Глава 16

“From the rock of the desert to the mountain daughter Zion” (Is. 16:1). The prophet points to the borders of the land of Moab, which extended to the borders of the land of Judah. “And Moab shall be in her exile, like a bird that changes its nest.” With these words, the prophet depicts the haste and fear of the migrating Moabites, moving from one place to another. “And the daughters of Moab will be abandoned” (Is. 16:2), that is, the cities of Moab will be abandoned, because their inhabitants will go to the crossing of the Arnon. “Apply your wits, take advice,” ask the fortune-tellers, consult with them, make a sacrifice, find out from your sages how to get rid of what has befallen you. “Create for yourself a shadow like night... in the middle of the day,” that is, look for where to hide among the disasters surrounding you. “Hide... those who wander, so that they are not taken captive” (Is. 16:3). The Prophet laughs (mocks) at the Moabites and their idols. “Be for them protection... from the face of the persecutor who pursues. The dust is gone, trampled upon perishing” (Is. 16:4). The prophet speaks of the death of the Assyrian army and calls it dust, because the wicked are like dust blown by the wind. “And the throne will be straightened with mercy” (Is. 16:5), that is, the throne of King Hezekiah and his descendants will be established. “The son of Moab is proud of his hearing, he is very proud.” The prophet shows that the cause of all the disasters that befell the Moabites was pride. “His arrogance, pride and irritability” (Is. 16:6). The reason for this was the strongholds (walls) of the Moabites, which is why they considered themselves safe. But the strongholds were destroyed, and the soothsayers did not tell the Moabites what would befall them. “For this reason Moab will weep... everyone will weep like the sick” (Is. 16:7), like the sick who have no way to alleviate their illness and restore their strength. “The fields of Heshbon are empty, because there is no one to sow and reap the harvest, and the grapes of Shebaman.” This is what the prophet calls the land of Moab. “The owners of tongues cut off its branches - that is, they took the inhabitants captive and took them to a foreign land - they even reached Jazer, wandered in the desert, and continued their journey through the sea” (Is. 16:8). The Prophet indicates the places where those taken into captivity stayed and where they came. “For this sake I will weep like the lament of Jazira for the grapes of Sevamani.” Just as I wept for the destruction of Jazir and the captivity of its inhabitants, so I will weep for you, O grape of Sevaman. “I will water you with your tears, O Heshbon and Eliala (Eleala), for a predator has attacked your harvest and the fence of your wines” (Is. 16:9), that is, the king of Assyria, who trampled underfoot and did not spare anything. “And the joy will be taken away from the Nurse” (Is. 16:10). The prophet calls the Moabites the helmsman. “For this reason my belly shall cry like a harp against Moab” (Is. 16:11). He will proclaim what punishment awaits the Moabites. “And when Moab sees that he is weary... for those who demand” (Is. 16:12). When the Moabites realize that the sacrifices they make to idols on the heights are useless, and the tears shed before them do not help, then they will turn to the gods of other nations and want to come and pray in the sanctuary of Jerusalem. But their enemies will not allow them to do this. “This word about the captivity to which the Moabites will be subjected, that is, the decree spoken by God about the Moabites, is what the Lord ... always spoke” (Is. 16:13), that is, he spoke about the king of Moab, Balak, who sent for the soothsayer Balaam so that he would curse the Israelites. And this definition of the captivity of the Moabites is confirmed by God now, saying: “In three years of the mercenary, that is, after three years, the glory of Moab will be dishonored, everything predetermined by God will be fulfilled on the Moabites, and he will remain humble and dishonest” (Is. 16:14), that is, rare of the Moabites will escape captivity, to which Sennacherib will subject them to his invasion. You might be interested in: