Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 16

Verse 1

Petra. Hebrew selah, "the rock." (Haydock) --- Our Saviour spring from Ruth, the Moabitess. (Menochius) --- The original may insinuate, that the king of the country had neglected to pay the usual tribute to Juda, 4 Kings iii. 4. (Calmet) --- "Send the lamb to the ruler," &c. (Tournemine.) Amid scenes of distress, the prophet perceives that the Saviour will proceed from one of this nation. (Worthington)

Verse 2

Arnon. They shall not be able to fly over, or to escape the conqueror.

Verse 3

Night. Seek a retreat in the darkest places; or protect Israel when they shall flee before the Assyrians. Their cruelty is thus insinuated, Amos i.

Verse 4

Dust. Theglathphalassar. I need not exhort you to receive my people, as I know your dispositions, and they are out of danger. (Calmet)

Verse 5

Just. This regards Christ, (St. Jerome) prefigured by (Haydock) Ezechias. (Calmet)

Verse 7

Walls. Hebrew, "Kir-hareseth," chap. xv. 1. (Haydock)

Verse 8

Lords. Princes of Jerusalem, (Lamentations i. 1.) or of Assyria. (Calmet) --- Sea. Of Sodom, even as far as Jazer, (Haydock) in the tribe of Ruben. (Calmet)

Verse 9

CHAPTER XVI.

My tears. Chap. xv. 5. (Haydock) --- I announce a different sort of music from that which is customary in times of harvest, and of vintage. The liquor shall be tears, chap. lxiii. 2., and Jeremias xlviii. 32, 33. (Calmet)

Verse 10

Carmel. This name is often taken to signify a fair and fruitful hill or field, such as Mount Carmel is. (Challoner) --- It means, "the vine of God." (Calmet)

Verse 11

Wall. Kir-hareseth, ver. 7. I am grieved at your misfortunes. (Calmet)

Verse 12

Prevail. Chamos shall not be able to help them.

Verse 13

That time. A long while ago, Psalm xcii. 2.

Verse 14

Not many. It was laid waste in the third year of Ezechias. But its final destruction took place only five years after that of Jerusalem. (Calmet) --- The wars against Moab continued three years, after which it was reduced to servitude. (Worthington)