Isaiah 21

A prophesy concerning the ruine of the Babylonians by the Persians and Medes, vers.1. For the comfort of the people of God, that were plagued by them: 2 Anguish arising from hence, 3 the Prophet mocketh the Babylonians, 5. The Prophets vision 6 concerning the fall of Babel. 9. A speech made to the Jews, which a Prophesy concerning the judgements that should befall the Edomites, 11. As also the stony Arabia. 13. The pity which the people of Greece shewed to the fugitive Edomites. 14 the ruine of Kedar.16.

1. The burden of the wilderness by the Sea side. [That is, a heavy prophesy against the wilderness by the Sea side. See above chap.13.1. By this wilderness is meant Babel, as may be gathered from verse 9. And it is so called, because the land about Babel should be laid wast and bare, yea should lie like a Sea, in regard Queen Nitoris caused the great River Euphrates to be brought thither, thereby to keep her enemies out. Compare above chap.19.vers.5. she caused the breadth of an hundred and twenty furlongs to be digged, besides many more creeks here and there, spoiling much land people. Others conceit that Babel is called therefore a desert or wilderness of the Sea, because there are naturally many pools, seas, and standing waters, which are also called seas by the Hebrews. Others in respect of the multitude of people that dwelt in it, and went and came in & out every day] as the whirlwinds in the South pass through, [that is, use to pierce through; that is, with great force and boisterousness. Heb. To pass through; to wit, are bent, or disposed] (so) shall become, [he, to wit, Cyrus: or it, to wit, the burden, that is, the judgement or punishment; to wit, upon Babel: others it, to wit the camp or army of Cyrus] from the wilderness, [that is, from Persia and Media. Between these lands and Babylon there is a great wilderness, which Cyrus with his camp or army was to pass through, when he would come to the city of Babylon] from a terrible land. [So the Prophet calleth the land of the Persians and Medes, because the land of Babylon was conquered and miserable wasted and destroyed by Cyrus the King of the Persians and Medes.]

2. An hard vision was shewed unto me: [The first words of this verse are the words of the Prophet, who here calleth his burden (that is, that which was shewed him by God in a vision) hard, because God thereby threatened to punish the Babylonians in a severe and grievous manner] that treacherous one dealeth treacherously, and that disturber disturbeth: [here God speaketh of the King of Babel, who went on in his customary treachery and destroying of other nations, and caused many to grone under his tyranny and oppression] march up, [to wit, to punish the Babylonians] O Elam, [that is ye Elamites; that is, the Persians, as Act.2.9.] besiege it, to wit the City of Babel; or besiege him, to wit, the King of Babel] O Media, [that is, ye Medes. Here the Lord nameth those nations, (to wit, the Persians and Medes) by whom he would about an hundred and twenty years after (as some do compare) destroy the Kingdom of Babylon] I have caused [or I will cause] all their sighing to cease.] To wit, the sighing of the people of the Jews, who both in the city, and throughout the whole kingdom of Babel, sighed [and groned by reason of the long lasting captivity, from whence they were at last delivered by King Cyrus, who suffered them to go home to their own country, after that he had taken Babel. But some take the last clause of this verse in this sense, I will put an end to all the sighting of the Babylonians, to wit, of the wicked Babylonians: and then it is as much as if it had been said, I will cause the sighting caused by the wicked Babylonians, to cease. Such kin of phrase is also used Gen.18.20. the cry of Sodom.] that is caused by those of Sodom.

3. Therefore are my Lyonsful of great sickness, pangs have taken hold upon means the longs of one that travaileth: I bow my self at the hearing (of it), that is, when I hear it] I am dismaid at the seeing (of it) [therefore are my Lyons etc. To wit, because I hear that the Persians and Medes came marching on to besiege, storm, and take the city of Babylon, and to plunder, wast or destroy all that is in or about it.]

