Isaiah 16:12
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When Moab appears on the high place, when he wearies himself and enters his sanctuary to pray, it will do him no good.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
The ultimate reason for this restlessness is, that Moab does not know the living God. "And it will come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary with weeping upon the mountain height, and enters into its sanctuary to pray, it will not gain anything." נלאה נראה, a pictorial assonance, such as Isaiah delights in. נראה .ni st is transferred from the Israelitish worship (appearance before God in His temple) to the heathen; syntactically, si apparuerit, etc., with Vav before the apodosis. It would be with the Moabites as with the priests of Baal in the time of Elijah (Kg1 18:26.).
Open source ↗This chapter continues and concludes the burden of Moab. In it, I. The prophet gives good counsel to the Moabites, to reform what was amiss among them, and particularly to be kind to God's people, as the likeliest way to prevent the judgments before threatened (Isa 16:1-5). II. Fearing they would not take this counsel (they were so proud), he goes on to foretel the lamentable devastation of their country, and the confusion they should be brought to, and this within three years (Isa 16:6-14).
Open source ↗16:12 The hilltops were sites for pagan shrines (see 15:2). • No one will be able to save them, including the idols the Moabites called on for protection (see 40:18-19; 44:18-19).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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Dibon goes up to its temple to weep at its high places. Moab wails over Nebo, as well as over Medeba. Every head is shaved, every beard is cut off.
Midday passed, and they kept on raving until the time of the evening sacrifice. But there was no response; no one answered, no one paid attention.
In Moab, declares the LORD, I will bring an end to those who make offerings on the high places and burn incense to their gods.
So Balak took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, where he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
Because you trust in your works and treasures, you too will be captured, and Chemosh will go into exile with his priests and officials.
Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh have perished; for your sons have been taken into exile and your daughters have gone into captivity.
And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the wasteland.
So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
You are wearied by your many counselors; let them come forward now and save you— your astrologers who observe the stars, who monthly predict your fate.
Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.