Isaiah 16:12

“And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, &c.] With weeping there, (<231502>Isaiah 15:2) or with frequent sacrifices, and going from one high place to another, as Balak king of Moab did; and by comparing places together, it looks as if this was the way of the Moabites in their distress, to offer up a multitude of sacrifices in different places; now, when it should be seen by others, and appear to themselves, that they wearied themselves in vain, and all their cries and sacrifices were to no purpose, they should then be ashamed of them, leave off, and betake themselves to some other method; though Jarchi interprets it of their being weary of fighting on…”

“when it is seen that--rather, "When Moab shall have appeared (before his gods; compare Exo 23:15), when he is weary (that is, when he shall have fatigued himself with observing burdensome rites; Kg1 18:26, &c.), on the high place (compare Isa 15:2), and shall come to his sanctuary (of the idol Chemosh on Mount Nebo) to pray, he shall not prevail"; he shall effect nothing by his prayers [MAURER].”

“When it is seen - When it occurs; that is, when Moab actually “becomes” weary. Is weary on the high place - The “high place” denotes the place of idolatrous worship, and here means the same as the temple of Chemosh or his sanctuary. Temples and altars were usually constructed on such places, and especially the temples of the pagan gods. Moab is represented here as looking to her gods for protection. Weary, exhausted, worn down with calamities, she is represented as fleeing from the desolate towns and cities, and taking refuge at the altar, and seeking assistance there. This, says Jerome, is the final misery. She is now forsaken of those aids to which she had always trusted, and on which she…”

“When - When it shall appear that all their other devotions are vain. His sanctuary - To the temple of his great god Chemosh. But - His god can neither hear nor help him. Isaiah 16:13”

“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).”

“when: Isa 15:2, Isa 26:16; Num 22:39, Num 22:41, Num 23:1-3, Num 23:14, Num 23:28, Num 24:17; Pro 1:28; Jer 48:35 he shall: Isa 37:38; Kg1 11:7; Kg2 3:27; Jer 48:7, Jer 48:13, Jer 48:46 but: Isa 47:13; Kg2 19:12, Kg2 19:16-19; Psa 115:3-7; Jer 10:5 Isaiah 16:13”

“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.). Isaiah 16:13”