---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Isaiah 16"
description: "CHAPTER 16   :-. CONTINUATION OF THE
PROPHECY AS TO MOAB. 1. lamb—advice of the prophet
to the Moabites who had fled southwards to Idumea, to send to the"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/16"
---

CHAPTER 16

. CONTINUATION OF THE
PROPHECY AS TO MOAB.

**1. lamb**—advice of the prophet
to the Moabites who had fled southwards to Idumea, to send to the
king of Judah the tribute of lambs, which they had formerly paid to
*Israel,* but which they had given up ([2 Kings 3:4](../../../kjv/2-kings/3/4);
[2 Kings 3:5](../../../kjv/2-kings/3/5)). David probably imposed
this tribute before the severance of Judah and Israel ([2 Kings 3:5](../../../kjv/2-kings/3/5)). Therefore Moab is recommended to gain the favor and
protection of *Judah,* by paying it to the Jewish king. Type of
the need of submitting to Messiah ([Psalms 2:10-12](../../../kjv/psalms/2/10-12);
[Romans 12:1](../../../kjv/romans/12/1)).
**from Sela to**—rather,
"from Petra *through* (literally, 'towards') the
wilderness" [MAURER].
"Sela" means "a rock," *Petra* in *Greek;*
the capital of Idumea and Arabia-Petræa; the dwellings are mostly
hewn out of the rock. The country around was a vast common
("wilderness") or open pasturage, to which the Moabites had
fled on the invasion from the west ([Romans 12:1](../../../kjv/romans/12/1)).
**ruler of the land**—namely,
of *Idumea,* that is, the king of Judah; Amaziah had become
master of Idumea and Sela ([Romans 12:1](../../../kjv/romans/12/1)).

**2. cast out of . . . nest**—rather,
"as a *brood* cast out" (in apposition with "a
wandering bird," or rather, *wandering birds*), namely, a
brood just fledged and expelled from the nest in which they were
hatched [HORSLEY]. Compare
[Isaiah 10:14](../../../kjv/isaiah/10/14); [Deuteronomy 32:11](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/32/11).
**daughters of Moab**—that
is, the inhabitants of Moab. So [2 Kings 19:21](../../../kjv/2-kings/19/21);
[Psalms 48:11](../../../kjv/psalms/48/11); [Jeremiah 46:11](../../../kjv/jeremiah/46/11);
[Lamentations 4:22](../../../kjv/lamentations/4/22) [MAURER].
**at the fords**—trying to
cross the boundary river of Moab, in order to escape out of the land.
EWALD and MAURER
make "fords" a poetical expression for "*the
dwellers* on Arnon," answering to the parallel clause of the
same sense, "daughters of Moab."

**3-5.** GESENIUS,
MAURER, c., regard these
verses as an address of the fugitive Moabites to the Jews for
protection they translate [Isaiah 16:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/16/4),
"Let mine outcasts *of Moab* dwell with thee, Judah";
the protection will be refused by the *Jews,* for the pride of
Moab ([Isaiah 16:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/16/6)). VITRINGA
makes it an additional advice *to Moab,* besides paying tribute.
Give shelter to the Jewish outcasts who take refuge in thy land
([Isaiah 16:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/16/3); [Isaiah 16:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/16/4));
so "mercy" will be shown thee in turn by whatever king sits
on the "throne" of "David" ([Isaiah 16:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/16/4)). Isaiah foresees that Moab will be too *proud* to pay
the tribute, or conciliate Judah by sheltering its outcasts ([Isaiah 16:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/16/4)); therefore judgment shall be executed. However, as Moab
just before is represented as itself an *outcast* in Idumea, it
seems incongruous that it should be called on to *shelter*
Jewish outcasts. So that it seems rather to foretell the ruined state
of Moab *when its people should beg the Jews for shelter,* but
be refused for their pride.
**make . . . shadow as . . .
night . . . in . . . noonday**—emblem of a thick shelter from the
glaring noonday heat ([Isaiah 4:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/4/6);
[Isaiah 25:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/25/4); [Isaiah 32:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/32/2)).
**bewray . . . wandereth**—Betray
not the fugitive to his pursuer.

**4.** Rather, "Let the
outcasts of Moab dwell with thee" (Judah) [HORSLEY].
**for the extortioner,**
&c.—The Assyrian *oppressor* probably.
**is at an end**—By the
time that Moab begs Judah for shelter, Judah shall be in a condition
to afford it, *for* the Assyrian oppressor shall have been
"consumed out of the land."

**5.** If Judah shelters the
suppliant Moab, allowing him to remain in Idumea, a blessing will
redound to Judah itself and its "throne."
**truth . . . judgment . . .
righteousness**—language so divinely framed as to apply to "the
latter days" under King Messiah, when "the Lord shall bring
again the captivity of Moab" ([Psalms 72:2](../../../kjv/psalms/72/2);
[Psalms 96:13](../../../kjv/psalms/96/13); [Psalms 98:9](../../../kjv/psalms/98/9);
[Jeremiah 48:47](../../../kjv/jeremiah/48/47); [Romans 11:12](../../../kjv/romans/11/12)).
**hasting**—"prompt in
executing."

