Isaiah 16:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "Give counsel; grant justice; make your shade like night at the height of noon; shelter the outcasts; do not reveal the fugitive;

NIV: "Make up your mind," Moab says. "Render a decision. Make your shadow like night— at high noon. Hide the fugitives, do not betray the refugees.

NASB: 'Give us advice, make a decision; Cast your shadow like night at high noon; Hide the outcasts, do not betray the fugitive.

CSB: Give us counsel and make a decision. Shelter us at noonday with shade that is as dark as night. Hide the refugees; do not betray the one who flees.

NLT: 'Help us,' they cry. 'Defend us against our enemies. Protect us from their relentless attack. Do not betray us now that we have escaped.

KJV: Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth.

NKJV: “Take counsel, execute judgment; Make your shadow like the night in the middle of the day; Hide the outcasts, Do not betray him who escapes.

The survivors of the slaughter of Moab's cities are on the run. Their invaders may have been the Assyrian army. These refugees travelled south into the nation of Edom to escape the massacre. Now they are asking Judah for asylum until it is safe to return to their own land (Isaiah 16:1–2). The request itself begins here.

The people of Moab (Genesis 19:34–37) are neighbors of Judah, living on the west side of the Dead Sea. Historically, the Moabites were frequent enemies of Israel (Numbers 23:7; 25:1; Judges 3:12–14; 2 Kings 3:5). The people of Moab reach out to the leaders of Judah and ask them to "give counsel" or "declare your decision." They ask for justice or fairness for those on the run from harm.

Using poetic language that would have been well understood by all desert-dwellers, the Moabites make their request. They ask Judah to make a "shade for them" that is as dark as night even during the middle of the day. The picture is of a rock overhang or cave in the middle of a blisteringly sunny day in the desert. Covering, including from the sun, is a common biblical metaphor for physical protection (Psalm 17:8; Isaiah 51:6).

Finally, the Moabites ask the leaders of Judah to allow these fleeing people to conceal themselves, without revealing them to their enemies. The remnant of Moab wants Judah to let them hide out in their territory.

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).