Isaiah 13

Isaiah 13:1

Prophecies of heavy, oppressive, and ruinous, judgments are often called burdens; and those denounced against Babylon also often relate to Antichrist. 2, 3. Assemble the forces to their respective standards.—Order them to present themselves to the noble captains of Media and Persia, and to break into the houses of the noble Chaldeans. I have stirred up, and, by my providence, separated and strengthened, these Medes and Persians to execute my judgments upon Babylon, and to perform the most gallant actions, which will illustrate my honour and greatness. 6, 9. The day of the Lord, R A of the wicked, denotes the period of his awful judgments upon them

Isaiah 13:10

The whole country of Chaldea shall be filled with horror, and their princes and nobles degraded or murdered

Isaiah 13:12

Men fit to bear arms shall become very rare; or the Medes and Persians shall refuse every ransom of their lives. 13, 14. Because of their wickedness, the whole nation shall be quite unhinged and ruined. The Chaldeans shall flee for their lives; but none shall dare to harbour them. All their auxiliaries shall run away, and leave them to shift for themselves

Isaiah 13:19

Babylon, once the so large, glorious, and impregnable, capital of Chaldea, shall be utterly destroyed in the most wrathful manner

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XIII.—Alas, how oppressive and destructive are the judgments of God upon guilty nations, or even the threatenings thereof! Nor is there any destruction on earth but the Lord is the manager of it. He sets apart the instruments of his wrath as well as those of his grace. He can raise mighty armies by his call or by his nod; and with alacrity they march, under his encouraging direction, to execute his judgments. How dreadful is it when the terrors of a guilty conscience are added to the heavy judgments of affliction! 7 The hearts and hands of the mightiest fail them, when JENOVAN appears against them in his vengeance; and all helpers desert when God devotes a nation to ruin. Into what savage devils has sin transformed men, especially when they serve in conquering armies! But God is righteous in returning men’s cruelties upon themselves. He has exhibited the most terrible marks of his indignation against sin on persons, cities, and nations. And the ruins of places, once famous and wicked, attest his infinite holiness, equity, foreknowledge, and faithfulness, and the divine authenticity of his word