Chapter Overview
Summary
Isaiah 16 closes the MOAB ORACLE — Moab's plea-for-asylum-in-Judah (vv. 1–5) is rejected because of Moabite-pride (vv. 6–14). Verse 5's 'a throne will be established in steadfast love, and on it will sit in faithfulness in the tent of David' is a Messianic-Davidic-promise inserted-mid-oracle.
Notable Variants
16:1 'send the lamb to the ruler of the land' Moab's-tribute; 16:5 Davidic-throne Messianic-promise; 16:6 'we have heard of the pride of Moab'; the chapter's-ending oracular-time-stamp ('within three years').
Structural Notes
MT Isaiah 16 = LXX Isaiah 16. 14 verses. Closes MOAB-ORACLE.
Send lambs to the ruler of the land, from Sela through the desert to the mount of Daughter Zion.
'Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, from Sela, by way of the desert, to the mount of the daughter of Zion' tracks MT. LAMB-TO-RULER — Moab's-tribute-payment. The Sela-to-Zion path. Lamb-imagery indirectly Christological.
Like a fluttering bird, a nest sent scattering, so are the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon.
'Like fleeing birds, like a scattered nest, so are the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon' tracks MT.
Bring counsel! Render a decision! Make your shade like night in the glare of noon. Hide the outcasts; do not betray the fugitive.
'Give counsel; grant justice; make your shade like night at the height of noon; shelter the outcasts; do not reveal the fugitive' tracks MT. SHELTER-OUTCASTS — refugee-protection ethic. The Moabite-plea for asylum.
Let the outcasts of Moab dwell with you; be a shelter for them from the destroyer. For the oppressor will come to an end, the destruction will cease, the trampler will vanish from the land.
'Let the outcasts of Moab sojourn among you; be a shelter to them from the destroyer. When the oppressor is no more, and destruction has ceased, and he who tramples underfoot has vanished from the land' tracks MT.
Then a throne will be established in covenant loyalty, and on it will sit in faithfulness, in the booth of David, one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness.
'Then a throne will be established in steadfast love, and on it will sit in faithfulness in the tent of David one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness' tracks MT. DAVIDIC-THRONE-IN-CHESED. Messianic-Davidic insertion mid-Moab-oracle. Jeremiah 23:5 ('a righteous Branch'), Luke 1:32–33 ('the throne of his father David') Christologically-extends. The Messianic-king becomes-Moab's-best-hope-of-safe-asylum.
We have heard of the pride of Moab — how very proud he is! — his arrogance, his pride, his insolence. His empty boasts amount to nothing.
'We have heard of the pride of Moab — how proud he is! — of his arrogance, his pride, and his insolence; in his idle boasting he is not right' tracks MT. MOAB'S-PRIDE — same diagnosis as for-Babylon at chapter 14.
Therefore Moab wails for Moab — all of it wails! For the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth you moan, utterly stricken.
'Therefore let Moab wail for Moab; let everyone wail. Mourn, utterly stricken, for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth' tracks MT.
For the terraced fields of Heshbon wither, the vine of Sibmah — whose choice branches struck down the lords of nations. They reached as far as Jazer, they wandered into the desert; her shoots spread out and crossed the sea.
'For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah; the lords of the nations have struck down its branches, which reached to Jazer and strayed to the desert; its shoots spread abroad and passed over the sea' tracks MT.
Therefore I weep with the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah. I drench you with my tears, Heshbon and Elealeh! For over your summer fruit and your harvest the battle cry has fallen.
'Therefore I weep with the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah; I drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh; for over your summer fruit and your harvest the shout has ceased' tracks MT. I-WEEP-FOR-MOAB. Divine-tears in-judgment. Luke 19:41 (Jesus-weeping-over-Jerusalem) Christologically-extends — judgment-with-tears.
Joy and gladness are gathered away from the orchards; in the vineyards no one sings, no one shouts. No treader treads out wine in the presses. I have silenced the vintage shout.
'And joy and gladness are taken away from the fruitful field, and in the vineyards no songs are sung, no cheers are raised; no treader treads out wine in the presses; I have put an end to the shouting' tracks MT.
Therefore my inner being moans like a lyre for Moab, my inmost self for Kir-heres.
'Therefore my inner parts moan like a lyre for Moab, and my inmost self for Kir-heres' tracks MT.
And when Moab appears, when he wears himself out on the high place and comes to his sanctuary to pray, he will not prevail.
'And when Moab presents himself, when he wearies himself on the high place, when he comes to his sanctuary to pray, he will not prevail' tracks MT.
This is the word that the LORD spoke concerning Moab long ago.
'This is the word that the LORD spoke concerning Moab in the past' tracks MT.
But now the LORD has spoken: 'Within three years — counted like the years of a hired laborer — the glory of Moab will be brought into contempt, with all its great multitude. And the remnant will be very few, small and without strength.'
'But now the LORD has spoken, saying: In three years, like the years of a hired worker, the glory of Moab will be brought into contempt, in spite of all his great multitude, and those who remain will be very few and feeble' tracks MT. THREE-YEAR ORACULAR-TIMESTAMP — specific-historical-prediction.