Isaiah 16:8 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come even unto Jazer, they wandered through the wilderness: her branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea.

The fields of Heshbon - vine-fields (Deuteronomy 32:32).

The vine of Sibmah - near Heshbon; namely languishes The vine of Sibmah - near Heshbon; namely, languishes

The lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof - the pagan princes, the Assyrians, etc., who invaded Moab, destroyed his vines. So Jeremiah in the parallel place (Jeremiah 48:32-33). Maurer thinks the following words require rather the rendering, 'Its (the vine of Sibmah) shoots (the wines gotten from them formerly) overpowered (by its generous flavour and potency) the lords of the nations.' So 'broken with wine' is used in Isaiah 28:1, margin (Genesis 49:11-12; Genesis 49:22). Thus, "its" stands for whose. The vine of Sibmah languishes, whose principal plants (Hebrew, sªruwqeyhaa (H8291); the saruwq (H8291) choicest vines), used formerly to overpower by their generous wine the Moabite lords of the nations. I prefer the English version.

They are come (even) unto Jazer. For "they" supply which-the principal plants, which reached even to Jazer, 15 miles from Heshbon.

They wandered (through) the wilderness - they overran, in wild luxuriance, the wilderness of Arabia, encompassing Moab.

They are gone over the sea - the Dead Sea; or else some lake near Jazer, now dry; in Jeremiah 48:32 called the sea of Jazer; but see note there (Psalms 80:8-11). The vine was so luxuriant that it spread itself round the margin of the sea, and so reached beyond it to the other side. The wide extent of this region of luxuriant vines here described contrasts sadly with the foretold desolation which the 'pagan lords' would cause by 'breaking' and trampling all "down."

Isaiah 16:8

8 For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come even unto Jazer, they wandered through the wilderness: her branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea.