Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 16:11
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
Wherefore my bowels shall sound like a harp for Moab, &c.] Making a noise as the harp does, and a mournful one as that, when used at funerals; which it makes when it is stricken or played on with the hand, as these were, through the afflictive and punitive hand of God; and which, when stricken, causes a quavering of the strings, to which the inward trembling of the bowels is compared, and is very expressive of the prophet’s sympathy, or those he personates; for, when one string of the harp is touched, the rest sound. For these words, as Kimchi says, are spoken in the language of the Moabites; those that survived lamenting the desolate state of their country, which must be very great and affecting; and to show that it was so is the design of the prophet’s expressing himself after this manner; for if it was painful to him, it must be much more so to them; so the Targum, “wherefore the bowels of the Moabites shall sound as a harp;” of the sounding of the bowels, (see <236315>Isaiah 63:15 <240409>Jeremiah 4:9): and mine inward parts for Kirharesh: the same with Kirhareseth, (<231607>Isaiah 16:7) which being a principal city, the destruction of it was greatly laid to heart. The Targum is, “and their heart shall grieve for the men of the city of their strength;” it being a strong city, in which they placed their confidence; but being destroyed, and the inhabitants of it, it was very affecting, to which agrees (<244831>Jeremiah 48:31).
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