4. Mine heart wandereth, [That is, my thoughts walk to and fro, I know not which way to turn me by reason of fear and trouble] honour affrighteth me, the twilight which I have longed for, [or my desired twilight, others the darkness, that is, the night which I desired and longed for; to wit, that I might sleep quietly. Others understand hereby the twilight, the morning, for which men do exceedingly wish and long, when they cannot sleep or take no rest in the night, for then they do commonly fall asleep. Heb. The twilight of my embracing maketh he [to wit, God; others, the enemy, that cometh marching with his dreadful army] (to be) trembling unto me [that is, turneth he into trembling unto me.]

5. Prepare the table, look out thou watchman, eat, drink: [Prepare the table. See all things in order upon the table. Here the LORD, or, the prophet speaketh ironically, or in a mocking manner to the Babylonians; and it is as much as if he had said, go to, make good cheer, feast and be merry; if so be you do but set the guards, it is sufficient, ye have done enough. But afore ye are aware, the enemy will set upon you, so that King & Prince shall fain to be up & ready in arms, (look out thou watchman) as if he had said, let all the care lie upon the guards, make yourselves merry, be void of care and trouble (thou watchman) Heb. Watch] get you up ye Princes, [some take these words to be as it were spoken ironically or in a mocking manner to the Princes of Babel, as was said immediately before, in this sense, while ye are a feasting and making merry, the watchmen unawares will cry, get ye up, the enemy is at hand, etc. Others understand here the Princes of the Persians and Medes, as if God, or the Prophet had said unto them, get ye up to battle, while the Babylonians are making good cheer, and are secure and careless, assault them, fall upon them etc.] anoint the shield [the souldiers were wont to besmear or anoint their shield or Targets with oil, to make them smooth and bright. And under the word shield may here be understood & comprehended all manner of warlike instruments or weapons: so that anoint the shield, as is much as to say, prepare yourselves to fight.]

6. For thus hath the LORD said unto me, go thy ways, set a watchman, let him tell what he seeth. [Here the Prophet speaketh again in his own person, relating the vision which he saw, (so set a watchman, let him tell thee what he seeth) as if the LORD had said unto the Prophet, that thou mayest be the more sure and certain of the ruine and destruction of the Babylonians, therefore take with thee yet a witness besides thy self, to wit, either some Prophets, or some one of the people that may inform thee what he hath seen (let him tell) to wit, thee O Isaiah, or the Babylonians.]

7. And be [To wit, the watchman whom I had set] saw [that is, he cried or told that he saw] a charet, (with) camels: [That is, a charet drawn by asses (or mules) and a charet drawn by asses (or mules) and a charet drawn by camels, there is described the coming of Cyrus his army, when he marched forth to go and besiege Babylon: for by the charets must here be understood the army-charets, or the charets, two rows, or hands, horsemen, &c.] and he heeded them very narrowly, with great heed, [he heeded them very narrowly, with great heed, [he heeded them with heed, with abundance or greatness of heed.]

8. And he [To wit, the watch-man] cried, a lion: [to wit, is at hand; understanding by the lion king Cyrus, coming to besiege Babylon. Others, (as) a lion: that is, with a great and terrible noise] (my) Lord, I stand continually upon that watch-tower, [Or, I will stand continually upon the watch-places] in the day time, and I set my self upon the guard whole nights. [compare Hab.2.1.]

9. And behold now, [Or, and look upon this (thing)] there cometh a charet of men, (and) a couple of horsemen: [others, behold, there is a mans charet with two horses already come in; to wit, into the city of Babel, (and two horsemen) or, two troops of horsemen. So likewise was in the charet] answered and said, Babel is fallen, it is fallen, [compare Jer.25.2. and 51.8. Revel.14.8. and 18.2.] and all carved images of her God hath he [to wit, God, or Cyrus by Gods appointment] broken in pieces against the ground.

10. O my threshing, [Here the Prophet speaketh unto the people of God, and calleth them his threshing, or, his threshing fruit, because he had foretold that they should be carried away captive unto Babel, and be there threshed, that is, grievously vexed and plagued during the seventy years of their captivity. See the like phrases below chap.25.10. and 41.15. Jer.51.33. Mich.4.13.] and the wheat of my threshing-floor! [Or, the corn of my threshing-floor, Heb. The son of my threshing-floor. See the Annotat. Job chap.5.on ver.7.] that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.

