Old Testament Commentary - Isaiah 16

by Don R. Hender


Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
           CHAPTER 16            

Moab is condemned and her people shall sorrow—Messiah shall sit on David's throne, seeking judgment and hasting righteousness.

  1 SEND ye the lamb to the aruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Ziona.
  2 For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of aArnon.
 1a Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion The 'lamb' would be Christ. Sela is considered to be the same as the fortified city at Petra. The 'mount of the daughter of Zion' is Jerusalem. And between, perhaps due to the vast destruction there is to be found but wilderness. It seems that those who are left of Moab are to be drawn unto Christ. In consideration of that destruction which does shortly precede his coming, the wicked are destroyed and the more righteous parts of the people remain, similar to what occured in the Book of Mormon with the destruction there just prior to the Savior's visit to those people.  1a Ezra 5:1
 3a D&C 88:63; TG Repentance
      3 Ne. 10:6

  3 aTake counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth.
  4 aLet mine boutcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land.
  5 And in amercy shall the bthrone be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of Davida, judging, and seeking judgment, and chasting drighteousness.
 5a he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David Christ will sit upon what is to be considered David's throne and there to set forth judgment.  1a Ezra 5:1
 3a D&C 88:63; TG Repentance
      3 Ne. 10:6

  6 ¶ aWe have heard of the bpride of Moab; he is very proud: even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: but his lies shall not be so.
  7 Therefore shall Moab ahowl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of bKir-hareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken.
  8 For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come even unto aJazer, they wandered through the wilderness: her branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea.
 1a Ezra 5:1
 3a D&C 88:63; TG Repentance
      3 Ne. 10:6

  9 ¶ Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen.
  10 And agladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall there be shouting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses; I have made their vintage shouting to cease.
  11 Wherefore my abowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kir-haresh.
  12 ¶ And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to apray; but he shall not prevail.
  13 This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning aMoab since that time.
  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.