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Isaiah 16:2-12

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2 Like fleeing birds, like a scattered nest, so are the daughters of Moab at 1the fords of the Arnon.
3 “Give counsel; grant justice; 2make your shade like night at the height of noon; shelter the outcasts; do not reveal the fugitive;
4 let 3the outcasts of Moab sojourn among you; be a shelter to them[a] from the destroyer. When the oppressor is no more, and destruction has ceased, and he who tramples underfoot has vanished from the land,
5 4then a throne will be established in steadfast love, and on it will sit in faithfulness in the tent of David one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness. ”
6 5We have heard of the pride of Moab—how proud he is! — 6of his arrogance, his pride, and his insolence; in his idle boasting he is not right.
7 Therefore let Moab wail for Moab, 7let everyone wail. Mourn, utterly stricken, for the 8raisin cakes of 9Kir-hareseth.
8 For the fields of Heshbon languish, and 10the vine of Sibmah; the lords of the nations have struck down its branches, which reached to Jazer and strayed to the desert; its shoots spread abroad and passed over the sea.
9 Therefore 11I weep with 12the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah; I drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh; for over 13your summer fruit and your harvest the shout has ceased.
10 14And joy and gladness are taken away from 15the fruitful field, and in the vineyards no 16songs are sung, no cheers are raised; no 17treader treads out wine 18in the presses; I have put an end to the shouting.
11 Therefore 19my inner parts moan like a lyre for Moab, and my inmost self for Kir-hareseth.
12 And when Moab presents himself, when 20he wearies himself on 21the high place, when he comes to his sanctuary to pray, he will not prevail.
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Isaiah 16:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 16

This chapter is a continuation of the prophecy against Moab; in which the prophet gives good advice, but in case of a haughty neglect of it, which he foresaw, threatens with ruin, and fixes a time for it. He advises the Moabites to pay their tribute to the king of Judah, or otherwise they should be turned out of their land, as a bird out of its nest, Isa 16:1,2 to protect, and not betray the people of the Jews that should flee to them, because of the Assyrian army, Isa 16:3,4 and for this end gives a great character of the king of Judah, and assures them of the stability of his kingdom, Isa 16:5 but for their pride, wrath, and lying, they are threatened with destruction, and are represented as howling under it, Isa 16:6,7 because of the spoil of their cities, vineyards, and fields, so that they have no harvest, nor vintage, nor gathering of summer fruits, or joy on these accounts, Isa 16:8-10 for which even the prophet expresses a concern, Isa 16:11 and after having observed the application of the Moabites to their gods without success, Isa 16:12 the chapter is closed with an assurance of the certain ruin of Moab, and of the time when it should be, Isa 16:13,14.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
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Cross References 21

  • 1. 16:2 Judg. 11:18
  • 2. 16:3 [1 Kgs. 18:4]
  • 3. 16:4 1 Sam. 22:3
  • 4. 16:5 ch. 32:1, 2; Dan. 7:14, 27; Mic. 4:7; Luke 1:33
  • 5. 16:6 Jer. 48:29; Zeph. 2:10
  • 6. 16:6 Judg. 3:14; 2 Kgs. 13:20; [2 Chr. 20:1]
  • 7. 16:7 ch. 15:3
  • 8. 16:7 2 Sam. 6:19; [ver. 9]
  • 9. 16:7 2 Kgs. 3:25; [ch. 15:1]
  • 10. 16:8 Jer. 48:32
  • 11. 16:9 [ch. 15:5]
  • 12. 16:9 [See ver. 8 above]
  • 13. 16:9 [ver. 7]
  • 14. 16:10 Jer. 48:33
  • 15. 16:10 [ch. 9:3]
  • 16. 16:10 [Judg. 9:27]
  • 17. 16:10 ch. 63:3; Jer. 25:30
  • 18. 16:10 ch. 5:2
  • 19. 16:11 ch. 15:5; Jer. 48:36
  • 20. 16:12 [1 Kgs. 18:29]
  • 21. 16:12 ch. 15:2; [Num. 22:41; 23:14, 28]

Footnotes 1

  • [a] 16:4 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac; Masoretic Text 'let my outcasts sojourn among you; as for Moab, be a shelter to them'
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025

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