Isaiah 16:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, from Sela, by way of the desert, to the mount of the daughter of Zion.

NIV: Send lambs as tribute to the ruler of the land, from Sela, across the desert, to the mount of Daughter Zion.

NASB: Send the tribute lamb to the ruler of the land, From Sela by way of the wilderness to the mountain of the daughter of Zion.

CSB: Send lambs to the ruler of the land, from Sela in the desert to the mountain of Daughter Zion.

NLT: Send lambs from Sela as tribute to the ruler of the land. Send them through the desert to the mountain of beautiful Zion.

KJV: Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.

NKJV: Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, From Sela to the wilderness, To the mount of the daughter of Zion.

This chapter continues Isaiah's oracle from the Lord against the nation of Moab (Isaiah 15). It also serves as a multi-part response to the previous chapter's lament for Moab. Refugees, fleeing from the destruction of their cities, will ask Judah for protection in their land. This verse begins by suggesting a lamb be sent to the ruler of the land. The actual language reads that they should send a "landlord's lamb," meaning a tribute, or payment, to an overlord.

Moab's famous King Mesha paid a regular tribute of lambs and wool to Israel (2 Kings 3:4). This payment went on until Israel's King Ahab died and another king took his place. Isaiah now writes that, as in those days, Moab should send a tribute from Sela to Jerusalem. Sela may refer to the capital of Edom, near Moab's southern border. At the end of chapter 15, the Moabite refugees had just reached the border. It's possible that they retreated to Sela to escape the Assyrians and that they were reaching out to Judah from that city.

Isaiah 16:1–14 begins with an official request to settle in Judah, spoken by Moabite refugees. This request is followed by a declaration that a descendant of David will establish the throne of Israel with love and righteousness when the oppressor is no more. Isaiah points to the arrogance of Moab regarding their abundance. This pride will be shown to be empty talk since it can be taken away in a night. Isaiah calls everyone to wail for Moab's losses and weep for the end of the grape harvest and its products. He reveals the judgment will fall in three years.

The refugees of Moab send a tribute to Jerusalem and make an official request to shelter in Judah due to the oppression of the enemy in their own land. After the oppressor is no more, the throne of the Messiah will be established in Israel. Moab's pride and arrogance about their abundance are revealed to be empty talk since it can all be taken away in a night. Isaiah calls everyone to wail and mourn for the suffering of Moab. He weeps for the loss of the grape harvest. The prophet announces this judgement will happen in three years.

Prior chapters included predictions about Assyria, Babylon, and Philistia. Chapter 15 introduces a prophecy about an enemy invading Moab. Chapter 16 finds the Moabite refugees in Sela. They ask Judah for shelter. Isaiah points to the pride and arrogance of Moab about their wealth that can be taken away in a single night. He calls everyone to mourn with him for the loss of the grape harvest and its products in Moab. The Moabites' prayers to their god will not prevent judgment from falling on them in three years. The next prophecy, in chapter 17, deals with Damascus.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).

Accessed 11/5/2024 10:00:46 PM