11. The burden [See above chap.13.1.] of Duma, [that is of Idumea, of Edom. So Job 3:2. Ram is put for Aram] they call unto me [to wit, unto the Prophet Isaiah, who was set as a watchman over the people of the Jews] out of Seir: [that is, one out of Seir calleth unto me; that is, an Edomite. The Prophet taketh here mount Seir (lying in the land of the Edomites, Gen.3.6. and Deut.2.) for the whole land of the Edomites] Watch-man, [that, is thou Prophet Isaiah, who givest thy self out for a watch-man over Juda and Israel. See Ez.3.7.] what is there of the night? Watchman what is there of the night? [they are the words of the Edomites spoken in a scoffing and flouting manner: as if they had said, thou Prophet hast heretofore spoken much of the night, or, of the misery that should come upon us and upon our neighbours; but we do still enjoy the morning, that is, happy and prosperous times, wherein we are no more in subjection unto you: but since the time that we did cast off the yoke of your king Joram until now, we have had ever since our own king, 2 Kings 8:20.]

12. The watch-man said, [That is, I Isaiah say this to you, O ye Edomites] The morning is come, and it is yet night: [as if he said, it is true, ye have enjoyed rest and peace a long time. But know this of a certain, that ye shall be shortly assaulted by the Assyrians; to wit, when they shall set upon your neighbours (and it is yet night) or, it shall also grow night. As if he said, after this rest and peace misery shall come upon you] if ye will enquire, [to wit, of the Lord, namely, by me, how it shall go with you. Others. If ye will seek, to wit, the Lord] enquire; [that is, then do it in good earnest; do not mock God, nor me his Minister] return [report, and turn from your evil ways to the way of righteousness, which is the true and right way] come, [unto us who are the people of God.]

13. The burden against Arabia, in the forest of Arabia shall ye over night, [That is, for fear of the Assyrians ye shall in the night-time hide yourselves in the wilderness] O ye travelling companies of Dedanim, [that is, of the Dedanites. These were the posterity of Dedan, the son of Joksan, the son Abraham by Ketura, Gen.25.3. Others, in the paths of Dedanim, or, in the ways of Dedanim. See further Jer.25.on v.23.]

14. Come to meet the thirsty [To wit, the Dedanites] (with) water: the inhabitants of the land of Tema [Lying in Arabia desert, or desolate Arabia, formerly belonging to the Israelites: for Tema was the son of Ismael. Gen.25.15.] met the fugitives [Or, those that strayed, or, wandered to and fro] with his bread, [that is, with the bread which he (to wit, the Dedanite] had need of, that he might not die of hunger, and the prophet calleth it his bread (to wit, the Dedanites bread) because they were bound to communicate it unto him in his want or need, at least here is described the great want and necessity into which the Arabians should fall, who fleeing from their enemies should be constrained to beg water and bread of their neighbours.]

15. For they flee from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war, [Heb. From the face of the swords etc. And so in the sequel. And understand here the swords and bows of the Assyrians, to wit, of the Souldiers of Sennacherib.]

16. For thus hath the Lord said unto me, within a year, [Or within the year; to wit, counting from that time when this was spoken] as the years of an hireling are, [see above chap.16.14.] then all the glory, [or honour. See Job 19.on vers.9.] of Kedar [that is, of the Kedarines. Kedar was a son of Ismael, Genes.25. It signifieth sometimes all Arabia Petrea, or all the Stony Arabia, Psal.120.5.]

17. And the remaining number of the Archers, the champions of the Kedarens [Heb. The champions of the children’s of Kedar, the men retained still the nature and disposition of their forefather Ismael who was an expert Archer, Gen.21.20.] shall grow fewer, [many of them are slain by the Assyrians] For the Lord the God of Israel hath spoken it.]