Isaiah 16:1-14

The Moabites now in Sela, a city of Edom (2 Kings 14:7 *; cf. Judges 1:36, mg.*), exhort each other to send the tribute of lambs once paid to Israel (2 Kings 3:4) to Jerusalem to secure her protection and shelter, since Edom was under the suzerainty of Judah. Judah can protect the Moabites, for it is under a righteous government. But the prayer is rejected, for the arrogance of Moab (Isaiah 25:11) is such that its flattery of Judah must be insincere. So Moab must mourn still more, lamenting for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth (in Isaiah 16:11 Kir-heres, probably identical with Kir of Moab). The vineyards of Heshbon, the vines of Sibmah languish, whose vintage was so choice that it was drunk by monarchs, so strong that it overcame them, accustomed though they would be to powerful intoxicants. The poet shares the grief of Jazer (15 miles N. of Heshbon), for the vintage is all ruined. Though the poet's compassion is moved at the desolation, the prayers of the doomed people cannot avert it.

Isaiah 16:2. Out of place. The Moabites are here back at the fords of Arnon (Numbers 21:13 *), timid and irresolute. It breaks the connexion between Isaiah 16:1 and Isaiah 16:3.

Isaiah 16:7. raisin-cakes: grapes pressed together in the form of a cake used at religious festivals (p. 99, Hosea 3:1 *).

Isaiah 16:8. Poetically the author describes the vines under the figure of a single vine branching out to Jazer on the north, to the desert on the east, and the Dead Sea on the west.

Isaiah 16:9 f. The word rendered battle shout is the same as that rendered vintage shout. It is the technical name for the shout of the wine-treaders as they press the grapes. There will be a vintage shout, but it will be that of the soldiers as they trample the vineyards down; cf. Jeremiah 48:33, the shouting shall be no shouting.

Isaiah 16:11. As the harp responds to the touch of the musician, so the poet's heart is moved by the sorrows of Moab.

Isaiah 16:13 f. The preceding prophecy was spoken in time past, but now in three years precisely the glory of Moab shall be brought low, and only an insignificant remnant be spared.

Isaiah 16:14. The hired servant serves for the stipulated period exactly. The master sees to it that it shall be no less, the servant takes care that it shall be no more.