Moab Seeks Shelter in Judah
Study note
Isaiah advises the Moabite refugees to send tribute to the ruler in Jerusalem and to seek protection in Judah. The language suggests that Moab's people are like frightened birds thrown from their nest, scattered at the river crossings. Isaiah calls on Judah to provide shelter for these refugees and to hide the outcasts. Verse 5 offers a glimpse of the future Messiah, a ruler from the line of David who will sit on a throne established in mercy and will faithfully seek justice and righteousness.
1 Send lambs as a payment to the ruler of the land. Ship them from Sela across the desert to the mountain of Zion. Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.
2 The women of Moab are like scared birds pushed out of their nests. They flutter around helplessly at the places where people cross the Arnon River. For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.
3 "Give us your advice! Make a decision! Shade us at noon with a shadow as dark as night. Shelter the refugees. Do not hand over the people who are running for their lives." Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth.
4 "Let Moab's refugees find shelter with you. Protect them from the one trying to destroy them." When the oppressor is gone, the destruction is over, and the one who crushes people has vanished from the land, Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land.
5 then a throne will be set up, built on mercy. Sitting on it will be a faithful ruler from David's family. He will judge with fairness and work tirelessly for justice. And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.
The Devastation of Moab's Vineyards
Study note
Moab was famous for its pride, and that pride will be its downfall. The nation's celebrated vineyards, which once spread far and wide, will be destroyed. The vineyards of Sibmah and the fields of Heshbon will wither. The joyful shouts of harvest will be silenced, and no one will stomp grapes in the winepresses. Isaiah weeps alongside the people of Moab, expressing genuine grief. Even though Moab is an enemy of Israel, God's prophet feels deep compassion for their suffering.
6 We have all heard about how proud Moab is — exceedingly proud. We have heard about their arrogance, their boasting, and their rage. But all their big talk amounts to nothing. We have heard of the pride of Moab; he is very proud: even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: but his lies shall not be so.
7 So everyone in Moab will cry for each other. The whole country will mourn. People will grieve for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth, heartbroken through and through. Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kir-hareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken.
8 The farmlands of Heshbon have dried up, and the grapevines of Sibmah have been ruined. Foreign rulers trampled the best vines — vines that once stretched all the way to Jazer, spread into the desert, and reached across the sea. For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come even unto Jazer, they wandered through the wilderness: her branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea.
9 I weep along with the people of Jazer for the vines of Sibmah. I drench you with my tears, Heshbon and Elealeh, because the happy shouts of your harvest celebrations have gone silent. Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen.
10 All the happiness has been stripped from the fields and vineyards. No one sings anymore. No one shouts with joy. No one stomps grapes in the winepresses. I have brought the cheerful shouting to an end. And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall there be shouting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses; I have made their vintage shouting to cease.
11 My heart mourns for Moab like a harp playing a sad song. Deep inside, I ache for Kir-haresh. Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kir-haresh.
Moab's Final Deadline
Study note
When Moab goes to its temples and prays to its gods on the high places, it will do no good. Their gods are powerless. Then God gives a specific timeline: within three years, counted precisely like the years of a hired worker who watches the clock, Moab's glory will be completely gone. Only a tiny, weak remnant will be left. This shows that God's prophecies are specific and will happen exactly as he says.
12 When the Moabites go up to their hilltop temples to pray, they will exhaust themselves. When they go to their sacred places to pray, nothing will come of it. And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray; but he shall not prevail.
13 This is the message the Lord spoke about Moab some time ago. This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning Moab since that time.
14 But now the Lord says, "Within exactly three years, counted like a worker counting the days of a contract, Moab's glory will be treated as worthless. Out of their huge population, only a tiny, weak remnant will be left." But now the LORD hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and feeble.