Isaiah 16

Isaiah 16:1-14 . 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 2 Kings 3:5 ). David probably imposed this tribute before the severance of Judah and Israel ( 2 Samuel 8:2 ). 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 , 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 ( Isaiah 15:7 ).
ruler of the land--namely, of Idumea, that is, the king of Judah; Amaziah had become master of Idumea and Sela ( 2 Kings 14:7 ).

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 , Deuteronomy 32:11 .
daughters of Moab--that is, the inhabitants of Moab. So 2 Kings 19:21 , Psalms 48:11 , Jeremiah 46:11 , 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 , "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 ). 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 Isaiah 16:4 ); so "mercy" will be shown thee in turn by whatever king sits on the "throne" of "David" ( Isaiah 16:5 ). Isaiah foresees that Moab will be too proud to pay the tribute, or conciliate Judah by sheltering its outcasts ( Isaiah 16:6 ); 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 , 25:4 , 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."