Isaías 16

1 Envíen corderos de Sela como tributo
al gobernante de la tierra.
Envíenlos a través del desierto
hasta el monte de la hermosa Sión.

2 Las mujeres de Moab fueron abandonadas como aves sin nido
en los vados del río Arnón.

3 «Ayúdennos —claman—,
defiéndannos de nuestros enemigos.
Protéjannos de sus ataques implacables;
no nos traicionen ahora que hemos escapado.

4 Permitan que nuestros refugiados se queden entre ustedes;
escóndanlos de nuestros enemigos hasta que haya pasado el terror».
Cuando hayan terminado la opresión y la destrucción,
y hayan desaparecido los saqueadores enemigos,

5 Dios establecerá como rey a uno de los descendientes de David.
Él reinará con misericordia y verdad;
hará siempre lo que es justo
y estará deseoso de hacer lo correcto.

6 Hemos oído hablar del soberbio Moab,
de su orgullo, de su arrogancia y de su furia;
pero todo su alarde ha desaparecido.

7 Toda la tierra de Moab llora;
sí, todos se lamentan en Moab
por los pasteles de pasas de Kir-hareset.
Ya no queda ninguno.

8 Las granjas de Hesbón están abandonadas;
los viñedos de Sibma están desiertos.
Los gobernantes de las naciones han quebrantado a Moab,
esa vid tan hermosa.
Sus zarcillos se extendían hacia el norte hasta la ciudad de Jazer
y trepaban hacia el oriente hasta entrar en el desierto.
Sus sarmientos se extendían tan lejos hacia el occidente
que cruzaban por encima del mar Muerto.

9 Así que ahora lloro por Jazer y por los viñedos de Sibma;
mis lágrimas correrán por Hesbón y Eleale.
Ya no hay gritos de júbilo
por sus frutos de verano y sus cosechas.

10 Se acabó la alegría;
desapareció el gozo de la cosecha.
No habrá cantos en los viñedos
ni más gritos felices,
ni se pisarán las uvas en los lagares.
Yo puse fin a la alegría por sus cosechas.

11 El clamor de mi corazón por Moab es como el lamento de un arpa;
estoy lleno de angustia por Kir-hareset.

12 El pueblo de Moab rendirá culto en sus santuarios paganos,
pero no le servirá de nada.
Clamará a los dioses en sus templos,
pero nadie lo podrá salvar.

13 El Señor
ya ha dicho estas cosas acerca de Moab en el pasado.

14 Pero ahora, el Señor
dice: «Dentro de tres años, contando cada día,
se acabará la gloria de Moab. De su gran población, solo unos cuantos de su pueblo quedarán vivos».

Isaías 16 Commentary

Chapter 16

Moab is exhorted to yield obedience. (1-5) The pride and the judgments of Moab. (6-14)

Verses 1-5 God tells sinners what they may do to prevent ruin; so he does to Moab. Let them send the tribute they formerly engaged to pay to Judah. Take it as good advice. Break off thy sins by righteousness, it may lengthen thy quiet. And this may be applied to the great gospel duty of submission to Christ. Send him the lamb, the best you have, yourselves a living sacrifice. When you come to God, the great Ruler, come in the name of the Lamb, the Lamb of God. Those who will not submit to Christ, shall be as a bird that wanders from her nest, which shall be snatched up by the next bird of prey. Those who will not yield to the fear of God, shall be made to yield to the fear of every thing else. He advises them to be kind to the seed of Israel. Those that expect to find favour when in trouble themselves, must show favour to those in trouble. What is here said concerning the throne of Hezekiah, also belongs, in a much higher sense, to the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Though by subjection to Him we may not enjoy worldly riches or honours, but may be exposed to poverty and contempt, we shall have peace of conscience and eternal life.

Verses 6-14 Those who will not be counselled, cannot be helped. More souls are ruined by pride than by any other sin whatever. Also, the very proud are commonly very passionate. With lies many seek to gain the gratification of pride and passion, but they shall not compass proud and angry projects. Moab was famous for fields and vineyards; but they shall be laid waste by the invading army. God can soon turn laughter into mourning, and joy into heaviness. In God let us always rejoice with holy triumph; in earthly things let us always rejoice with holy trembling. The prophet looks with concern on the desolations of such a pleasant country; it causes inward grief. The false gods of Moab are unable to help; and the God of Israel, the only true God, can and will make good what he has spoken. Let Moab know her ruin is very near, and prepare. The most awful declarations of Divine wrath, discover the way of escape to those who take warning. There is no escape, but by submission to the Son of David, and devoting ourselves to him. And, at length, when the appointed time comes, all the glory, prosperity, and multitude of the wicked shall perish.

Chapter Summary

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.