OLD TESTAMENT

Isaiah 16

The Holy Bible · English
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1

Send the lambs for the ruler of the land from Selah to the wilderness, to the mountain of the daughter of Zion.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 1. Petra. Hebrew selah, “the rock.” Bible.—Our Saviour spring from Ruth, the Moabitess. Menochius.—The original may insinuate, that the king of the country had neglected to pay the usual tribute to Juda. 4 Kennicott. 3:4. Calmet.—“Send the lamb to the ruler,” and so forth Tournemine. Amid scenes of distress, the prophet perceives that the Saviour will proceed from one of this nation. Worthington.

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2

For it will be that as wandering birds, as a scattered nest, so will the daughters of Moab be at the fords of the Arnon.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 2. Arnon. They shall not be able to fly over, or to escape the conqueror.

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3

Give counsel! Execute justice! Make your shade like the night in the middle of the noonday! Hide the outcasts! Don’t betray the fugitive!

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 3. Night. Seek a retreat in the darkest places; or protect Israel when they shall flee before the Assyrians. Their cruelty is thus insinuated. Amos 1.

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4

Let my outcasts dwell with you! As for Moab, be a hiding place for him from the face of the destroyer. For the extortionist is brought to nothing. Destruction ceases. The oppressors are consumed out of the land.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 4. Dust. Theglathphalassar. I need not exhort you to receive my people, as I know your dispositions, and they are out of danger. Calmet.

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5

A throne will be established in loving kindness. One will sit on it in truth, in the tent of David, judging, seeking justice, and swift to do righteousness.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 5. Just. This regards Christ, (Saint Jerome) prefigured by ( Bible.) Ezechias. Calmet.

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6

We have heard of the pride of Moab, that he is very proud; even of his arrogance, his pride, and his wrath. His boastings are nothing.

7

Therefore Moab will wail for Moab. Everyone will wail. You will mourn for the raisin cakes of Kir Hareseth, utterly stricken.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 7. Walls. Hebrew “Kir-hareseth.” Calmet. 15:1. Bible.

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8

For the fields of Heshbon languish with the vine of Sibmah. The lords of the nations have broken down its choice branches, which reached even to Jazer, which wandered into the wilderness. Its shoots were spread abroad. They passed over the sea.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 8. Lords. Princes of Jerusalem, (Lamentations 1:1) or of Assyria. Calmet.—Sea. Of Sodom, even as far as Jazer, ( Bible.) in the tribe of Ruben. Calmet.

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9

Therefore I will weep with the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah. I will water you with my tears, Heshbon, and Elealeh: for on your summer fruits and on your harvest the battle shout has fallen.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 9. My tears. Calmet. 15:5. Bible.—I announce a different sort of music from that which is customary in times of harvest, and of vintage. The liquor shall be tears. Calmet. 63:2. Jeremiah 48:32. 33. Calmet.

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10

Gladness is taken away, and joy out of the fruitful field; and in the vineyards there will be no singing, neither joyful noise. Nobody will tread out wine in the presses. I have made the shouting stop.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 10. Carmel. This name is often taken to signify a fair and fruitful hill or field, such as Mount Carmel is. Challoner.—It means, “the vine of God.” Calmet.

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11

Therefore my heart sounds like a harp for Moab, and my inward parts for Kir Heres.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 11. Wall. Kir-hareseth. verse 7. I am grieved at your misfortunes. Calmet.

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12

It will happen that when Moab presents himself, when he wearies himself on the high place, and comes to his sanctuary to pray, that he will not prevail.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 12. Prevail. Chamos shall not be able to help them.

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13

This is the word that the LORD spoke concerning Moab in time past.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 13. That time. A long while ago. Psalms 92:2.

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14

But now the LORD has spoken, saying, “Within three years, as a worker bound by contract would count them, the glory of Moab shall be brought into contempt, with all his great multitude; and the remnant will be very small and feeble.”

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 14. Not many. It was laid waste in the third year of Ezechias. But its final destruction took place only five years after that of Jerusalem. Calmet.—The wars against Moab continued three years, after which it was reduced to servitude. Worthington.

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