Isaiah 16:1
Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, from Sela, by way of the desert, to the mount of the daughter of Zion.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse isn't just about paying tribute; it's a strategic plea for refuge. The instruction to send lambs from Sela through the wilderness to Zion implies seeking asylum, not just acknowledging a ruler, acknowledging their desperation to escape an impending disaster by placing themselves under Judah's protection.
The prophet issues a direct command to the Moabites, urging them to send tribute, specifically lambs, to the ruler of Judah. This action is framed as a plea for refuge and protection, as they face impending disaster, likely from Assyrian invasion, and must now seek asylum in Zion's territory. The tribute is to be sent from Sela, a fortified city, and transported through the wilderness, highlighting the perilous journey they face.
Understand the original words
kar · Hebrew Noun
A young sheep or goat, frequently used in the Old Testament as a sacrificial animal to atone for sin or as a tribute offered to a superior. Symbolically, it often represents innocence, vulnerability, and submission.
Tsiyon · Hebrew Proper Noun
The capital city of the Davidic kingdom, frequently used metonymically for the people of God, the site of the Temple, and the place of God's presence and reign. It serves as a symbol of hope, security, and the future Messianic kingdom.
This prophecy is a call to the Moabites to resume their tribute to Judah, likely as a plea for protection or asylum in the face of imminent Assyrian invasion, emphasizing a historical precedent of submission.
c. 950 BC
Moabites become David's tributaries
After David subdued the Moabites, they became servants and brought tribute to Israel.
c. 853 BC
Moabite tribute to Israel
King Mesha of Moab paid a large tribute of sheep and rams to the king of Israel.
c. 840 BC
Moabite revolt
Following Ahab's death, Moab rebelled and ceased paying tribute to Israel.
c. 730s BC
Assyrian campaigns in the region
The Assyrian Empire exerted increasing pressure on the region, causing political instability and displacement.
c. 711 BC
Ashdod Conspiracy and Sargon's reaction
Moab may have been threatened by Assyrian king Sargon II for complicity in the Ashdod conspiracy, potentially leading to an earlier prophecy against Moab.
This passage directly informs the historical context of Isaiah 16:1, showing that Moab was previously a vassal state paying tribute of lambs and rams to the king of Israel, establishing the precedent for this prophetic command.
Jeremiah 48:11-13Like Isaiah, Jeremiah addresses Moab's pride and impending judgment, with this specific passage highlighting the 'emptying' and 'making void' that will befall them, resonating with the vulnerability implied in Isaiah's instruction to seek refuge.
Psalm 146:3-5This psalm cautions against trusting in human rulers and princes, contrasting it with the true security found in the Lord. It provides a theological backdrop to why Moab should look beyond their own rulers or idols and towards the 'ruler of the land' who is ultimately God's appointed king on Zion.
Matthew 12:6Jesus states that 'something greater than the temple is here,' referring to Himself. This elevates the 'mount of the daughter of Zion' from just a geographical location to a place where divine authority and refuge are found in a greater way through the Messiah.
cambridgeIsaiah 16:1: "Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion."
1 . Send ye the lamb ] R.V. the lambs . The imper. expresses dramatically the result of the deliberations of the Moabites. The word “lamb” is to be taken collectively; it denotes the tribute in kind which the Moabites had been accustomed to pay to the kings of Israel ( 2 Kings 3:4 ), but which they now propose to send to the king of Judah, the “ruler of the land” (of Edo…
wesleyIsaiah 16:1: "Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion."
16:1 Send - The prophet continues his prophecy against Moab, and gives them counsel what to do, to prevent, if possible, the desolation. Make your peace with God, by sacrifice, for all your injuries done to him, and to his people. Sela - An eminent city of Moab, seated upon a rock. Unto the mount - Unto the temple upon mount Zion.
The verse isn't just about paying tribute; it's a strategic plea for refuge. The instruction to send lambs from Sela through the wilderness to Zion implies seeking asylum, not just acknowledging a ruler, acknowledging their desperation to escape an impending disaster by placing themselves under Judah's protection.
The prophet issues a direct command to the Moabites, urging them to send tribute, specifically lambs, to the ruler of Judah. This action is framed as a plea for refuge and protection, as they face impending disaster, likely from Assyrian invasion, and must now seek asylum in Zion's territory. The tribute is to be sent from Sela, a fortified city, and transported through the wilderness, highlighting the perilous journey they face.
The prophet issues a direct command to the Moabites, urging them to send tribute, specifically lambs, to the ruler of Judah. This action is framed as a plea for refuge and protection, as they face impending disaster, likely from Assyrian invasion, and must now seek asylum in Zion's territory. The tribute is to be sent from Sela, a fortified city, and transported through the wilderness, highlighting the perilous journey they face.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Isaiah 16:1 is available in the Sola app.
c. 705 BC
Death of Assyrian King Sargon II
Sargon's death led to widespread rebellion among Assyrian vassals in the region, creating opportunities and crises for smaller states like Moab.
c. 704-701 BC— this verse
Sennacherib's consolidation of power
Assyrian King Sennacherib campaigned to reassert control, leading to further instability and likely prompting this prophecy.
"Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, from Sela, by way of the desert, to the mount of the daughter of Zion." — The verse isn't just about paying tribute; it's a strategic plea for refuge. The instruction to send lambs from Sela through the wilderness to Zion implies seeking asylum, not just acknowledging a…
