Isaiah 16:1-6

1 Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land, from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.

2 For it shall be that as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.

3 "Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts, betray not him that wandereth.

4 Let Mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the despoiler; for the extortioner is at an end, the despoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land.

5 And in mercy shall the throne be established; and He shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging and seeking judgment and hastening righteousness."

6 We have heard of the pride of Moab--he is very proud" even of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath; but his lies shall not be so.

Isaiah 16:1-6 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.