Isaiah 16

Isaiah 16:1-5

This chapter concludes the burden of Moab: In it, 1. The prophet counsels the Monistes to reform what was amply among them, and particularly to be kind to God’s people, as the idealists may to prevent the judgments before threatened, ver. 1—5. 2. Fearing they would not take this course, they were so proud, he pass us to permit the lamentable deception of their country, and the confusion they should soon be brought to, ver. 6—14.

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 nett: so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Armon. 3. Take counsel, execute judgment, make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noon-day, hide the out-casts, beware not him that wandereth. 4. Let mine out-casts dwell will 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 halting righteousness.

To prevent the threatened ruin, the prophet warns them what steps to take; to do justice, and shew mercy, and leaves them inexcusable if they reject the admonition.

1. He advises them to send their tribute, laid on them by David, 2 Sam. viii. 2. which was paid in lambs and rams, 2 Kings. iii. 4. 5. from Sela, their capital, to the wilderness, the nearest road which led to Zion, to the ruler of the land, to Hezekiah, David’s rightful sacrifice; or, O ruler of the land, the king of Moab, whose duty it was to pay it, and that on the peril of being rejected from his country; for it shall be, or, otherwise it shall be; if this justice be not done, then, as a wandering bird should they be driven from their houses to the borders of their country, and in conformation uncertain whether to flee.

2. He counsels them to shew mercy to the outcasts of Israel, who, on the invasion of the Aflyrians, should fly to hide themselves from their fury. They should protect and cherish them, as a thick shadow, from the forching heat of persecution; conceal them from their enemies, and never betray them if pursued, v. 3. but let them dwell in safety in their land till the tyranny was overpast, which should not last long; whether that of Salmanecer, who, after ravaging the country, returned; or that of Sennacherib, whose army was so quickly destroyed. Note, (1.) God’s people are often persecuted and driven from their homes, but God is with them, and will seek them a covert from the storm. (2.) They who are kind to God’s outcasts, shall find him abundantly recompelling the favour.

3. It would be their interest as well as duty thus to act. As God would establish the throne of Hezekiah, and long continue him in the tabernacle of David, executing righteous judgment, and readily admonishing justice to the needy, he would be enabled to return the kindness to Moab, when her distresses should arrive. Note, We should study to oblige every man, as we know not what need we may have of their assistance before we die.

4. ¶ We have heard of ’the pride of Moab, (he is very proud) even of his haughtineis, 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 Kir-harefeth shall ye ‘mourn, surely they are frickem. 8. For ’the fields of Heibbon languilla, and ’the vine of Sibmah, the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come men unto Jazer, they wandered through the wilderness, but branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea. 9. ¶ Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer, ’the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, ‘O Heibbon, and Eleahh: for the Shooting for thy summer-fruits, and for thy harvest, is fallen. 10. And ‘gladnefs is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field, and in the vineyards there shall be no fogging, neither shall there be shooting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in their preffes; I have made their vintage-thooting to cease. 11. Wherefore ‘my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kir-harefh. 12. ¶ And it shall come to pals, when it is seen that Moab is weary on ’the high place, that he shall come to his desftuary to pray, ‘but he shall not prevail. 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.

Isaiah 16:6-14

Because Moab haughtily rejected the prophetic council, his doom is near.

1. His fats were great and notorious; with haughtineis and pride he treated the poor refugees of Israel, and in wrath perplexed rather than protected them. But his fats, or his jh-egels, shall not be so. He hath mischievous designs against Israel, but God will disappoint his wiles, or break his power, to that his wicked purposes shall not be brought to pals. Note, (1.) Pride in God’s fight is most abominable. (2.) It is a mercy for God’s people, that the power of their enemies is not proportioned to their malice.

2. The forrows of Moab would be increased; their strongest fortæfies levelled with the ground, and their fertile land wafted. The vine of Sibmah, that spread her tendrils even unto Jazer, a city in Gilead, and to the Dead Sea, the borders of their country, now languishes, broken down by the lords of the heathen, the Afyrian army; and Heibbon’s fruitful fields, no longer cheated with the fangs of reapers, or the thunts of those who trod the wine-prefs, in mournful foile and silence lie desolate and barren. The prophet, whilst he denounces the judgment, weeps for their ruin, and, like the trembling strings of the harp, his bowels yearn in compaition over them, v. 7-11. Note, (1.) Sorrow and sin are twin-filters. (2.) The miseries even of the wicked move a gracious heart to pity them.

3. All applications to their idol gods would be in vain: tho’ they went from one high place to another, as Balak of old, till they wearied themselves with sacrifices, their miseries would not abate; and as fruitless would be their prayers before the throne of Chemoff. Though some suppose the fasthearys refers to the temple of God, whither in their distresses they would be driven, but God would reject their prayers, v. 12. The decree was gone forth, since that time, the date of the prophecy in the first year of Hezekiah, and was now irreversible. Note, (1.) When prayer is the extorted cry of suffering, and not the voice of repentant sorrow, no marvel it is rejected. (2.) There is a time when prayer comes too late to profit: it will be in vain to knock when the door is shut.

4. The day of execution is fixed for Moab’s destruction, when their glory should be despicable, their multitude of folders cut off, and the remnant weak and disabused to make head against their invaders. In three years, as the years of a hireling, who waits with earnestness the expiration of his contract, the people of God might expect the fulfilment of the prophecy, v. 14. Some regard this as a distinct vision, referring the former part to the total destruction of the whole people by Nebuchadnezzar. But now the Lord hath spoken concerning a nearer event, which was fulfilled in the fourth of Hezekiah, when Salmanzer conquered Samaria, and ravaged Moab in his way, 2 Kings xviii. 9, which was a warning to them, and a prelude to their final ruin.

Isaiah 16:13-17

Kedar shall fail. 17. And the residue of the number of 8 archers, the mighty men of the children of ‘Kedar shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken, it.

Arabia lying in the way of the Afiyian army, it is probable their detachments ravaged the country, or fubdied it, as they advanced towards Judea.

1. The miserable case of the travelling companies of Dedanim is set forth; (they were descendants of Abraham, by Keremah, as Tema and Kedar were of Ishmael, Gen. xxv. 3-15.) terrified by the sword of the Afiyians, they fled to the foref to save themselves from the grievousness of war, v. 15. They are called travelling companies, because their traffic was carried on by large caravans; or alluding to their wandering life in tents and herds, without any settled abode, v. 13. In their distress their friendly neighbours supplied them, fainting and famished, with bread and water; or as the margin reads it, they are commanded to do so, v. 14. Such kind compassion being ever due to the afflicted.

2. Kedar shares the same fate, v. 16, 17. All their glory, their riches, their flocks and herds plundered; and their mighty warriors, that flood to defend their country, diminished by the sword of the Afiyians, and few men left. So poor and uncertain a thing is this world’s glory, so easily tarnished; and our abundance often proving our ruin, and exposing us to dangers we otherwise might have escaped.

3. The time is fixed for their ruin: within one year, according to the years of an herding, who precisely marks the day when his comrade expires. And since Israel’s God affirms it as fare, his people are warned not to trust on Arabia as friends, or to fear them as foes.