Isaiah 13

Chap. XIII. Ver. 1-22. Judgments denounced against Babylon.—This and the following chapter (deducting the last five verses) contain the fate of Babylon, and its destruction by the Medes and Persians. The oracle was delivered, according to Vitringa and Lowth, nearly 200 years before its accomplishment. The captivity itself, which the prophet here takes for granted as a thing certain, without mentioning it, did not fully take place till about 130 years after this prediction was delivered; and the Medes, who are expressly mentioned (ver. 7.) as the principal agents in overturning this great monarchy, and releasing the Jews from their captivity, were at that time a people of no account, forming only a province of the Assyrian empire.

The prophecy divides itself into two parts; the first is remarkable for sublimity of thought and elegance of style, and the latter ((Isaiah 14)) is a triumphant ode, of unequalled excellence. The subject opens with the command of God to assemble the forces destined for this service. ‘‘Upon this, the prophet (says Lowth) immediately hears the tumultuous noise of the different nations crowding together to his standard; he sees them advancing, prepared to execute the divine wrath. ‘They come from a far country…. to destroy the whole land.’ He proceeds to describe the dreadful consequences of this visitation; the consternation which should seize those who are the subjects of it; and transferring unawares the speech from himself to God, (ver.

11.) sets forth, under a variety of the most striking images, the dreadful destruction of the inhabitants of Babylon, and the everlasting desolation to which that great city was doomed.” Babylon, whose destruction and utter ruin are here predicted, was situated in the midst of a large plain, having a very deep and fruitful soil, on the Euphrates, about 252 miles southeast of Palmyra, and the same distance north-west of Susa and the Persian gulf, in lat. 32°30’ N. and long. 44° 20’ E. According to Herodotus, it formed a perfect square, each side of which was 120 stadia, and consequently its circumference 480 stadia, or 60 miles; inclosed by a wall 200 cubits high, and 50 wide, on the top of which were small watch-towers, of one story high, leaving a space between them, through which a chariot and four might pass and turn.

On each side were 25 gates of solid brass; from each of which proceeded a street, 150 feet broad, making in all 50 streets; which, crossing each other at right angles, intersected the city into 676 squares, extending four stadia and a half on each side, along which stood the houses, all built three or four stories high, and highly decorated towards the street; the interior of these squares being employed as gardens, pleasure grounds, &c. Its principal ornaments were the temple of Belus, having a tower of eight stories, upon a base of a quarter of a mile square; a most magnificent palace; and the famous hanging gardens, or artificial mountains raised upon arches, and planted with large and beautiful trees.

Cyrus took it by diverting the waters of the Euphrates, which ran through the midst and entering by the channel: and the river being never restored to its proper course, overflowed the whole country, and made it a morass. Darius Hystaspes afterwards depopulated the place, lowered the walls, and demolished the gates; Xerxes destroyed the temples; the building of Seleucia nearly exhausted it of its inhabitants; a king of the Parthians carried a number of them into slavery, and destroyed the most beautiful arts: so that modern travellers describe it as a mass of shapeless ruins, the habitation of wild beasts.

Notes on the verses

Chap. XIII. Ver. 3. My sanctified ones.—Not holy, but separated; ‘‘Mine enrolled warriors,” says Lowth.

Ver. 5. Weapons of his indignation —Lowth, “Instruments of his wrath.”

Ver. 14. It shall be—What? Lowth, following the LXX. supplies, ‘‘The

Ver. 17. Not regard silver.—It is remarkable, that Xenophon makes Cyrus open a speech to his army, particularly the Medes, with telling them, he knew that they had not accompanied him with any view of acquiring wealth.

Ver. 18. Their bows also shall dash.—The Persians (and probably the Medes) used long bows, and if they were made of metal, (as (Psalms 18:8)) they might well dash men to pieces.

Ver. 21. Doleful creatures.—Lowth, ‘‘Howling monsters.”——Satyrs.—These are commonly supposed to have been goats; but Doederlein supposes them to have been a species of ape, ‘‘shaggy, like goats.”’—Harris’s Natural Hist.

of the Bible, in Satyr.

Ver. 22. Wild beasts.—Lowth, ‘‘Wolves.”