Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 16

Verses 1-5

Isa 16:1-5

Isaiah 16:1-5

THE BURDEN OF MOAB (continued)

"Send ye the lambs for the ruler of the land from Selah to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion. For it shall be that, as wandering birds, as a scattered nest, so shall the daughters of Moab be at the fords of the Arnon. Give counsel, execute justice; make thy shade as the night in the midst of noonday; hide the outcasts; betray not the fugitive. Let mine outcasts dwell with thee; as for Moab, be thou a covert to him from the face of the destroyer. For the extortioner is brought to naught, destruction ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land. And a throne shall be established in lovingkindness; and one shall sit thereon in truth, in the tent of David, judging, and seeking justice, and swift to do righteousness."

This 16th chapter was divided as follows by Hailey: (1) Moab’s hope (Isaiah 16:1-5); (2) Moab’s rejection of this hope (Isaiah 16:6-12); (3) the appointed time for the execution of God’s judgment upon Moab (Isaiah 16:13-14).

As regards these first five verses, there is much uncertainty and disagreement. Who is speaking to whom? Why should Moab send tribute through the capital of Edom, Petra, where it appears that Moab had taken refuge? Rather than explore all of these questions and the various proposed answers, we shall follow the lead of Jamieson, Barnes, Leupold, Delitzsch, and Rawlinson and accept the view that the prophet Isaiah is advising the Moabites to send gifts or tribute of lambs to Jerusalem, thus aligning themselves with the "remnant" who will trust in the ultimate coming of the Messiah, the righteous king who would role in the tent of David, that is, upon the throne of David.

The basic idea of this whole paragraph is that the only hope for Moab (or for anyone else) is the establishment of the kingdom of heaven in Christ. Isaiah’s exhortations for Israel to show compassion and support for Moab in their manifold sorrow, that is, not to betray them, but to hide them, and counsel them, have overtones of the Messianic kingdom.

Note the tragic picture of the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon, where they appear as confused and helpless as a nest of baby birds, scattered and destroyed by a predator. What a pitiful contrast with the hundreds of "the daughters of Moab" who participated in the shameful orgy of Numbers 25! For every shameful and licentious orgy that human beings ever participated in, there must always be a counterpart to it somewhere in their subsequent history by the fords of some spiritual Arnon!

Note also that God referred to these pitiful refuges from destruction as "mine outcasts," thus pinpointing God’s unchanging love of all men. Here is the germ of John 3:16; here is the equivalent of God’s revelation to Paul concerning the corrupt city of Corinth that God had "much people" in that city (Acts 18:10).

"Selah ..." mentioned in Isaiah 16:1 is the Semitic rendition of the Greek [@Petra], meaning, rocky ledge, as in Matthew 16:18, where the word describes the mighty ledge-rock upon which Jesus promised to build his church; and this seems to say that Moab had taken refuge in that rocky fortress which was the capital of Edom.

Isaiah 16:1-2 PREDICAMENT: Moab’s predicament is such that she is in a state of panic (Cf. Isaiah 15:4), Confusion reigns. Isaiah’s compassion for suffering humanity moves him to counsel Moab to plead with Judah for help. When Moab was formerly under the rule of Judah (2 Kings 3:4 ff) Moab paid tribute to Judah in the form of sheep and lambs. Judah protected Moab as long as this arrangement continued. But Moab revolted from the rule of Judah. Now Moab has suffered invasion and enemies are despoiling its people. Isaiah’s advice is for Moab to turn in a submissive attitude, sending a tribute of lambs, to Judah and plead for Judah’s help and protection. If Moab does not, her panic and confusion will increase until she is homeless like a bird whose nest is scattered!

Isaiah 16:3-4 PLEA: Isaiah’s advice continues. The prophet suggests even the words Moab is to use in its plea to Judah. Moab should ask Judah to do a risky thing. Moab is to plead with Judah to give asylum to the displaced refugees; hide them; protect them. Moab is to plead with Judah to act toward them as they never acted toward Judah. Moab is to ask for mercy, justice, compassion and sacrificial goodness.

