Isaiah 16:11

"Gladness is taken away, and joy out of the fruitful field; and in the vineyards there will be no singing, neither joyful noise. Nobody will tread out wine in the presses. I have made the shouting stop."

Key Reflection

Isaiah 16:11 paints a vivid picture of desolation and sorrow, reflecting the dire circumstances faced by Moab. The verse describes the once vibrant agricultural landscape as now devoid of life and celebration. Traditionally, Moab’s fields were filled with joyous harvest scenes and the sounds of festivities, but this imagery shifts to depict silence and stillness, highlighting the extent of the devastation. This passage underscores the severe consequences predicted for Moab due to its actions or alliances against Israel, illustrating how God's judgment brings an abrupt end to prosperity and festivity.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Wherefore my bowels -This is also an expression of the deep grief of the prophet in view of the calamities which were coming upon Moab. The “bowels” in the Scriptures are everywhere represented as the seat of compassion, pity, commiseration, and tender mercyGenesis 43:30: ‘His bowels did yearn upon his brother’ - he deeply felt for him, he greatly pitied him1 Kings 3:26;Psalms 25:6;Proverbs 12:10;Song of Solomon 5:4;Isaiah 63:15;Jeremiah 4:19;Jeremiah 31:20;Philippians 1:8;Philippians 2:1.

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