Isaiah 16

An exhortation to the Moabites, to bring them lambs, vers.1. and to carry themselves friendly and kindly towards the banished Jews, 3. But forasmuch as they refused through pride and arrogancy, 6. Therefore the Lord threateneth them, that they should be so fearfully destroyed and cut off, 7. As that the Prophet hath pity and compassion on them, 9. But he goeth on in a relation of the miseries, that were approaching unto them, 10. And he nameth the time when the same should come to pass, 14.

1. Send [O ye Moabites] the lambs of the ruler of the land, [Hebr. The lamb, etc. That is, as many Lambs as ye are bound to give or pay for tribute. The Moabites paid unto the King of Juda yearly an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams with the wool, as may be gathered from 2 Sam.8.3. compared with 2 Kings 3:4. (of the ruler of the land) To wit, of the King of Juda, who is become a Lord or ruler over your land, since the time that David conquered you, 2 Sam.8.2. Oth. Of the ruler of the earth; understanding thereby God in this sense, as if he exhorted the Moabites to receive and imbrace the true God, making it appear by offering of lambs in sacrifice unto him] from Sela to the wilderness. [that is, from your country, which is beset partly with clifts and rocks, and partly with the wilderness. Sela was the chief city lying upon a rock. (to the wilderness) Here may be understood the wilderness of Juda, which reacheth thence unto the Jordan, where that river falleth into the dead sea] unto the mount of the daughter of Zion. [That is, unto Jerusalem, which lieth on Mount Zion.]

2. Otherwise it shall come to pass, [The meaning is, if ye do it not, namely, if the Moabites obey not the house of David, then it shall come to pass, &c. Oth. For it shall come to pass] that the daughters of Moab [that is, the Moabitish women-kind, both married and unmarried, as Luke 23:28. it is said there; Ye daughters of Jerusalem, under which name are to be meant as well those that were not married, as those that were married. Others understand here by daughters, the small towns or cities of the Land of Moab] shall be at the ferries of Arnon, [Arnon was the outermost border of the land of the Moabites. So that when the Prophet here threateneth, that the daughters of Moab should be brought to the ferries Arnon, and be carried over, he intimateth thereby, that they should be chased or carried away captive out of their own land] as a wandering bird being driven (out of) the nest. [that is, as a bird that flieth to and fro. So shall the daughters of the Moabites be driven out of their nest; that is, out of their Country, and out of their houses and welfare.]

3. Take counsel [To wit, how ye may escape the approaching misery] execute judgement, [here the Prophet adviseth the Moabites to deal uprightly, especially with the poor banished Jews, not using them cruelly, as their ancestors had formerly done, Deut.23. Jerem.48.] make thy shadow as the night, in the midst of the noonday: [That is, make that your shadow, that is, the comfort and refreshing which they desire and look for at your hand, may so comfort and refresh them in their greatest persecution, as the shadow, or darkness of the night doth comfort and refresh men in the hottest time of Summer] hide them that are chased out, (and) mention not him that wandereth about. [here the Prophet expresseth in plain terms, that which he had immediately before uttered in borrowed words. (hide them that are chased out) the banished ones: to wit, the Jews that are chased, and driven, or banished out of their own land. (and mention not him that wandereth about) that is, betray them not, deliver them not up into the hands of their enemies, as you were wont to do.]

4. Let my banished ones converse, (or, dwell) with thee, O Moab, [This the LORD himself speaketh, (Let my banished, or expelled ones.) That is, those that belong unto me, although for a long time together I have sorely chastised, and punished them for their sins. Concerning the Phrase, see Psal.37.on verse 22. (converse, or, dwell with thee) Hebr. In thee; that is, by thee, or with thee, in the land of the Moabites] be thou an hiding-place unto them from the face of the disturber (or destroyer) [that is, shew pity and compassion towards the Israelites, let them find shelter and kindly entertainment among you. (from the face of the disturber, or destroyer) that is, of the Assyrian, who sorely persecuted and grievously plagued the Jews, and other nations] for the oppressor hath an end, [or, shall soon have an end; and so in the following words] the disturbance is come to nought, the tramplers under foot, [Hebr. The trader under foot, or trample, that is, all and every one of them: that is, oppressor of my people] are consumed [that is, shall be, &c.] from off the earth. [As if the LORD had said Ye Moabites ought to deal kindly and courteously with my people, for they shall not be always oppressed and wronged by their enemies, I will at length deliver them, and so restore the Kingdom of Juda, that they shall have opportunity and power to recompense unto you hands. As likewise on the contrary, they shall be able to recompense unto you the mischief, and unmercifulness which ye shall shew unto them.]

5. For there shall a Throne [Or, Kingdom, or Royal dignity, or glory] be established [or be prepared] in bountifulness, [to wit, by the favour and goodness of God. Oth. In grace, or in mercy] upon the same, there shall constantly [Hebr. In truth, that is, firmly and surely] sit one in the tent of David, [that is, one of the family of David; to wit, Christ; he alone doth stedfastly possess the throne of David, for he hath an everlasting Kingdom. Compare Daniel 7:14,27. Micha. 4.7. Luke 1:33.] one that judgeth, and seeketh judgement, and is ready for justice. [that is, speedily rendering that which is just and right, whether to good or evil. Oth. Well expert in the law or judgement, as Ezra 7:6. So that the prophet doth again in this verse exhorteth the Moabites to shew mercy and compassion to the banished or expelled Jews, because their decayed Kingdom should be restored again, and should continue stedfastly forever.]

6. We have heard of the pride of Moab, [That is, of the Moabites, (We) to wit, God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Some understand by the word we, the Prophet and the Jews, and other nations round about. Some do add hereunto the word but, thus; But we have heard, etc. As if he had said, the Lord indeed requireth this, that was before related, at the hand of the Moabites, and they were bound to do it, yea, it would have also benefited them to have done it: but they are so proud & stout, that they will not follow any good counsel, that is given them by others] he is very proud, his haughtiness, and his pride, and his indignation, are not his bars so. [that is, yet in vain doth he rely upon them, as upon bars or hand-beams. Oth. (But) his lies (do) not (do) so]

7. Therefore Moab shall howl over Moab, [That is, one Moabite over the other; to wit, the living shall howl both over the dead and over the living: and that by reason of the horrible invasion of the Assyrians, as may be gathered from v.14.] they shall all howl: for the foundations [Oth. Bottles, or flagons] of Kir-harezeth, [see of this place above, ch.15.v.1.] shall ye sigh, [Oth. Mourn, oth. Mutter, grumble] certainly they are broken. [or they shall be broken, or, being broken. Some apply this to the foundations, others to the sighing persons.]

8. For the fields of Hesbon soon languished, (also) the vine of Sibna, the Lords of the Heathen have broken to shivers the choice plants thereof, [Here the Prophet doth now again shew the cause of the weeping of the Moabites, and he speaketh here, as elsewhere besides, as if it were already done, which was to be done hereafter. (the fields) as 2 Kings 23:4. Oth. Vines. (of Hesbon) see of this City, Jos.13.17. (languished) oth. Shall languish, or, grow weak; that is, wither. (the vine of Sibna) of Sibna is likewise mention made, Numb.32.38. Jos.13.19. (the lords of the heathen) that is, the Princes of the Assyrians] they [to wit, those vines] reach unto Jaezer, [see Jer.48.on v.32.] they wander (through) the wilderness: [Understand here the wilderness by the Jordan, as v.1.] their sprout or shoots, [or young trees, or branches] are spread abroad, they are gone over the sea. [understand the Sea by Jaezar, as appeareth, Jer.48.32.]

9. Therefore I do weep in the weeping for Jaezar, the vine of Sibna, I make thee through wet, [or, I bedew, water, be sprinkle thee] with my tears, O Hesbon, and Eleale: [Oth. Therefore I do weep the weeping of Jaezar (that is, the misery that shall cause that city to weep) the vine of Sibna, etc. As if he had said, I am so affrighted at the destruction of Sibna, that when I think upon it, it maketh me weep, as well as I do weep for Jaezar, Hesbon, and Eleale. See above, chap.15.5. and below, chap.21.3.] for the sprouting for thy Summer-fruits, and for thine Harvest, is fallen: [that is, hath an end, or ceaseth. As if the Prophet should say, In time of harvest they were wont to sing joyful or merry songs, but they are now heard no more. See Jer.25.30.]

10. So that joy and gladness is taken away, [Hebr. Is gathered, see Psal.26.19.] from the fruitful field, [oth. From Carmel, which is the name of a fruitful mountains and country, see 2 Kings 19.on vers.23. and further, 1 Sam.25.on v.2.] and in the vineyards, (there) is no singing (nor any shout made; the (grape) trader, [see the annotate. Jer.25.on v.30.] treadeth out no wine, [that is, he treadeth no grapes, out of which wine is pressed] in the wine fats, [or, in the Tubs] I have made the shouting, [or, songs of praise, as Judg.9.27.] to cease. [the Lord speaketh this.]

11. Therefore my bowels sound like an harp for Moab, [The Prophet speaketh this. (my bowels sound) to wit, for grief or sorrow. (like an harp) to wit, when the strings of it are touched with the finger. (for Moab) that is, because of the misery that cometh upon Moab. See the annotate. Above, chap.15.on v.5.] etc. mine inmost (parts) [that is, mine heart] of Kir-heres. [To wit, because that fair city is so miserably wasted and destroyed. Kir-heres is otherwise called also Kor, and Kir-hareseth. See above, chap.15.on verse 1. And here above, verse 7.]

12. And it shall come to pass, when they shall see that Moab is grown weary [To wit, of calling upon the Gods and of offering sacrifices unto them, requiring help and succour of them against his enemies] on the high places [upon the high places, the Moabites and other Idolaters had their altars] then shall he [to wit, Moab; that is, the Moabites] go into his sanctuary to worship, [to wit, into the Temple of his Idol Chamos, Numb.21.29. 1 Kings 11:7. hoping that although the others Gods did not help him out of trouble] but he shall not prevail. [he; to wit, Chamos, shall not be able to help him. Or he, (to wit Moab) shall not prevail, or, shall not be able to effect anything, as little as he had effected, or deprecated, or obtained on the high places.]

13. This is the word which the LORD hath spoken against Moab, since that time. [To wit, since that time that they had been subject unto the King of Juda. See 2 Sam.8.2. or, since the time of the relation of this prophecy.]

14. But now the LORD speaketh, [To wit, now when they despise and set at nought all admonitions and threatening of the Prophets] saying, within three years (as the years of an hireling) then shall the honour of Moab be made contemptible, with all that great multitude: and the remnant shall be small, few, impotent. [Within three years, &c. Or, three years hence, or, after the expiration of three years; to wit, in the fourth year of King Hizkia. For the Prophet spake this in the first year of this Kings reign, as appeareth above, chap.14.v.28. where this Sermon beginneth. The accomplishment of this Prophecy, see 2 Kings 18:9. where it is said, that Salamassar Marched up against Samaria in the fourth year of Hizkia, from whence may be gathered, that in passing along he subdued the Moabites, whereof mention is made here in this text. But this was but a beginning of their misery and destruction, which was more fully effected a long while after; as a long time after the Prophet Isaiah, the Prophet Jeremiah did foretell the same unto them, Jerem.chap.48. (as the years of an hireling) that is, well told, and narrowly reckoned. Concerning an hired servant, his wages agreed upon is paid him, when his time is expired, neither sooner nor later. Compare below, chap.21.16. (with all that great multitude) Oth. With all that great wealth, of abundance. See Psal.37.16. Eccles.5.9.]