Isaiah 16:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Therefore let Moab wail for Moab, let everyone wail. Mourn, utterly stricken, for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth.

NIV: Therefore the Moabites wail, they wail together for Moab. Lament and grieve for the raisin cakes of Kir Hareseth.

NASB: Therefore Moab will wail; everyone of Moab will wail. You will moan for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth As those who are utterly stricken.

CSB: Therefore let Moab wail; let every one of them wail for Moab. You who are completely devastated, mourn for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth.

NLT: The entire land of Moab weeps. Yes, everyone in Moab mourns for the cakes of raisins from Kir-hareseth. They are all gone now.

KJV: Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken.

NKJV: Therefore Moab shall wail for Moab; Everyone shall wail. For the foundations of Kir Hareseth you shall mourn; Surely they are stricken.

Judah's response to Moab's request for shelter seems to be a direct "no" (Isaiah 16:6). This answer seems like a response to the Moabite arrogance and audacity demonstrated before the attacks came and laid waste to their cities. It is the Lord who is bringing this judgment in the first place. The Moabites' destroyers were likely the Assyrians.

The prophet now bluntly says to let Moab worry about Moab's hardship: they can cry for themselves. Separately, others can mourn for the tragedy and loss being inflicted. Taken out of context, the command to grieve the loss of raisin cakes seems absurd. How could food compare to the loss of life and homes and all the displaced refugees? On the other hand, to be overwhelmed by a sense of loss for common comforts is often the trigger which opens the floodgate of mourning. Raisin cakes were small blocks of pressed fruit commonly eaten in the surrounding nations.

The notable absence of raisin cakes fits perfectly with the metaphor of the grape vines Isaiah describes in the following verses (Isaiah 16:8–10).

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 5/3/2024 11:00:24 PM