Isaiah Chapter 16 — The Lament and Prophecy for Moab
Isaiah calls for Moab's outcasts to find shelter in Zion while prophesying the downfall of Moab's pride and the establishment of a just Davidic throne.
1Send the lambs for the ruler of the land from Selah to the wilderness, to the mountain of the daughter of Zion.
2For it will be that as wandering birds, as a scattered nest, so will the daughters of Moab be at the fords of the Arnon.
3Give counsel! Execute justice! Make your shade like the night in the middle of the noonday! Hide the outcasts! Don’t betray the fugitive!
4Let my outcasts dwell with you! As for Moab, be a hiding place for him from the face of the destroyer. For the extortionist is brought to nothing. Destruction ceases. The oppressors are consumed out of the land.
5A throne will be established in loving kindness. One will sit on it in truth, in the tent of David, judging, seeking justice, and swift to do righteousness.
6We have heard of the pride of Moab, that he is very proud; even of his arrogance, his pride, and his wrath. His boastings are nothing.
7Therefore Moab will wail for Moab. Everyone will wail. You will mourn for the raisin cakes of Kir Hareseth, utterly stricken.
8For the fields of Heshbon languish with the vine of Sibmah. The lords of the nations have broken down its choice branches, which reached even to Jazer, which wandered into the wilderness. Its shoots were spread abroad. They passed over the sea.
9Therefore I will weep with the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah. I will water you with my tears, Heshbon, and Elealeh: for on your summer fruits and on your harvest the battle shout has fallen.
10Gladness is taken away, and joy out of the fruitful field; and in the vineyards there will be no singing, neither joyful noise. Nobody will tread out wine in the presses. I have made the shouting stop.
11Therefore my heart sounds like a harp for Moab, and my inward parts for Kir Heres.
12It will happen that when Moab presents himself, when he wearies himself on the high place, and comes to his sanctuary to pray, that he will not prevail.
13This is the word that the LORD spoke concerning Moab in time past.
14But now the LORD has spoken, saying, “Within three years, as a worker bound by contract would count them, the glory of Moab shall be brought into contempt, with all his great multitude; and the remnant will be very small and feeble.”
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Isaiah 16:3
“Give counsel! Execute justice! Make your shade like the night in the middle of the noonday! Hide the outcasts! Don’t betray the fugitive!”
This verse emphasizes the moral duty to provide sanctuary and protection for those fleeing destruction.
Isaiah 16:5
“A throne will be established in loving kindness. One will sit on it in truth, in the tent of David, judging, seeking justice, and swift to do righteousness.”
This verse points toward a future of stable, righteous leadership within the Davidic line.
Chapter Summary
Isaiah 16 continues the prophecy against the nation of Moab. The chapter begins with an appeal to send tribute to the ruler in Jerusalem and a request for Judah to provide sanctuary for Moabite refugees. A significant promise is made regarding a future throne in the tent of David characterized by loving-kindness, truth, and justice. However, the text highlights Moab's excessive pride and arrogance as the reason for its impending doom. The prophecy describes a great mourning as Moab’s agricultural prosperity, including its famous vineyards and summer fruits, is completely devastated. Even the prophet expresses deep sorrow, his heart sounding like a harp for Moab's suffering. The chapter concludes with a specific timeline, stating that Moab’s glory will vanish within three years, leaving only a small and feeble remnant. This judgment serves as a reminder of the consequences of pride and the necessity of seeking righteousness.
Frequently Asked Questions
The message is a mix of a call for Moab to seek refuge in Zion and a prediction of its downfall. While it encourages the protection of Moabite fugitives, it also rebukes the nation for its extreme pride and arrogance.
The 'tent of David' refers to the royal line and kingdom of David. The text envisions a future ruler sitting on a throne characterized by truth, justice, and loving-kindness, contrasting with the chaos of the surrounding nations.
The chapter concludes with a specific time frame, stating that the glory of Moab would be brought into contempt within three years. This period was to be counted as strictly as a worker bound by contract would track their time.
Study Note
The mention of 'raisin cakes' in verse 7 refers to a delicacy often used in cultic celebrations, signaling the total loss of Moab's religious and cultural joy.
Related Chapters
Isaiah 15
Isaiah 15 begins the prophecy against Moab, providing the context for the lament continued in chapter 16.
Jeremiah 48
Jeremiah 48 contains a similar and expanded prophecy concerning the judgment and pride of Moab.
Amos 2
The book of Amos also contains short prophecies regarding the judgment of Moab and other neighboring nations.
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