Isaiah 13

The Prophet foretelleth the destruction of the Babylonish Monarchy, by the Persians and Medes, v.1. to whom the Lord here speaketh, and exhorteth them thereunto, 2. Next he turneth himself unto the people, and telleth them, that he hath stirred up the Persians and Medes against Babel, 3. The coming of the Persians and Medes, 4, etc. After that he foretelleth that very great anguish and distress should befall the Babylonians, 7. Yea, that Babel should be so destroyed, as that no mankind, but all sorts of monsters should dwell in it, 21.

1. The burden of Babel, [This is the title of all heavy threatening prophecies: it is as a letter of defiance, which the Lord sendeth by his Prophet, see the annotate. 2 Kings 9.on v.25. And this threatening doth not only concern the King of Babel, but also the City of Babel, and the whole Kingdom] which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw. [that is, which God revealed unto him in a vision.]

2. Lift up a banner an high mountain: exalt a voice unto them; move the hand on high, that they may march in through the doors of the Princes. [Here the Lord speaketh unto the King of the Persians and Medes, exhorting him to prepare himself to war against the Babylonians. (lift up a banner) to wit, for a token, that the souldiers or men of war may gather themselves together. (exalt or lift up a voice unto them) that is, Call or cry with a loud voice unto the souldiers that dwell hard by. (move the hand on high) to wit, to allure and gather an army together out far countries. (that they) to wit, the assembled souldiers of the Persians and Medes. (may march in) to wit, into the City of Babel. (through the doors of the Princes) to wit, of the Princes or Nobles of Babel. Thus the Prophet calleth the Babylonians, because many of them were grown rich and wealthy by the spoil of their neighbours, and their goods, yea, were grown as rich as Princes and Nobles. As also, because at that time they had rule and dominion over many Kingdoms and countries. See Isa.10.8.]

3. I [To wit, the Lord] have given command [not by an outward voice, but by an inward motion, in the hearts of the Persians and Medes, ordering and governing the matter by my providence for my own glory. See 2 Sam.16.11. Isa.23.11.] unto mine hallowed ones: [Understand here the Persians and Medes, whom God had hallowed; that is, ordained and set apart for an holy work, namely, for the destruction of the wicked Babylonians. See Jerem.22.on v.7.] I have also called my champions, [that is, the Persians and Medes, unto whom I have given strength and courage, and will yet further give] for mine anger, [that is, for the execution of mine anger] the cheerful ones of my highness. [that is, unto whom I have given a valiant and cheerful mind and courage, to set upon the Babylonians. But how the wicked do act and perform this, see above, chap.10.v.6,7.]

4. There is a rushing voice, [Here the Prophet speaketh again. Oth. There is a voice of a multitude, or, of plurality. For the Hebrew word signifieth them both] on the mountains [to wit, on the mountains in Media] as of a great people: [Heb. The likeness of a great people] a voice of tumult of the Kingdoms of the Heathen gathered together: [the meaning is, there is such a noise and tumult, as if all the Kingdoms of the Heathen were assembled and met together] the LORD of hosts mustereth the army of war. [to wit, he being as it were the Commander in chief, or the General.]

5. They come from a far country, [To wit from Persia, which is distant from Babel about two hundred twenty five Germane miles, as some do write] from the end of heaven: [Oth. From the uttermost (part) of heaven; that is, from far remote countries] the LORD and the instruments of his wrath, to destroy that whole land. [Or the weapons, which he will use in his anger, to destroy the land of the Chaldeans, and of the Babylonians, together with that whole Monarchy. See Jerem.50.25.]

6. Howl ye, [To wit, O ye Babylonians, with all your adherents] for the day of the LORD. [That is, the day wherein the LORD will exercise his severe judgement upon Babylon, as above chap.2.12. and below chap.61.2. Joel.1.15. See Job 24.vers.1. and Psa.37.13.] is at hand: it cometh as a desolation from the Almighty. [As if he had said, it shall be such a fearful desolation, as that it shall sufficiently appear, that it cometh from the hand of almighty God.]

