Isaiah 16:14

But now the LORD hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and feeble. WITHIN THREE YEARS, AS THE YEARS OF AN HIRELING. Just as a hireling has his fixed term of engagement, which neither he nor his master will allow to be added to or taken from, so the limit within which Moab is to fall is unalterably fixed (). Fulfilled about the time when the Assyrian led Israel into captivity. The ruins of Elealeh, Heshbon, Medeba, Dibon, etc., still exist to confirm the inspiration of Scripture. The accurate particularity of specification of the places 3,000 years ago, confirmed by modern research, is a strong testimony to the truth of prophecy. Remarks: How wise it is to submit with tokens of heartfelt allegiance to the...

14._Three years. _The time is fixed, not only for the sake of certainty, but likewise that believers may not become faint through longer delay. He alludes to agreements among men, in which it is customary to fix the time agreed on, which the parties are not at liberty to transgress. This is especially the case in the labors of _hirelings_, from whom Scripture frequently draws a comparison in this respect, that they earnestly long for the appointed day when they shall receive their reward; for they groan, as it were, under the burden, and grievously dislike their daily toils. (Job 7:1.) In this way the Lord says, that he fixes a day for the Moabites, in which they shall not escape from the entire destruction of their power. _With all his multitude. _He expressly mentions a _multitude_, because their number was great, and because they boasted of it, and thought that

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 w...

Verse Isaiah 16:14. _WITHIN THREE YEARS_] בשלש _beshalish_ כשלש keshalish, according, or _in or about three years_, is the reading of nine of _Kennicott's_ and _De Rossi's_ MSS., and _two_ ancient editions. But the _present reading_ may well stand: "Now, the Lord hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of a hireling." It seems as if this prophecy had been delivered before, without any time specified for its fulfilment; but now the time is determined - "in three years, as the years of a hireling" - for, as a _hireling_ counts even to a single day, and will not abide with his employer an hour beyond the time agreed on; so, in _three_ _years_, even to a day, from the delivery of this prophecy, shall destruction come upon Moab. This is the import of the present text; but if we take כשלש _keshalish_, AS in thre

BUT NOW THE LORD HATH SPOKEN - This refers to the particular and specific prophecy of Isaiah that destruction should come upon them in three years. Instead of a “general but indefinite” prediction of calamity to the Moabites, such as had been uttered by the former prophets, or by Isaiah himself before, it was now specific and definite in regard to the “time” when it should be fulfilled. WITHIN THREE YEARS - We have no means of ascertaining the exact fulfillment of this prediction, nor do we certainly know by whom it was accomplished. AS THE YEARS OF AN HIRELING - A man that is hired has a certain time specified during which he is to labor; the years, the months, the days for which he is engaged are agreed on, nor will he suffer any addition to be made to it. So the prophet says that the very time is fixed. It shall not be varied. It will be adhered to by God -

EXPOSITION ISAIAH 16:1 THE BURDEN OF MOAB (CONTINUED). This portion of the "burden" is divided into three sections. In section 1 (from Isaiah 16:1 to the end of Isaiah 16:5) an offer of mercy is made to Moab on certain conditions, viz. that she return to her allegiance to the house of David, and show kindness to fugitive Israelites. In section 2 (Isaiah 16:6) she is supposed to have rejected this offer, and is threatened (as in Isaiah 15:1

BUT NOW THE LORD HATH SPOKEN,.... Something else. What follows is a distinct prophecy from the former, and has a date annexed to it, when it should be fulfilled: the former prophecy relates to the utter destruction of the Moabites by the Babylonians, in the times of Nebuchadnezzar; of which Jeremiah, Jeremiah 48:1 prophesies, in much the same language as Isaiah; and so Jarchi observes, that the final destruction of Moab was by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar: but this was of a lesser nature, and to be accomplished in a short time, either by Shalmaneser, or by Sennacherib king of Assyria, or Esarhaddon his son: SAYING, WITHIN THREE YEARS, AS THE YEAR OF AN HIRELING; that is, precisely and exactly three years, neither more nor fewer, neither sooner nor later; as whatever time is agreed upon by an hireling, as soon as ever it is out, which he often thinks of, and counts exactly,

CHAPTER 16 The Burden of Moab Continued 1. _God's call to Moab to repent (Isaiah 16:1)_ 2. _Moab's pride and judgment (Isaiah 16:6)_ The fifteenth and sixteenth Chapter s form one prophecy. Moab's land bordered on the land of Israel. The historical facts concerning Moab may be studied and followed through the following passages: 1 Samuel 14:47; 2Sa 8:2; 2 Kings 1:11; 2 Kings 3:4; 2Ch 20:1-37; 2 Kings 8:20 ;

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, p

WITHIN. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "about". THREE YEARS. From the death of Ahaz. CONTEMNED. brought low. SMALL. few. FEEBLE. small....