In the middle of Isaiah 16:4, Isaiah appears to redirect his dialogue from advising Moab to relating a new historical situation that prevails in Judah’s case. Something had apparently occurred to relieve Judah (temporarily) of the oppression of the forces of Assyria so that Judah would be well able to give aid to the refugees of Moab. What caused this present availability of Judah is not recorded but the prophet assures Moab it is present.

Isaiah 16:5 PROMISE: This is a very intriguing verse. It has been considered as a Messianic passage as far back as the time of the Targum (Aramaic translations and interpretations of the Hebrew texts which date in oral form back to the Persian captivities). Isaiah indicates it was taken for granted that the Moabites had some knowledge of the divine purpose in the nation of Judah. The account of Ruth, Naomi and Boaz confirms this. The Moabites were idolaters but they knew the nature of David’s throne. When a disaster faces men they are able to recall a much more complete knowledge of God’s truth than at any other time. Isaiah seems to say, If you come to seek refuge under the wings of Judah we will give you a share even of the best that our heritage has to offers—our Messianic hope. Here is one of the many passages in the prophets where the truth concerning the Christ of the Jews is offered to those of other nations. Israel has a throne with a future, not like the unstable thrones of the most powerful nations round about. This one will be established by virtue of the steadfast love of Jehovah. The throne involves the “tabernacle” (house) of David (Cf. Amos 9:11)—the lineage of David. It involves the rule of One who will judge justly and righteously to a degree never displayed in any earthly ruler (Cf. Isaiah 9:6 ff; Isaiah 11:1-10; Micah 5:2 ff). The very fact that this Messianic hope was offered to Moab (a nation outside the Hebrew covenant) proves once and for all that the Messianic expectations as expressed by the O.T. prophets were not tenuous and vague—they were specific and clear!

Verses 6-12

Isa 16:6-12

Isaiah 16:6-12

"We have heard of the pride of Moab, and that he is very proud; even of his arrogance, and his pride, and his wrath; his boastings are naught. Therefore shall Moab wail for Moab, everyone shall wail: for the raisin-cakes of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn, utterly stricken, For the fields of Heshbon languisheth, and the vine of Sibmah; the lords of the nations have broken down the choice branches thereof, which reached even unto Jazer, which wandered into the wilderness; its shoots were spread abroad, they passed over the sea. Therefore I will weep with the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah; I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for upon thy summer fruits and upon thy harvest the battle shout is fallen. And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the fruitful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither joyful noise: no treader shall tread out wine in the wine presses; I have made the vintage shout to cease. Wherefore my heart soundeth like a harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kirheres. And it shall come to pass when Moab presenteth himself, when he wearieth himself upon the high place, and shall come to his sanctuary to pray, that he shall not prevail."

The rejection of Moab, whether based upon Isaiah’s perception of their deceit and hypocrisy or upon the unwillingness of Moab to seek the true God, appears here to have been founded upon compelling reasons.

We should note the affirmation of scholars like Kelley who considered the gift of lambs from Moab to Jerusalem and their mention of the Davidic kingdom to come as efforts to deceive Israel into giving them refuge. We reject this notion as being absolutely unsupported in the text; and we believe that Moab’s failure to get the refuge they needed was due not to Israel’s unwillingness to give it, but to Moab’s unwillingness to receive it. Throughout this passage, the pride, arrogance, boastfulness and stubbornness of Moab are repeatedly stressed. One may see the duplication of this attitude continually in the unwillingness of evil men to receive the blessing and forgiveness of God.

It is significant that along with such qualities as arrogance, pride, etc., the Moabites’ love of "raisin-cakes" was mentioned. This was not a mere food item, but an essential tool of the pagan religion so dear to the people. The raisin-cakes were customary payments received by the sacred prostitutes of their pagan shrines. Isaiah 16:12 cited the pitiful futility of their religious practices.

