Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 16

Verse 1

lamb = tribute lamb.

to the ruler = of the ruler: i.e. Judah, as Mesha king of Moab had done (2 Kings 3:4 ).

Sela. Now Petra (so called by the Romans) in Mount Seir, near Mount Hor (2 Kings 14:7 ).

Verse 2

cast out, &c. = a forsaken nest.

be = become.

Verse 3

Take counsel = Bring advice. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "Bring thou counsel".

execute judgment = perform an arbitrator's duty. Hebrew. pelilah . Occurs only here. Some codices, with seven early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac and Vulgate, read "execute thou".

Verse 4

Let Mine outcasts, &c. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "Let the outcasts", &c.

dwell = sojourn. Compare 1 Samuel 22:3 , 1 Samuel 22:4 .

the spoiler: i.e. Sennacherib.

extortioner. Hebrew. muz. Occurs only here.

oppressors = treaders down. Hebrew. ramas. Occurs only here.

Verse 5

in mercy. The burden goes beyond the immediate future to the ultimate future.

mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.

in truth. See note on Isaiah 10:20 .

hasting righteousness = prompt in equity. Compare Isaiah 46:13 .

Verse 6

We. Compare Isaiah 6:8 . Genesis 1:26 .

his lies shall not be so = his resources do not correspond.

Verse 7

Kir-hareseth. Some codices read "Kir-harasheth".

stricken = worn away. Hebrew. naka'. Occurs only here.

Verse 8

the fields = [as to] the fields. Compare Deuteronomy 32:32 . 2 Kings 23:4 .Jeremiah 31:40 (feminine).

Heshbon. Compare Isaiah 15:4 .

languish = he [Moab] hath enfeebled.

and = supply [as to] and omit the colon.

the vine of Sibmah = Sibmah's vine.

lords. Probably plural of Majesty for "great lord of the nations", a title claimed by the kings of Assyria.

heathen = nations.

Jazer. Probably Beit Zer'ah, on the east of Jordan (Numbers 32:1 .Joshua 13:25 ; Jos 21:39 . 2 Samuel 24:5 . 1 Chronicles 6:81 ; 1 Chronicles 26:31 .Jeremiah 48:32; Jeremiah 48:32 ).

wandered through: or, strayed into.

Verse 9

water thee = make thee drunk.

Elealeh. See note on Isaiah 15:4 .

the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen = on thy summer fruits and thy harvest a war-cry hath fallen,

Verse 10

plentiful = fruitful.

wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 .

presses = wine-vat. Hebrew. yekeb, not gaih. See note on Isaiah 5:2 .

Verse 11

sound = make a plaintive sound. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia . Hebrew v'kirbi Kir.

Kir-haresh. See note on Isaiah 15:1 .

Verse 12

on. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "unto": weary with climbing up to. Compare Isaiah 15:2 .

prevail = obtain anything.

Verse 14

Within. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "about".

three years. From the death of Ahaz.

contemned = brought low.

small = few.

feeble = small.