7. Therefore [To wit, because this destruction is so terrible, and so great] shall all hands [to wit, the hands of the Babylonians] be slack, and the heart of all men [Hebr. All the heart of a man] shall melt. [To wit, through anguish, dread, and fear]

8. And they [To wit, the Babylonians, and their adherents,] shall be afraid, pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them, and they shall be in pain as a woman in travel: every one shall be amazed at his neighbour, [or, one shall wonder at, or with another] their faces shall be flaming faces. [that is, their faces shall be as red as fire; to wit, through shame, namely, because they who were formerly such stout champions, that would bear rule over the whole world, were now conquered and beaten by the Persians and Medes, who in times past were of little or no repute and estimation. But others understand this thus, that the faces of the Persians and Medes should be as flames of fire; that is, full of wrath and indignation, thirsting after the blood of the Babylonians, which the redness of their faces should bewray.]

9. Behold, the day of the LORD [See above vers.6.] cometh, horrible, with indignation and hot anger: [Heb. Heat of anger] to make the land [To wit, the land of Babylon] a desolation [That is, to lay the land waste and desolate] and to destroy the sinners thereof [That is, the sinners that are in it] out of it.

10. For the stars of heaven, and the constellations thereof shall not cause their light to shine: the Sun shall be darkened, when he shall rise, [Hebr. When he shall go forth; to wit, out of his bed-chamber, Psal.19.6.] and the Moon shall not cause her light to shine. [The meaning is, all things shall be against the Babylonians, so that they very stars of heaven shall withdraw their shining from them. This phrase the prophet doth often use, for to express thereby great troubles and miseries. See Ezech.32.7. Joel 2:21. and 3.15. also Matth.24.29. Mich.13.24. Luke 21:25. By the word star, is meant one star alone; and by the word constellation, divers stars united or joined together. Oth. Orion. See Job chap.9.on vers.9.]

11. For I will visit [That is, punish] the wickedness upon the World, [Here the Lord speaketh again. Understand here by World, the Land or Countries that were under the obedience and subjection of the King of Babel, whereof there were many. See Dan.4.17, etc.] and their iniquity upon the wicked: and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and I will bring down the pride of tyrants.

12. I will make a man to be more precious, then massy gold: [The meaning is I will make the Babylonians to be few, for many of them shall be slain. Compare 1 Sam.3.on vers.1. See of Masty gold, 1 Kings 10.on v.18.] and a man (more precious) then fine gold of Ophir. [Of Ophir, see the annotate. 1 Kings 9.on vers.28.]

13. Therefore [To wit, for the pride and wickedness of the Babylonians, vers.11.] I will shake the heaven, and the earth shall be moved out of her place, because of the indignation of the LORD of Hosts, and because of the day of his hot anger. [See Job chap.20. the annotate. On vers.28. The meaning is, I will cause such fearful judgements to light upon the Chaldeans and the Babylonians, that heaven and earth shall have cause to be amazed at it: or, that the Babylonians shall think that heaven and earth are moved or shaken.]

14. And (every one) shall be as a chased roe, and as a sheep that no man gatheredth, [Or, as a flock of sheep which no man gathereth] every man [To wit, that is come out of far Countries, being hired to help the Babylonians] shall look about toward his (own) people, [That is, shall wish to be again in his own country, as immediately followeth] and every one shall flee into his (own) land.

15. Whosoever is sound, [To wit, at Babel, or, of the Babylonians] he shall be thrust through; [The meaning is, whomsoever the souldiers of the Persians and Medesshall find, they shall kill them, when they see that they are Babylonians] and whosoever is joined unto them, [Be he citizen, and stranger: Or, understand those that about the City of Babel, did here and there keep themselves in Castles or fenced places. Oth. All (or everyone) that is consumed; to wit, by old age] shall fall by the sword.

