Isaiah 16 explained: Moab's Pride and Moab's Grief

Lambs sent to Jerusalem (vv. 1-2)

Moab had once paid tribute in lambs to Israel's kings, and here it is told to send lambs to Mount Zion in Jerusalem; some read this as serious advice to seek Judah's protection, others as a call to offer sacrifice to God, and others as irony that it is now too late. Meanwhile Moab's people are pictured as young birds pushed from the nest, scrambling at the fords of the Arnon, the river on Moab's border.

A plea for safe hiding (vv. 3-4a)

Many scholars read this as Moab's refugees begging Judah to be like deep night shade at blazing noon, meaning complete shelter, and not to hand them over to their pursuers. Others read it as advice to Moab to shelter Judah's own refugees, and the Hebrew allows both.

A just king from David's line (vv. 4b-5)

Once the invader, probably the Assyrian empire, is gone, a king from David's family will rule with steady love and faithfulness, quick to do what is right. Christians have often read this as pointing ahead to Jesus.

Pride and ruined vineyards (vv. 6-10)

The poem turns to Moab's arrogance and empty boasting as the reason for its ruin, and Moab mourns even for the prized raisin cakes of its fortress city Kir Hareseth. Its famous vineyards around Heshbon, Sibmah and Jazer have been trampled by foreign armies, and the happy shouts of the grape harvest have gone silent.

Grief and useless prayers (vv. 11-12)

The speaker mourns for Moab, his inner self quivering like the strings of a plucked harp. Moab's people wear themselves out at hilltop shrines to their god Chemosh, but their prayers change nothing.

A fixed deadline (vv. 13-14)

Earlier warnings about Moab now get a firm limit of three years, counted as exactly as a hired worker counts the time on his contract. Moab's glory will be humbled and only a few weak survivors left; which invasion fulfilled this is uncertain, though many link it to Assyrian campaigns.

Key verse: Isaiah 16:6

Where Christians differ

Readers differ over whether the just king of verse 5 is a near king such as Hezekiah, a future messiah, or both at once.

Something to think about

Is it possible to believe someone brought their trouble on themselves and still grieve for them honestly?