The Fate of Moab is described and Lamented.
This chapter continues the message concerning Moab.
[Isaiah 16:1] SEND YE THE LAMB TO THE RULER OF THE LAND FROM SELA TO THE WILDERNESS, UNTO THE MOUNT OF THE DAUGHTER OF ZION.
This chapter is difficult and can be interpreted several ways. I have chosen to be guided in this case by the Hebrew Commentary of Amos Chacham in the “Daat Mikra” series.
“LAMB” in Hebrew “car” which can also mean “sheep” or “messenger” or “emissary bearing a sheep as a symbolic offeriing of reconciliation”. Moab is in trouble and so sends to Zion (Judah) for assistance. Historically Moab was attacked and conquered by Arab Tribes, then by the Assyrians on three occcasions. Finally Moab was conquered and its people deported by Nebuchadnessar the Babylonian. The Prophecy could be based on events connected with any of these occasions. The Prophets took events occuring in or close to their own lifetimes and built on them messages pertinent to the End Times. Moab is somewhere in Europe.
[Isaiah 16:2] 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.
The women of Moab were forcibly driven out of their homes away from husband and children.
[Isaiah 16:3] TAKE COUNSEL, EXECUTE JUDGMENT; MAKE THY SHADOW AS THE NIGHT IN THE MIDST OF THE NOONDAY; HIDE THE OUTCASTS; BEWRAY NOT HIM THAT WANDERETH.
Moab is pleading to Judah. Moab was an enemy of Judah and behaved cruelly and treacherously on more than one occasion. Nevertheless Moab turns to Judah in time of trouble as a last resort pleading that Judah accept the refugees of Moab.
[Isaiah 16:4] 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.
“LET MINE OUTCASTS DWELL WITH THEE, MOAB” Better read from the Hebrew as saying “Let the outcasts of Moab dwell with thee”, i.e. with Judah who Moab is pleading before. Also the end should be read to say something like Oppression is consuming us [i.e. Moab] out of the land.
[Isaiah 16:5] 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. [
“MERCY SHALL THE THRONE BE ESTABLISHED” a plea to the King of Judah whose throne is based on the principle of mercy. Likewise even the wicked tyrannous kings of northern Israel had a reputation amongst non-Israelites as relatively speaking being “merciful kings” (1-Kings 20;30).
[Isaiah 16:6] 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.
This is the reply from Judah. Moab does not deserve assistance. Nevertheless it is not so clear that some assistance is not being granted. It just was not enough.
[Isaiah 16:7] THEREFORE SHALL MOAB HOWL FOR MOAB, EVERY ONE SHALL HOWL: FOR THE FOUNDATIONS OF KIR-HARESETH SHALL YE MOURN; SURELY THEY ARE STRICKEN. [
[Isaiah 16:8] 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.
“ARE GONE OVER THE SEA” an exile of Moab to Europe? Asia? Statuettes of Moabite kings show them to have been European in type. They were also intelligent-looking and shortish but this could have been due to diet or environment. The Jews in Central Europe were also short but their children in Israel are taller. The Japanese too have increased quite markedly in height. The Japanese in America even more so.
[Isaiah 16:9] 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 THE HARVEST IS FALLEN.
[Isaiah 16:10] 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.
[Isaiah 16:11] WHEREFORE MY BOWELS SHALL SOUND LIKE AN HARP FOR MOAB, AND MINE INWARD PARTS FOR KIR-HARESH.
[Isaiah 16:12] 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.
[Isaiah 16:13] THIS IS THE WORD THAT THE LORD HATH SPOKEN CONCERNING MOAB SINCE THAT TIME.
[Isaiah 16:14] 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.