"The vine of Sibmah ..." This must indeed have been a famous vine. The reference to its branches going into the wilderness and even "crossing the sea" probably refers to the propagation of the plant throughout Palestine and beyond.

"Isaiah could not but lament the destruction to be meted out to all of the fair and smiling countryside of Moab. In vain, her supplicants would besiege the heathen altars of their high places."

We believe that Hailey’s analysis of this passage is correct and that we have in this paragraph "The reasons for Moab’s rejection of Isaiah’s advice and Jehovah’s offer of refuge." It lay squarely in the same reasons that wicked men still act upon in their denial of heavenly mercy, their pride, arrogance, stubbornness, boastfulness, and self-sufficiency.

Isaiah 16:6-8 ARROGANCE: The haughty pride of Moab was well known. See Isaiah 15:1-9. Moab’s pride led to arrogance, ungodly boasting (even to the point of “magnifying himself against the Lord (Cf. Jeremiah 48:42), and to cruel wrath. Moab evidently paid no attention to the invitation of God’s prophet (Isaiah) to call for help from Judah in a submissive penitent attitude. And, in spite of the terrible warnings of complete destruction, Moab refused Judah’s help. Moab was also famous for its large and luxurious vineyards. It was famous for a delicacy known as “raisin-cakes” which it exported throughout the world. The prophet predicts that these things in which Moab gloried and upon which he depended so much, would soon be completely trampled under the feet of enemy nations marching in conquest of their land.

Isaiah 16:9-12 AGONY: There is in all of us a sentiment akin to agony and horror when we realize there is no hope for the impenitent and rebellious. This was true of Isaiah. Not all Jews hated their enemies! Agony and sorrow swept across the heart-strings of Isaiah with such mournfulness as one hears sweeping across the strings of a lyre played at funerals. Genuine tears of compassion would flow from the eyes of this sensitive man of God for a people about to be debased because of their arrogance. By faith, the prophet could understand God’s revelation of the deep pain and suffering that was about to come upon the Moabites. Isaiah knew that all their flippant, boastful rejoicing in prosperity and abundance would be turned into wailing and lamenting. There would be a cessation of the exuberance shown at every harvest of the vintage. In Israel and Moab the heydad was the peculiar shout raised by those that trod out the grapes in the wine-press. As each foot stamped into the wine-press, this word gave the accompanying shout, which was quite naturally a joyful and enthusiastic one. In place of the joyful harvest shout will be heard the “battle shout.” In their hour of complete devastation the Moabites will go to their pagan sanctuaries and cry out in repetitious prayer to their pagan gods until they are “wearied” with praying, but to no avail. Their wails will be those of those who have no real god, no hope and help.

Verses 13-14

Isa 16:13-14

Isaiah 16:13-14

This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning Moab since that time. 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.

The obvious meaning here is that God’s prophecies against Moab given in time past (either by Isaiah, or by others, or by both) are about to be fulfilled. "In three years precisely the glory of Moab shall be brought low, and only an insignificant remnant shall survive." The way in which Isaiah distinguished between "three years exactly," and "about three years" is interesting. By specifying, "as the years of a hireling," he meant that, "The hired servant serves for the three years exactly. The master sees to it that it shall be no less; the servant takes care that it shall be no more.

Isaiah 16:13-14 ABASEMENT: Isaiah declares that the abasement of Moab spoken so agonizingly in Isaiah 16:6-12 had been predicted by Jehovah many times in the past. Moab’s demise is predicted as far back as the Pentateuch. Now the time limit is precisely ascribed. Three years hence! We do not know exactly when Isaiah made this prophecy. The defeat he refers to was administered at the hands of Shalmaneser IV (727 B.C.) or his successor, Sargon II (722 B.C.), potentates of Assyria. Moab, after the Assyrian conquests, became a wasteland, inhabited by nomadic tribes of desert-people. It remains so to this day. A very small remnant of Moabite people mixed with other nomadic peoples of that area and became the progenitors of those nomadic tribes inhabiting that deserted area today. God keeps His word!