16. Their little children shall be also dashed to pieces [See Psal.137.9. Oth. Be ground or beaten to powder] before their eyes: their houses shall be plundered, and their wives ravished.

17. Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, [That is, the army of the Medes, under the conduct of Cyrus, King of the Persians, Medes, Heb. Madai. See Genes.chap.10. the annotate.on vers.2.] which shall not regard silver, [Or, which shall not mind or heed silver. Regard silver, [Or, which shall not mind or heed silver. Intimating, that the Medes should so thirst after the blood of the Babylonians, as that they should take no money nor ransom for to spare them, how great soever the same might be, but should seek to have the blood or life of the Babylonians. See above, v.12.] neither shall they delight in gold.

18. But (their) bows shall dash the young men to pieces: and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; [That is, on the children in the mothers womb] their eye shall not favour [Or, spare] the children.

19. Thus Babel, the ornament of Kingdoms, [That is, which is now the fairest, and the most excellent among all the Kingdoms of the earth] the glory, the pride of the Chaldeans, shall be, according as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorra. [this Prophecy was not immediately fulfilled by the Persians and Medes, as soon as they took this City, but it was performed still more and more from time to time, so that a man now a days can hardly know where that mighty and stately City stood. In the time of the Emperor Vespasian, there remained onely the temple of Jupiter Belus. Plin. In natur.hist.lib.6.c.26. See Gen.19.25. above,ch.1.9. Jerem.50.40. and 49.18.]

20. There [To wit, in the City] shall be no dwelling place forever, [Or, they shall have no sitting-place there. See Jerem.17.v.6. To wit, although she imagineth otherwise, by reason of her great strength, thinking herself to be invincible. Oth. It shall not be inhabited in eternity; that is, never: that is, it shall never come again to its former state and condition; to wit, after that it shall be once broken down to the ground] neither shall the Arabian pitch a tent there, [the Arabians were wont to have no sure dwelling-place or abiding City, but to wander up and down, and to dwell in tents or booths, pitching their tents where they found the best fodder or provision for their beasts. These seeing and finding that the land about Babylon was so wasted and desolate, as that there would not be sufficient food for their cattle, shall shun and avoid the same] neither shall the shepherds camps there.

21. But wild beasts of the wildernesses [The Hebrew word signifies properly wildernesses, and here such kind of beasts as live in wildernesses, and in dry desert places. See Jer.50.39.] shall lie down there, and their houses shall be filled with terrible creatures, [or, hurtful creatures. The Hebrew word signifieth such beasts or creatures, which make men cry out for pain and anguish. Oth. Creatures that make a doleful noise] and young Ostriches. [Hebs. The daughters of Ostriches. See Levit.chap.11. the annotate.on vers.16. and Job.30.29.] shall dwell there, and the Devils [see Levits.17.on vers.7. and also 2 Chron.11.15. Revel.18.2.] shall hop there.

22. And wild beasts of the Islands [The Hebrew word hath its name from Islands: but what kind of beasts they properly were, is very uncertain. Some have here (fowls) of the Islands. Oth. Wild beasts of the Islands. Oth. Monkies, or wild cats. Oth. Owls because they love to dwell in waste, forsaken, ruined houses and places. This word is also used, Jer.50.39.] shall cry to each other, [or, screech to each other. Hebr.answer] in his [to wit, the King of Babel’s] forsaken places; [or widow-like places; that is, forsaken or empty places, or as some, palaces, by changing the letter Resch, into the letter Lamed; as it is below, ch.34.30.] as also dragons in the pleasant palaces: but here time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged. [Her time, etc. To wit, the City of Babel’s time. And understand here that time, wherein the destruction of the City and Kingdom of Babylon should begin, as also the beginning of the time of the deliverance of the Jews from their Tyranny. Until the full accomplishment of this Prophecy, there passed about two hundred years.]