as for the alcoholic beverage. See on ac0213.
 13 This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning Moab since that time.
 14 But 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.
  13 - Since that time Literally, "formerly" or "in the past."
  14 - Within three years Earlier warnings had not given a time. Like the time of service arranged with an employee, the end is specific.
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