What does Isaiah 16:4 mean?
Isaiah's oracle is pointing forward to a time after the destruction of Moab (Isaiah 15). At this time, the surviving refugees will send a messenger to Judah (Isaiah 16:1–2) to request that they be allowed to shelter there until it is safe to return to Moab (Isaiah 16:3–4). The request becomes more direct here. The survivors bluntly ask Judah if they can dwell among them. They are asking for sanctuary from the "destroyer," likely the Assyrian army. It's as simple as that. Will Judah allow the remnant of Moab to hide in their territory from the Assyrians?According to most modern conservative commentators, the following verse makes a surprising reference to the Messiah (Isaiah 16:5). The Moabite speaker, who is making the request of Judah, begins here by looking to a time when the oppressor has been defeated and destruction has stopped. He refers to the Assyrians as the one who "tramples underfoot." In other words, the Assyrian war machine ran over everyone in its path. This leader of Moab understands that even the Assyrians' time will end. He looks forward to what is to happen after that comes to pass.