Isaiah 16:9-14

9 Therefore I will weep with the weeping of Ya`zer for the vine of Sivmah; I will water you with my tears, Heshbon, and El`aleh: for on your summer fruits and on your harvest the [battle] shout is fallen.

10 Gladness is taken away, and joy out of the fruitful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither joyful noise: nobody shall tread out wine in the presses; I have made the [vintage] shout to cease.

11 Why my heart sounds like a harp for Mo'av, and my inward parts for Kir-Heres.

12 It shall happen, when Mo'av presents himself, when he wearies himself on the high place, and shall come to his sanctuary to pray, that he shall not prevail.

13 This is the word that the LORD spoke concerning Mo'av in time past.

14 But now the LORD has spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of a hireling, the glory of Mo'av shall be brought into contempt, with all his great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and of no account.

Isaiah 16:9-14 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.