Isaiah 16:6. We have heard of the pride of Moab— These words exhibit the effect or success of the counsel. The prophet shews that the Moabites would not receive, but despise it; the cause whereof he shews to be, the arrogance and pride of the nation; and the immediate cause of that pride, he tells us, are the diviners and vain speakers who excited the Moabites against the Jews, and promised them prosperity of a long continuance; whose vain speeches are called by the prophet, the not-right, the vanity of the divines, and so the last clause should be rendered; the futility or iniquity of his diviners. See Vitringa.

Isaiah 16:8. For the fields, &c.— For the fields of Heshbon are put to shame; the vine of Sibmah languisheth, whose generous shoots overpowered the mighty lords of the nations: they reached unto Jazer; they strayed to the desert; her branches extended themselves, they passed over the sea. The literal meaning of the verse is, "This vine of Sibmah, famous for its fruits, had extended its branches so widely, that they had reached to the lake Jazer, nay, and had even crossed over that lake; i.e. filling its banks they had overshadowed part of it, as if they were about to cross over it."

Isaiah 16:9. For the shouting, &c.— For, upon thy summer-fruits, and upon thy vintage, the destroyer hath fallen. Lowth. The meaning of the phrase, I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer, or, I will lament with the lamentation of Jazer, the vine of Sibmah, is, "I mingle my tears with the tears of the citizens of Jazer and Sibmah, for the devastation which shall happen to their fields and vineyards."

Isaiah 16:12. On the high place— The meaning of the verse is, that the Moabites, as their last efforts, should go to their altars, there to perform their sacred rites, to appease the anger of their deity; but, wearied herewith, they should enter into the sanctuary, into some more sacred and celebrated sanctuary of their god Chemosh, to pour forth their earnest supplications and prayers; but should obtain nothing. This therefore is the last calamity of the Moabites, that struggling with so great evils they should fly to the help of their gods, whom they worshipped with the greatest superstition, and in their extremity should seek help from them; should weary themselves at their altars, should supplicate in their temples, should prostrate themselves before their shrines, but obtain nothing; thus proving the vanity of their superstition, and the imbecility of those false deities on whom they trusted. See Vitringa.