Isaiah 21

Isaiah 21:1

of the desert of the sea] Another Sermon and prophecie against Babylon. And so there are many Sermons against the Assyrians; and also against the Egyptians; by this Prophet. Babylon and Caldea is here called the desert of the sea; a desert, because a large desert, or wide Wildernesse lay between Caldea, and Media; or, it self should be made so, by the judgements ensuing. Or the word here used signifieth a Plaine, and in a plaine Babylon was built, Gen. XI. 2. And called a sea, because of the great river Euphrates, on the banks whereof Babylon was built; and because of the vast lakes made out of the river. And hence is Babylon said to sit upon many waters, Jer. LI. 13. and ver. 36. I will dry up the sea.

As whirlwindes] such shall the violent irruptions be of the Medes and Persians breaking into Chaldea.

Isaiah 21:2

The treacherous dealer] hath now his match; is now paid in his own coine. Or, the treacherous dealer, dealing treacherously, which some apply to the Chaldeans, some to the Medes and Persians.

and the spoyler spoyleth] Some apply only these words to the Medes and Persians.

O Elam] The Persian.

all the sighing] Wherewith Babylon made my people sigh.

Isaiah 21:3

Therefore loines] Spoken in the person of the Babylonians.

Isaiah 21:4

The night of my pleasure] Even in their sestival night was Babylon taken by Cyrus, Dan. 5. 1, 30.

hath he turned] Though it were done about 170. years after. This is an usual Prophetick phrase.

Isaiah 21:5

Prepare the table] Most likely K. Belshazzars words, for the Feast, and for the Watch.

Arise ye Princes] Cyrus, and Darius.

Isaiah 21:6

set a watchman] Gods word to the Prophet. And that as if God willed him to stand as on a watch-tower, to see what he could descry. And for him to relate what himself in Vision had seene; as chap. VI. 1. For this seemes to be done, in a Vision; as that 1 Kings XXII. 17, 19,—22.

Isaiah 21:7

hearkened diligently with much heed] A through watch-master.

Isaiah 21:8

A Lion] Viz. leads them. Or rather, he cried loud, as a Lion; by his hideous noise expressing much fear and terror.

my Lord, I stand] That watchmans words: professing his constant vigilancie.

Isaiah 21:9

here cometh] Even now are gone into Babylon, speaking as a thing suddenly done: the issue of what he had hitherto so vigilantly expected.

Babylon is fallen] God himself expounding more fully to the Prophet, what this apparition all tended to.

Isaiah 21:10

O my threshing] My threshed ones, saith the Prophet; my afflicted ones; though not by me.

that which I have heard] Foreseene, and foreshewed, is no dreame or relation of my own devising; but what by revelation I have received from God. As, 1 Cor. XI. 23.

Isaiah 21:11

Dumah] In Arabia say some. Edome say others. Another Prophecie; short, and sharp; obscure and difficult; wrapt up in two verses.

He calleth to me out of Seir] Seir so called from Seir the Horite, Gen. XXXVI. 20. in whose race it continued, untill the Edomites, or posterity of Esau, thence expelled them, Deut. II. 12.

Watchman, what of the night?] Either in a scoffing way. Or rather, implying a distracting and hazardous condition of those by whom they were uttered, unto whomsoever they were directed. What of the night? or, in the night. Or, concerning the night, hast thou seene, and observed? The night of black affliction that at the present lay heavie upon them, they seeme to enquire of.

Isaiah 21:12

The watchman said] As by Divine Oracle.

The morning cometh] either a faire morning; as ye suppose, having shaken off that yoake wherewith Jacobs issue kept you under, Gen. XXVII. 40. Yet this faire morning should not last long. In issue, this morning should be such a morning, as shall afford you no light or comfort at all.

and also the night] Cometh. A night of calamitie and misery will by the Assyrians ere long seize upon you; worse then the Israelitish yoak. And this as sure, as night succeedeth day.

If ye will enquire] Not scoffingly, but seriously; do it then with all earnest, eager, and ardent inquisition.

returne, come] Returne to God; Come to his People.

Isaiah 21:13

upon Arabia] Another Prophecie. Of Arabia see the Annotations here. They did wander up and down, and did pitch in tents, chap. XIII. 20. The Arabians were neere the Egyptians, 2 Chron XXI. 16. Mount Sinai was in it, Gal.

IV. 25. Paul went into it, Gal. I. 17. Solomon had yearly gold from all the Kings of it, 1 Kings X. 15. They traded with Tyre, in Lambs, and Rams, and Goats, Ezek. XXVII. 21.

They brought Jehoshaphat presents, flocks, 7700. Rams, and 7700. He Goats, 2 Chron. XVII. 11. But they rose up against his sonne Jehoram in battel; and their camp slew all his eldest sonnes, save onely the youngest, 2 Chron. XXI. 16. and XXII. 1.

In Uzziah’s time, God helped him against them, 2 Chron. XXVI. 7. Nebuchadnezzar subdued them, Jer. XXV. 24. Yet afterwards in Nehemiah’s time, they eagerly endeavoured to hinder him in the building of the walls of Jerusalem, Neh. II. 19. and IV. 7, 8.

In the forrest] Leaving their abode in the champion, they should be driven to seek shelter in the Woods. See Jer. XLIX. 28, 29.

O ye travelling companies of Dedanim] A people of Arabia, descended from Dedan, one of Abrahams sonnes by Keturah, Gen. XXV. 3. These travelling companies, are like those, Gen. XXXVII. 25, 28. We now call them Caravans.

Isaiah 21:14

Tema] Another people of Arabia: of Ismaels race, Gen. XXV. 15. Arabia had in it a mingled people. See Jer. XXV. 23, 24. Job VI. 19. This intimated unto the Temanites, what distresse their Countreymen of other parts of Arabia should be brought unto.

Isaiah 21:15

For they fled] It was no groundlesse feare that makes them flee thus.

Isaiah 21:16

within a yeare] A shorter time that assigned to the Moabites, chap. XVI. 14. Or that, to the Egyptians and Ethiopians joyntly together, chap. XX. 3. the Assyrian falling in upon these parts of Arabia, before those other of the other Countries.

an hireling] Which reckons his year accurately.

Kedar] The sonne of Ishmael, Gen. XXV. 13. Another people of Arabia. They and their Princes also occupied with Tyre, in Lambs, and Rams, and Goats, Ezek. XXVII. 21. They also dwelled in tents; and therefore called Scenites, which they were wont to remove from place to place, to procure change of pasture for their cattel. See Psal. CXX. 5. Cant. I. 5. Nebuchadnezzar did smite them, Jer. XLIX. 28. Yet in the dayes of the Gospel they should be converted unto Christ, Esay XLII. 11. and chap. LX. 7.