vifited, on account of their incorrigible tranfgreffions, fuits the representation to the prevailing fentiments of that people. As they placed their chief happiness in the things of this world, he declares, that the defolation which they would greatly lament, fhould arise from their being deprived of worldly abundance, and the joy wherewith the poffeffion of it was accompanied.—The whole prediction before us, delivered in language greatly diverfified, plainly intimates, that the time was then faft approaching, when the miferies that were coming upon Moab, would deprive them of all the joy and gladnefs, the finging, fhouting, and feftivity, which they had hitherto enjoyed in profperity.That fo great were to be the foretold calamities with which the land should be visited, that forrow and aaguish, weeping, howling, and lamentation, fhould be fubstituted in their place, and prevail as univerfally among the inhabitants, in the time of their diftrefs, as the oppofite practices had done in happier days,

11 Wherefore my bowels fhall found like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kir, haresh.

Ifaiah, with his accustomed elegance, pathetically describes the tender, painful emotions which he would feel, on account of the diftreffes of Moab. Thefe compaffionate feelings he illuftrates by a beautiful fimilitude. My bowels fhall found like a harp, which is a musical inftrument, the ftrings of which being extended, preffed with the hand, and touched with the fingers, emits a pleasant, melodious, grave found. In like manner, when the inward parts are diftended with grief, when the animal fpirits are depreffed, and the bowels are moved, the heart, thus oppreffed and overcharged, feeks relief in fobs and fighs, which form a found, in fome refpects, like a mournful tune. Similar expreflions with that now before us frequently

frequently occur in fcripture. The words import, that our prophet's bowels were to be fenfibly touched by the calamities of Moab, and his inward parts fo ftrongly moved by the diftreffes of Kir-hareth, as to produce a mournful, affecting found, expreffive of his poignant forrow.

12 ¶ And it shall come to pafs, when it is feen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he fhall come to his fanctuary to pray, but he fhall not prevail.

The unsuccessful attempt of the Moabites, to escape the foretold defolation, is here ftrongly depicted.After the above-mentioned threatened judgments had become vifible, by their execution on Moab, that people were to become weary of the high place to which they had resorted, that they might facrifice to their gods on altars, which were commonly erected on places of eminence, that they might weep before them, and implore their affistance. Having wearied themselves in vain in the fervice of their idols, their cries, lamentations, and facrifices, having accomplished no valuable purpose, they would defift from these practices, and take another coutfe.He fhall come to his fanctuary to pray, but he shall not prevail. The Moabites fatigued with fruitlefs expedients, which hitherto had produced no good effect, they would repair to Jerufalem, where was the fanctuary of the God of Ifrael, that they might fupplicate relief from distress, and his merciful interpofition in their behalf. But they fhall not prevail: they fhall not be able to reach the fanctuary of the Lord, being prevented by their enemies; and, though fome of them might get there, they shall not prevail with God to obtain deliverance, who had determined, for just reasons, to afflict them in the manner foretold.- The words

* Job xxx. 27. Jer. iv. 19.

admit of another interpretation. Almost every nation anciently had their fan&tuaries, as well as their altars and gods, fo that Moab might also have a fanctuary. Having betaken themselves without fuccefs to the altar, and there in vain invoked their idols, they would enter into the principal fanctuary or temple, wherein was placed the image of their god Chemofh, and there pour out prayers to him for affiftance and deliverance. But they fhall not prevail. This expedient was not to be attended with any good effect, nor were they to obtain by it any valuable advantage. This was the laft fhift of the Moabites, when conflicting with various calamities; they cried to their god for that relief which they could not obtain. Thus did they experience the vanity of their foolish and abfurd fuperftition, and the utter infufficiency of their idols to deliver them from mifery.In the temper and conduct of Moab, we fee a lively image of our own foolish temper and conduct. The Lord God, by his fervants, hath denounced the most awful threatenings against us, as the just defert of our tranfgreffions, the execution of which fhall be followed with weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. That we may escape thofe terrible judgments to which we have expofed ourfelves, he hath been graciously pleased to give us the most falutary advices, pointing out how we may avoid deferved calamities, and become his faithful fubjects, whose throne is established in mercy. By defpifing his good counsel, we fhall incur the dreadful effects of his difpleafure, from which human wifdom and power cannot poffibly extricate us. Let us then learn inftruction from the obftinacy and pride of Moab, and diligently beware that we harden not our hearts against his fear, nor reject his counsel against ourselves. 'Hear inftruction, be wife, and refuse it 'not.'

13 This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning Moab fince that time.

The

The prophecy concludes with a folemn affurance of its divine authority, and certain accomplishment within a limited time.--This which you have now heard, is the difcourfe which Ifaiah delivered concerning the defolation of Moab. This, faith he, is the word that the Lord hath spoken; the true fayings of God, and not of man, and therefore they fhall certainly be fulfilled in their feafon. • God is

not a man, that he fhould lie, nor the fon of man, ⚫ that he should repent: hath he said, and fhall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and fhall he not make it good. Behold, I have received commandment to speak; and he hath spoken, and I cannot reverfe it. He abideth faithful; he cannot deny himself: the united oppofition of earth and hell cannot fruftrate his defigns, nor prevent him from executing his promises and threatenings. This much the Lord spake concerning Moab long ago, or fince the time in which that people became the fubject of prophecy. Or the words may be rendered, This is that word which the Lord then fpake concerning Moab; namely, in the year King Ahaz died. According to this interpretation, the expreffion may serve to ascertain the date of this prophecy, which hath the time of its accomplishment fixed in the following verfe.

14 But now the LORD hath fpoken, faying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab fhall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant ball be very fmall and feeble.

At the time wherein God was pleafed to reveal his mind to our prophet, he thus fpake, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, &c. The words may denote, that from the time of the delivery, until the * Numb. xxiii. 19, 20.

VOL. II.

fulfilment

fulfilment of the prophecy, was to be exactly three years; or, that from the period in which the accomplishment of the predictions commenced, until all the glory of Moab fhould be treated with contempt, was to be precisely three years.As the years of an hireling, who labours, during a fet time, for a ftipulated reward. As foon as the time agreed upon is expired, which is commonly reckoned with the greatest accuracy, and his engagements are performed, his wages are demanded. The years of an hireling are often troublesome and vexatious, through the toil, wearinefs, and forrow, which he is obliged to endure. By this fimilitude, therefore, is represented the affliction and diftrefs to which the Moabites were to be fubjected during this period, and the precife length of time which was to elapfe, from the delivery to the accomplishment of the prophecy, when--The glory of Moab fhall be contemned, with all that great multitude, &c. The glory and multitude of Moab, confifted in the strength and number of their cities, their inhabitants, and their foldiers, with all the riches and opulence whereof they boasted. All their ftrength and magnificence were foon to be confidered as infignificant, and despised by the armies which were to attack, invade, and conquer them.And the remnant Shall be very small and feeble. The few who were to escape the general devaftation, deprived of their wealth, driven from their habitations, and enfeebled by fatigue and hardships, were to become weak and languid.This prophecy having been publifhed, according to my fuppofition, at the fame time with the former, in the year king Ahaz died, when the Jews much needed the friendly offices of the Moabites, it must have been fulfilled in the third year of Hezekiah's reign, after the death of his father, when Salmanezer, king of Affyria, went on an expedition against the Ephraimites, affaulted the Moabites, and deftroyed their cities. Being fo clofely connected with the speedy accomplishment which it received, it

would