Isaiah 16:14

“But now the Lord hath spoken, &c.] Something else. What follows is a distinct prophecy from the former, and has a date annexed to it, when it should be fulfilled: the former prophecy relates to the utter destruction of the Moabites by the Babylonians, in the times of Nebuchadnezzar; of which Jeremiah, (<244801>Jeremiah 48:1-47) prophesies, in much the same language as Isaiah; and so Jarchi observes, that the final destruction of Moab was by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar: but this was of a lesser nature, and to be accomplished in a short time, either by Shalmaneser, or by Sennacherib king of Assyria, or Esarhaddon his son: saying, within three years, as the year of an hireling; that is,…”

“three years . . . hireling--Just as a hireling has his fixed term of engagement, which neither he nor his master will allow to be added to or to be taken from, so the limit within which Moab is to fall is unalterably fixed (Isa 21:16). Fulfilled about the time when the Assyrians led Israel into captivity. The ruins of Elealeh, Heshbon, Medeba, Dibon, &c., still exist to confirm the inspiration of Scripture. The accurate particularity of specification of the places three thousand years ago, confirmed by modern research, is a strong testimony to the truth of prophecy. Already, Tiglath-pileser had carried away the people of Damascus to Kir, in the fourth year of Ahaz (Kg2 16:9); but now in…”

“But now the Lord hath spoken - This refers to the particular and specific prophecy of Isaiah that destruction should come upon them in three years. Instead of a “general but indefinite” prediction of calamity to the Moabites, such as had been uttered by the former prophets, or by Isaiah himself before, it was now specific and definite in regard to the “time” when it should be fulfilled. Within three years - We have no means of ascertaining the exact fulfillment of this prediction, nor do we certainly know by whom it was accomplished. As the years of an hireling - A man that is hired has a certain time specified during which he is to labor; the years, the months, the days for which he is…”

“The Lord - Hath made this farther discovery of his mind to me. Three years - This may well be understood of some great blow given to the Moabites, either by Sennacherib, or his son Esarhaddon, from which notwithstanding they recovered and flourished again 'till Nebuchadnezzar compleated their destruction. Hireling - Within three years precisely counted; for hirelings are very punctual in observing the time for which they are hired. The glory - Their strength, and wealth, and other things in which they glory, shall be made contemptible to those who formerly admired them. With - With the great numbers of their people, of which they boasted. Next: Isaiah Chapter 17”

“16:14 Within three years, counting each day (literally Within three years, as a servant bound by contract would count them; see also 21:16): A man who had sold himself into servitude for a period of time would calculate how much time remained right down to the final day. This verse refers to events that are unknown. • The glory of Moab will be ended, probably because of the Assyrian conquest of Moab (late 700s BC). • only a feeble few will be left alive: Though decimated by war, the Moabites still existed during Nehemiah’s time (Neh 13:23).”

“three: Isa 7:16, Isa 15:5, Isa 21:16; Deu 15:8 the glory: Isa 17:4, Isa 23:9; Gen 31:1; Est 5:11; Jer 9:23; Nah 2:9, Nah 2:10 and the remnant: Jer 48:46, Jer 48:47 feeble: or, not many Next: Isaiah Chapter 17”