Isaiah 16

Isaiah 16:1

lamb = tribute lamb.

to the ruler = of the ruler: i.e. Judah, as Mesha king of Moab had done (2 Kings 3:4).

Sela. Now Petra (so called by the Romans) in Mount Seir, near Mount Hor (2 Kings 14:7).

Isaiah 16:2

cast out, &c. = a forsaken nest.

be = become.

Isaiah 16:3

Take counsel = Bring advice. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read “Bring thou counsel”.

execute judgment = perform an arbitrator’s duty. Hebrew. pelilah. Occurs only here. Some codices, with seven early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac and Vulgate, read “execute thou”.

Isaiah 16:4

Let Mine outcasts, &c. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read “Let the outcasts”, &c.

dwell = sojourn. Compare 1 Samuel 22:3, 1 Samuel 22:4.

the spoiler: i.e. Sennacherib.

extortioner. Hebrew. muz. Occurs only here.

oppressors = treaders down. Hebrew. ramas. Occurs only here.

Isaiah 16:5

in mercy. The burden goes beyond the immediate future to the ultimate future.

mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.

in truth. See note on Isaiah 10:20.

hasting righteousness = prompt in equity. Compare Isaiah 46:13.

Isaiah 16:6

We. Compare Isaiah 6:8. Genesis 1:26.

his lies shall not be so = his resources do not correspond.

Isaiah 16:7

Kir-hareseth. Some codices read “Kir-harasheth”.

stricken = worn away. Hebrew. naka’. Occurs only here.

Isaiah 16:8

the fields = [as to] the fields. Compare Deuteronomy 32:32. 2 Kings 23:4. Jeremiah 31:40 (feminine).

Heshbon. Compare Isaiah 15:4.

languish = he [Moab] hath enfeebled.

and = supply [as to] and omit the colon.

the vine of Sibmah = Sibmah’s vine.

lords. Probably plural of Majesty for “great lord of the nations”, a title claimed by the kings of Assyria.

heathen = nations.

Jazer. Probably Beit Zer’ah, on the east of Jordan (Numbers 32:1. Joshua 13:25; Joshua 21:39. 2 Samuel 24:5. 1 Chronicles 6:81; 1 Chronicles 26:31. Jeremiah 48:32).

wandered through: or, strayed into.

Isaiah 16:9

water thee = make thee drunk.

Elealeh. See note on Isaiah 15:4.

the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen = on thy summer fruits and thy harvest a war-cry hath fallen,

Isaiah 16:10

plentiful = fruitful.

wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27.

presses = wine-vat. Hebrew. yekeb, not gaih. See note on Isaiah 5:2.

Isaiah 16:11

sound = make a plaintive sound. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia. Hebrew v’kirbi Kir.

Kir-haresh. See note on Isaiah 15:1.

Isaiah 16:12

on. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read “unto”: weary with climbing up to. Compare Isaiah 15:2.

prevail = obtain anything.

Isaiah 16:14

Within. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read “about”.

three years. From the death of Ahaz.

contemned = brought low.

small = few.

feeble = small.