Isaiah 16:7-14

7 Therefore the Moabites wail, they wail together for Moab. Lament and grieve for the raisin cakes of Kir Hareseth.

8 The fields of Heshbon wither, the vines of Sibmah also. The rulers of the nations have trampled down the choicest vines, which once reached Jazer and spread toward the desert. Their shoots spread out and went as far as the sea.^[a]

9 So I weep, as Jazer weeps, for the vines of Sibmah. Heshbon and Elealeh, I drench you with tears! The shouts of joy over your ripened fruit and over your harvests have been stilled.

10 Joy and gladness are taken away from the orchards; no one sings or shouts in the vineyards; no one treads out wine at the presses, for I have put an end to the shouting.

11 My heart laments for Moab like a harp, my inmost being for Kir Hareseth.

12 When Moab appears at her high place, she only wears herself out; when she goes to her shrine to pray, it is to no avail.

13 This is the word the LORD has already spoken concerning Moab.

14 But now the LORD says: “Within three years, as a servant bound by contract would count them, Moab’s splendor and all her many people will be despised, and her survivors will be very few and feeble.”

Isaiah 16:7-14 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.

Cross References

• 1. S Isaiah 13:6; Jeremiah 48:20; Jeremiah 49:3
• 2. S 1 Chronicles 16:3
• 3. S 2 Kings 3:25
• 4. S Numbers 21:25
• 5. S Isaiah 15:6
• 6. S Numbers 32:3
• 7. S Isaiah 5:2
• 8. S Numbers 21:32
• 9. S Job 8:16
• 10. Psalms 80:11
• 11. S Isaiah 15:3; Ezekiel 27:31
• 12. S Numbers 32:3
• 13. S Job 7:3
• 14. S Ezra 3:13
• 15. Jeremiah 40:12
• 16. Isaiah 24:7-8
• 17. Jeremiah 25:30
• 18. S Judges 9:27
• 19. S Job 24:11; S Isaiah 5:2
• 20. S Isaiah 15:5
• 21. S Job 30:31
• 22. Isaiah 63:15; Hosea 11:8; Philippians 2:1
• 23. 1 Kings 11:7
• 24. S Isaiah 15:2
• 25. S 1 Kings 18:29; Psalms 115:4-7; Isaiah 44:17-18; 1 Corinthians 8:4
• 26. Isaiah 20:3; Isaiah 37:30
• 27. S Leviticus 25:50
• 28. S Leviticus 19:13
• 29. Isaiah 25:10; Jeremiah 48:42
• 30. Isaiah 21:17

Footnotes

• [a]. Probably the Dead Sea