16
📚“Send the lamb to the ruler ofthe land from Sela to
the wilderness,
to the mount of the daughter
of Zion.
16:1 Moab did this in former years (2 Sam 8:2; 2 Kings 3:4-5). This is probably advice spoken by the Moabites among themselves.⚜
2 📚For it will happen that
the daughters of Moab will be
at the fords of the Arnon,
like a wandering bird thrown
out of the nest.
3 📚“Take counsel,
execute judgment,
make your shadow like night
in the middle of the day.
Hide those driven out.
Do not betray the fugitive.
4 📚Let my outcasts stay
with you, O Moab.
Be a shelter to them
from the presence
of the destroyer”.
For the extortioner will come
to an end,
Destruction will cease.
The oppressors will vanish
from the land.
16:2-4 The reason for the exhortation in v 1 is the hope of finding refuge from an invading army.⚜
5 📚And in mercy the throne
will be established;
and one will sit on it in truth,
in the tabernacle of David,
judging and seeking justice,
and quickly bringing
righteousness”.
16:5 The last part of v 4 and this verse speak of better times for both Judah and Moab (see Jer 48:47). God’s grace will be displayed in the raising up of a king from David’s royal house. The language of this verse suggests the Messiah (compare Isa 9:7; 11:4-5). When He rules Moab will share in the blessings of Zion.⚜
6 📚We have heard of the pride
of Moab,
of his great pride,
of his haughtiness and his pride
and his wrath;
but his boasts are false.
16:6 Jer 48:29-30. Pride does not need good reasons for its existence – it can create its own reasons. ⚜
7 📚Therefore 📖 Moab will wail
for Moab,
everyone will wail.
You will mourn for the foundations
of Kir Hareseth;
surely they are struck down.
8 📚For the fields of Heshbon,
and the vine of Sibmah,
languish.
The rulers of the nations have
broken down its choice plants,
which reached as far as Jazer,
and wandered through
the desert.
Her branches were spread out;
they have gone over the sea 📖
9 📚Therefore,
with the weeping of Jazer
I will weep for the vine
of Sibmah.
I will water you with my tears,
O Heshbon, and Elealeh;
for the shouting over your
summer fruits and for
your harvest has failed.
10 📚And gladness and joy
have been taken away
from the plentiful field.
And in the vineyards there will be
no singing,
nor will there be shouting.
Those who tread out wine will have
none to tread in
their presses.
I have put a stop to
their shouting.
11 📚Therefore my inner being
intones like a harp for Moab,
and my inward parts lament
for Kir Haresh.
16:9-11 Jer 48:31-36; see notes at Jer 48:30-39. Here it is either the prophet who grieves over Moab or the LORD (see the last line of v 10). In Jer 48:36 it is certainly God Himself.⚜
12 📚And this will happen:
when it is seen that
Moab is weary on
the high place,
he will come to his
sanctuary to pray;
but he will not prevail.
16:12 The worship and prayer of the people were useless. Just judgment must fall on them because of their pride and wickedness.⚜
13 📚This is the word
that the LORD has spoken
previously concerning Moab.
14 📚But now the LORD has spoken,
saying, “Within three years,
as a hired man counts
the years,
the glory of Moab will be despised
with all that great multitude;
and those who remain will be
very few and feeble”.