Isaiah 25:9-12

The humiliation of Moab. The heading in Isaiah 25:9 marks this as a distinct section. It might indeed be supposed, from the phrase "in this mountain" in Isaiah 25:10, and the use of future tenses in 10 12, that the song of praise ends with Isaiah 25:9 and that 10 12 are the continuation of Isaiah 25:8. But this is unlikely. The express naming of Moab is not in the manner of the main apocalyptic prophecy, while to take Moab as a symbolic name for the enemies of God in general is hazardous, as being opposed to Old Testament usage. The violent contrast between the spirit of Isaiah 25:6 and that of Isaiah 25:10 rather favours the supposition that the latter was a separate composition. In any event, we must assume that so passionate an outburst of indignation against Moab was called forth by some special circumstance, although it is not possible to connect it with any known historic occasion.