**6. We**—Jews. We reject Moab's
supplication for his pride.
**lies**—false boasts.
**not be so**—rather, "not
right"; shall prove vain ([Isaiah 25:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/25/10);
[Jeremiah 48:29](../../../kjv/jeremiah/48/29); [Jeremiah 48:30](../../../kjv/jeremiah/48/30);
[Zephaniah 2:8](../../../kjv/zephaniah/2/8)). "It shall not be
so; his lies shall not so effect it."

**7. Therefore**—all hope of being
allowed shelter by the Jews being cut off.
**foundations**—that is,
"ruins"; because, when houses are pulled down, the
"foundations" alone are left (). Jeremiah, in the parallel place (), renders it "men," who are the moral foundations
or stay of a city.
**Kirhareseth**—literally,
"a citadel of brick."
**surely they are
stricken**—rather, joined with "mourn"; "Ye shall
mourn *utterly* stricken" [MAURER
and HORSLEY].

**8. fields**—vine-fields ().
**vine of Sibmah**—near
Heshbon: namely, languishes.
**lords of . . . heathen**—The
heathen princes, the Assyrians, c., who invaded Moab, destroyed his
vines. So Jeremiah in the parallel place ([Jeremiah 48:32](../../../kjv/jeremiah/48/32)
[Jeremiah 48:33](../../../kjv/jeremiah/48/33)). MAURER
thinks the following words require rather the rendering, "Its
(the vine of Sibmah) shoots (the wines got from them) overpowered (by
its generous flavor and potency) the lords of the nations"
([Genesis 49:11](../../../kjv/genesis/49/11); [Genesis 49:12](../../../kjv/genesis/49/12);
[Genesis 49:22](../../../kjv/genesis/49/22)).
**come . . . Jazer**—They
(the vine shoots) reached even to Jazer, fifteen miles from Heshbon.
**wandered**—They overran
in wild luxuriance the wilderness of Arabia, encompassing Moab.
**the sea**—the Dead Sea;
or else some lake near Jazer now dry; in [Genesis 49:22](../../../kjv/genesis/49/22) called "the sea of Jazer"; but see on [Genesis 49:22](../../../kjv/genesis/49/22) ([Psalms 80:8-11](../../../kjv/psalms/80/8-11)).

**9. I**—will bewail for its
desolation, though I belong to another nation (see on ).
**with . . . weeping of
Jazer**—as Jazer weeps.
**shouting for . . .
fallen**—rather, "*Upon* thy summer fruits and upon thy
*luxuriant vines* the shouting (*the battle shout,* instead
of the *joyous shout* of the grape-gatherers, usual at the
vintage) is fallen" ([Isaiah 16:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/16/10);
[Jeremiah 25:30](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/30); [Jeremiah 51:14](../../../kjv/jeremiah/51/14)).
In the parallel passage ([Jeremiah 51:14](../../../kjv/jeremiah/51/14)) the words substantially express the same sense. "The
*spoiler* is fallen upon thy summer fruits."

**10. gladness**—such as is felt
in gathering a rich harvest. There shall be *no harvest* or
vintage owing to the desolation; therefore no "gladness."

**11. bowels**—in Scripture the
seat of yearning compassion. It means the inward seat of emotion, the
heart, c. ([Isaiah 63:15](../../../kjv/isaiah/63/15) compare
[Isaiah 15:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/15/5); [Jeremiah 48:36](../../../kjv/jeremiah/48/36)).
**sound . . . harp**—as its
strings vibrate when beaten with the plectrum or hand.

**12. when it is seen that**—rather,
"When Moab shall have *appeared* (before his gods; compare
[Exodus 23:15](../../../kjv/exodus/23/15)), *when* he is
weary (that is, when he shall have fatigued himself with observing
burdensome rites; [1 Kings 18:26](../../../kjv/1-kings/18/26),
c.), on the high place (compare [1 Kings 18:26](../../../kjv/1-kings/18/26)), *and* shall come to his sanctuary (of the idol
Chemosh on Mount Nebo) to pray, he shall not prevail" he shall
effect nothing by his prayers [MAURER].

**13. since that time**—rather,
"respecting that time" [HORSLEY].
BARNES translates it,
"*formerly*" in contrast to "but *now*"
([Isaiah 16:14](../../../kjv/isaiah/16/14)): heretofore former
prophecies ([Exodus 15:15](../../../kjv/exodus/15/15); [Numbers 21:29](../../../kjv/numbers/21/29))
have been given as to Moab, of which Isaiah has given the substance:
*but now* a definite and steady *time* also is fixed.

**14. three years . . . hireling**—Just
as a hireling has his fixed term of engagement, which neither he nor
his master will allow to be added to or to be taken from, so the
limit within which Moab is to fall is unalterably fixed (). Fulfilled about the time when the Assyrians led Israel
into captivity. The ruins of Elealeh, Heshbon, Medeba, Dibon, &c.,
still exist to confirm the inspiration of Scripture. The accurate
*particularity of specification* of the places three thousand
years ago, confirmed by modern research, is a strong testimony to the
truth of prophecy.

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