16:1 Send rams as tribute to the ruler of the land, from Sela in the desert to the hill of Daughter Zion.
Isaiah looked into the future and saw the destruction of Moab by the Assyrian Empire.
Isaiah saw the Moabites fleeing south to the city of Sela, which was just outside of Petra. Isaiah command Moab to send a lamb to Israel in the hope that they could re-settle in Jerusalem. The lamb pointed to the Messiah of Israel. The sending of the lamb meant that the Moabites were willing to change their religion and serve Jehovah in Jerusalem.
16:2 At the fords of the Arnon the Moabite women are like a bird that flies about when forced from its nest.
The “fords of the Arnon” was a small river which would not be able to protect the Moabite refugees from the Assyrians. The Moabite women were frustrated and flying around like mother birds who were forced from their nest.
16:3 “Bring a plan, make a decision! Provide some shade in the middle of the day! Hide the fugitives! Do not betray the one who tries to escape.
Isaiah commanded the Moabites to make a decision quickly. Moab needed to hide their fugitives in the shade of Jerusalem.
16:4 Please let the Moabite fugitives live among you. Hide them from the destroyer!” Certainly the one who applies pressure will cease, the destroyer will come to an end, those who trample will disappear from the earth.
Isaiah commanded Jerusalem to allow the Moabites to live inside of Jerusalem so that they could escape the destroyer of Assyria. The destroyer of Assyria was King Sennacherib. Isaiah predicted the eventual fall of this evil king.
16:5 Then a trustworthy king will be established; he will rule in a reliable manner, this one from David’s family. He will be sure to make just decisions and will be experienced in executing justice.
Isaiah predicted that one day, a Messianic king from the Davidic line will sit upon His throne in Jerusalem. He will not be like the evil Assyrian king. He will not send all of the injustices upon Moab and Israel such as those committed by the Assyrians.
16:6 We have heard about Moab’s pride, their great arrogance, their boasting, pride, and excess. But their boastful claims are empty!
Instead of being arrogant, prideful, and boastful, Moab should turn to Jehovah through their neighbor Israel.
16:7 So Moab wails over its demise— they all wail Completely devastated, they moan about what has happened to the raisin cakes of Kir Hareseth.
The Moabites possessed too much pride to accept Jehovah’s offer. Therefore, they would no longer be able to offer raisin cakes to the false demonic gods at the Moabite city Kir Hareseth.
16:8 For the fields of Heshbon are dried up, as well as the vines of Sibmah. The rulers of the nations trample all over its vines, which reach Jazer and spread to the desert; their shoots spread out and cross the sea.
Moab was known for her vineyards. She was the wine capital of the ancient Middle East. Since Moab rejected Jehovah’s offer to live in Jerusalem, then she would see all of her vineyards dry up.
16:9 So I weep along with Jazer over the vines of Sibmah. I will saturate you with my tears, Heshbon and Elealeh, for the conquering invaders shout triumphantly over your fruit and crops.
Moab could not survive without her vineyards. Jehovah was deeply saddened over Moab’s great loss. Isaiah cried for Moab, just as Jehovah cried for Moab.
16:10 Joy and happiness disappear from the orchards, and in the vineyards no one rejoices or shouts; no one treads out juice in the wine vats— I have brought the joyful shouts to an end.
Since the Moabites rejected God’s offer to resettle in Jerusalem, the normal Moabite celebrations at harvest time would never take place again.
16:11 So my heart constantly sighs for Moab, like the strumming of a harp, my inner being sighs for Kir Hareseth.
Since the Moabites rejected God’s offer to resettle in Jerusalem, then Jehovah’s heart mourned for Moab.
16:12 When the Moabites plead with all their might at their high places, and enter their temples to pray, their prayers will be ineffective!
Instead of accepting Jehovah’s offer to resettle in Jerusalem, the Moabites would pray to their false demonic gods at their temple and their high places. However, they would receive no answer.
16:13 This is the message the Lord previously announced about Moab. 16:14 Now the Lord makes this announcement: “Within exactly three years Moab’s splendor will disappear, along with all her many people; there will be just a few, insignificant survivors left.”
Isaiah predicted that the Assyrians would destroy the Moabites within three years. When this local prophecy was fulfilled, then everyone in Judah would know that Isaiah was a true prophet of God. They would know that Jerusalem would not be taken by the Assyrians.