> [[isaiah-15|← Previous]] | [[isaiah-00|TOC]] | [[isaiah-17|Next →]] --- # Isaiah, Chapter 16 ## Chapter 16 1 Send them forth, hugging the earth like reptiles, ^isaiah-16-1 from Sela across the desert, to the mount of daughter Zion. 2 Like flushed birds, ^isaiah-16-2 like scattered nestlings, Are the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon. 3 Offer counsel, take their part; ^isaiah-16-3 at high noon make your shade like the night; Hide the outcasts, do not betray the fugitives. 4 Let the outcasts of Moab live with you, ^isaiah-16-4 be their shelter from the destroyer. When there is an end to the oppressor, when destruction has ceased, and the marauders have vanished from the land, 5 A throne shall be set up in mercy, ^isaiah-16-5 and on it shall sit in fidelity, in David’s tent, A judge upholding right, prompt to do justice. 6 We have heard of the pride of Moab, ^isaiah-16-6 how very proud he is, Of his haughtiness, pride, and arrogance that his empty words do not match. 7 Therefore let Moab wail, ^isaiah-16-7 let everyone wail for Moab; For the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth let them sigh, stricken with grief. 8 The terraced slopes of Heshbon languish, ^isaiah-16-8 the vines of Sibmah, Whose clusters once overpowered the lords of nations, Reaching as far as Jazer winding through the wilderness, Whose branches spread forth, crossing over the sea. 9 Therefore I weep with Jazer ^isaiah-16-9 for the vines of Sibmah; I drench you with my tears, Heshbon and Elealeh; For on your summer fruits and harvests the battle cry has fallen. 10 From the orchards are taken away ^isaiah-16-10 joy and gladness, In the vineyards there is no singing, no shout of joy; In the wine presses no one treads grapes, the vintage shout is stilled. 11 Therefore for Moab ^isaiah-16-11 my heart moans like a lyre, my inmost being for Kir-hareseth. 12 When Moab wears himself out on the high places, ^isaiah-16-12 and enters his sanctuary to pray, it shall avail him nothing. 13 That is the word the LORD spoke against Moab in times past. ^isaiah-16-13 14 But now the LORD speaks: In three years, like the years of a hired laborer, the glory of Moab shall be empty despite all its great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and weak. ^isaiah-16-14 \* (16:1) Send them forth: the Hebrew text is disturbed; it could also be understood to refer to tribute (a lamb) sent from Moab to Zion, presumably to encourage the king to receive the Moabite refugees. \* (16:2) The Arnon: principal river of Moab. \* (16:3] – [5) Directed to Jerusalem, which should receive the suffering Moabites with mercy, as befits the city of David’s family, who were partly descended from Ruth the Moabite; and cf. [1 Sm 22:3] – [4]. This would be a gracious act on Judah’s part, since its relations with Moab were strained at best. \* (16:7] – [14) Moab had been prosperous; now it has become a desert. \* (16:7) Raisin cakes: masses of dried compressed grapes used as food (cf. [2 Sm 6:19]; [[1-chronicles-16|1 Chr 16]]:3; [Sg 2:5]), and also in the worship of other gods ([Hos 3:1]). \* (16:8) Wilderness: i.e., eastward. Sea: i.e., westward. \* (16:9] – [10) Battle cry…shout of joy: the same Hebrew word (*hedad*), which normally refers to the joyful shout of those treading the grapes (cf. [Jer 25:30]), here is used both for the triumphant shout of the enemy (v. [9]) and for the vintagers’ shout, which has ceased. \* (16:12) In vain do the Moabites appeal to their god Chemosh. \* (16:13] – [14) A prose application of the preceding poetic oracle against Moab ([15:1] – [16:12]); cf. [Jer 4:8]. Like the years of a hired laborer: the fixed period of time for which the hired laborer contracted his services; cf. [[isaiah-21|Is 21]]:16. a. (16:2) [Nm 21:13]. b. (16:5) [Is 9:6]; [11:3] – [4]; [32:1]; [Jer 23:5]; [Ps 89:14]; [Prv 20:28]. c. (16:6) [Jer 48:29] – [30]. d. (16:9) [[isaiah-15|Is 15]]:5; [Jer 48:32]. e. (16:10) [[isaiah-24|Is 24]]:8. f. (16:11) [[isaiah-15|Is 15]]:5; [Jer 48:36]. g. (16:12) [Jer 48:13]. h. (16:14) [Dt 15:18]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[isaiah-15|← Previous]] | [[isaiah-00|TOC]] | [[isaiah-17|Next →]]