Isaiah 16:2

2 And it shall be, as a fowl flying, and (as) birds flying away from the nest, so shall be the daughters of Moab, in the passing over of Arnon. (And it shall be, that like a flying bird, and like birds flying away from the nest, so shall be the daughters of Moab at the fords, or on the banks, of the Arnon River.)

Isaiah 16:2 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 16:2

For it shall be
Or, "otherwise it shall be" F26; if ye do not pay this tribute: [that] as a wandering bird cast out of the nest:
or, "as a wandering bird, the nest sent out": that is, as a bird that has forsaken its nest, and wanders about, and its young ones are turned out of the nest, scarcely fledged, and unable to shift for themselves, but flutter about here and there, trembling and frightened, see ( Proverbs 26:2 ) : [so] the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon:
turned out of their houses, wandering up and down, not knowing where to go; unable to help themselves, and in the utmost fright and consternation, fleeing to the very borders of their land, as the fords of Arnon were, see ( Numbers 21:13 Numbers 21:14 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F26 (hyhw) "alioqui", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Isaiah 16:2 In-Context

1 Lord, send thou out a lamb, (to) the lordly governor of [the] earth, from the stone of desert, to the hill of the daughter of Zion. (Lord, let them send out a lamb, from Sela in the wilderness, to the governor of the land, yea, to the hill of the daughter of Zion.)
2 And it shall be, as a fowl flying, and (as) birds flying away from the nest, so shall be the daughters of Moab, in the passing over of Arnon. (And it shall be, that like a flying bird, and like birds flying away from the nest, so shall be the daughters of Moab at the fords, or on the banks, of the Arnon River.)
3 Take thou counsel, constrain thou counsel; set thou as night thy shadow in midday, hide thou them that flee, and betray thou not men of unsteadfast dwelling. (Take thou counsel, or advice, and constrain thou counsel; make thou thy shadow like the night at midday, hide thou them who flee away, and betray thou not those of unsteadfast dwelling.)
4 My fleers-away shall dwell at thee. Moab, be thou the hiding place of them from the face of the destroyer. For why dust is ended, the wretched is wasted; he that defouled the land failed. (My fleers-away shall live with thee. Moab, be thou their hiding place from the face of the destroyer. For the destroyer is ended, the wretchful is wasted, he who defiled the land hath failed.)
5 And the king's seat shall be made ready in mercy, and he shall sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David, deeming, and seeking doom, and yielding swiftly that that is just. (And the king's throne shall be prepared in mercy, and he shall sit on it in truth, in the house of David, judging, and seeking justice, and swiftly yielding what is just, or what is right.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.