Isaiah 16

1 the lamb (“lambs,” R.V.). That is, the tribute-lambs: see 2 Kings iii. 4, 5. By acknowledging the suzerainty of the House of David, the Moabites might put themselves under the protection of the Divine King of Israel.

Sela. “Rock” or “cliff.” “Sela, which is toward the wilderness” (R.V.), is probably put for the Moabite frontier farthest from Palestine.

2 as a wandering bird. Terrified, and fluttering as it were with indecision.

3. Take (“Give,” R.V.) counsel. This and the next verse (perhaps also the 5th) are best understood as an impassioned entreaty of the fugitive Moabites at the frontier, on the river Arnon, that the Hebrews would give them counsel and protection. The “shadow” is the protecting shade of Zion.

4. Let Mine outcasts dwell with thee. Moab. Rather, “Let My outcasts dwell with thee! Moab—be thou a shelter to it from the face of the destroyer”: see the preceding note. The following words, to the end of ver. 5, are most naturally understood as a continuance of the Moabites’ appeal. Judah is now in such a state that they have hope of a favourable reception.

5 he shall sit. Or, “One shall sit.”

6 his lies [shall] not be [so]. Rather, “False are his pretensions.” This verse is the reply of Judah to the Moabites, and gives a reason for rejecting their petition.

7. Every one shall howl. Rather, “All of it” (i.e., of Moab) “shall howl.”

the foundations. Or, “the cakes of pressed grapes” (“raisin-cakes,” R.V.).

Q

8. They are come even unto Jazer, etc. Rather, “They (the vines) reached to Jazer, they strayed to the desert; its branches were stretched out, they passed over to the sea.” “The vine,” one of the chief products of the land, is here used to represent its wealth and glory: comp. Psa. lxxx. 8-11.

9. I will bewail. The prophet mourns as a man the prospect of Moab’s fate; responding to “the weeping of Jazer” with tears of his own. Jazer was at the northern limit of the territory as Kir-hareseth (Kir-heres, Kir of Moab) at the southern. Heshbon was the capital, Elealeh and Sibmah were close by.

the shouting for thy summer fruits. Or, “alarm (lit., ‘battle-shout’) is fallen upon thy summer fruits,” etc.

10. I have made . . . to cease. These “are God’s words. Amidst all his true and deep human sympathy, the prophet is still delivering a message from God."—Kay.

12 when it is seen that Moab, etc. Rather, “When Moab hath appeared (i.e., before his gods), when he hath wearied himself on the high-place, and hath gone to his sanctuary to pray, yet he shall not prevail”: comp. xv. 2.

13 since that time. Or, “of old.” This and the next verse are manifestly an addition at a later time, when God had revealed the speedy fulfilment of the foregoing predictions.

14 the years of a hireling. That is, years exactly computed.

Although this prophecy is nominally against Damascus only, it includes the allied kingdom of Samaria. It is evident that the date of this prophecy was early in Isaiah’s career. Probably it belongs to the first year of Ahaz, about 735 B.C. It was fulfilled by the invasions of Tiglath-pileser (2 Kings xv. 29; xvi. 9) and Shalmaneser (2 Kings xvii.).