1Ausspruch über BabelH894, welchen JesajaH3470, der SohnH1121 AmozH531 ', geschaut hatH2372. 2Erhebet ein PanierH5251 aufH7311 kahlem BergeH2022, rufet ihnen zu mit lauter StimmeH6963, schwinget die HandH3027, daß sieH935 einziehen in die ToreH6607 der EdlenH5081! 3Ich habeH6680 meine GeheiligtenH6942 entboten, auch meine HeldenH1368 gerufenH7121 zu meinem Zorne, meine stolzH1346 Frohlockenden. 4Horch! Ein GetümmelH1995 aufH622 den BergenH2022, wieH1823 von einem großenH7227 VolkeH5971; horch! Ein Getöse von KönigreichenH4467 versammelter Nationen: JehovaH3068 der HeerscharenH6635 mustert ein Kriegsheer, 5aus fernemH4801 LandeH776 Gekommene, vom EndeH7097 des HimmelsH8064 - JehovaH3068 und die Werkzeuge seines Grimmes, um das ganze LandH776 zu verderbenH2254. 6HeuletH3213, denn naheH7138 ist der TagH3117 JehovasH3068; erH935 kommt wie eine VerwüstungH7701 vom AllmächtigenH7706. 7Darum werdenH7503 alle HändeH3027 erschlaffen, und jedes Menschenherz wird zerschmelzenH4549. 8Und sieH270 werdenH3205 bestürzt sein, WehenH2256 und Schmerzen werden sieH2342 ergreifen, sieH6440 werden sichH8539 winden gleich einerH376 Gebärenden; einer starrt den anderen an, ihre Angesichter glühen. 9Siehe, der TagH3117 JehovasH3068 kommt grausamH394, undH8047 GrimmH5678 und Zornglut, um die ErdeH776 zur Wüste zu machenH7760; und ihre SünderH2400 wird erH935 von derselben vertilgenH8045. 10Denn die SterneH3556 des HimmelsH8064 undH3318 seine Gestirne werden ihr LichtH216 nicht leuchtenH5050 lassen; die SonneH8121 wird finsterH2821 sein bei ihrem Aufgang, und der MondH3394 wird sein LichtH216 nicht scheinenH1984 lassen. 11Und ich werde an dem Erdkreis heimsuchenH6485 die BosheitH7451, und an den Gesetzlosen ihre MissetatH5771; und ich werde ein Ende machenH7673 dem HochmutH1347 der StolzenH2086 und die HoffartH1346 der GewalttätigenH6184 erniedrigen. 12Ich will den Sterblichen kostbarer machen als gediegenes GoldH6337, und den MenschenH582 als GoldH3800 von OphirH211. 13Darum werdeH7264 ich die HimmelH8064 erzittern machen, und die ErdeH776 wirdH7493 aufbeben von ihrer Stelle: beim Grimme JehovasH3068 der HeerscharenH6635 und am TageH3117 seiner Zornglut. 14Und es wird sein wie mit einerH376 verscheuchten Gazelle und wie mit einerH376 HerdeH6629, die niemand sammelt: ein jeder wird sichH6908 zu seinem VolkeH5971 wendenH6437, und ein jeder in sein LandH6643 fliehenH5127. 15Wer irgend gefundenH4672 wirdH1856, wird durchbohrt werden; und wer irgend erhascht wird, wird durchs SchwertH2719 fallenH5307. 16Und ihre KinderH5768 werdenH7376 vor ihren AugenH5869 zerschmettert, ihre HäuserH1004 geplündertH8155 und ihre WeiberH802 geschändet werdenH7901. 17Siehe, ich erweckeH5782 wider sie die MederH4074, welche SilberH3701 nichtH2654 achtenH2803, und an GoldH2091 kein Gefallen haben. 18Und ihre BogenH7198 werdenH7376 JünglingeH5288 niederstrecken, und über die LeibesfruchtH990 werdenH7376 sie sich nicht erbarmenH7355, ihr AugeH5869 wird der KinderH1121 nicht schonenH2347. 19Und BabelH894, die Zierde der KönigreicheH4467, der StolzH1347 des Hochmuts der ChaldäerH3778, wird gleichH4114 sein der Umkehrung SodomsH5467 und GomorrasH6017 durch GottH430. 20Es wird in Ewigkeit nichtH5331 bewohntH3427 werdenH7931, und keine Niederlassung mehr sein von GeschlechtH1755 zu GeschlechtH1755; und der AraberH6163 wird dort nicht zelten, und HirtenH7462 werden dort nicht lagernH7257 lassen. 21Aber WüstentiereH6728 werdenH4390 dort lagernH7257, und ihre HäuserH1004 mit Uhus angefüllt sein; und StraußeH3284 werden dort wohnenH7931 und BöckeH8163 dort hüpfenH7540; 22undH6030 wilde HundeH338 werden heulen inH935 seinen PalästenH490 und SchakaleH8577 in den Lustschlössern. Und seine ZeitH6256 steht naheH7138 bevor, und seine TageH3117 werden nichtH4900 verlängert werden.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE THIRTEENTH THROUGH TWENTY-THIRD CHAPTERS CONTAIN PROPHECIES AS TO FOREIGN NATIONS.--THE THIRTEENTH, FOURTEENTH, AND TWENTY-SEVENTH CHAPTERS AS TO BABYLON AND ASSYRIA. (Isa. 13:1-22)
burden--weighty or mournful prophecy [GROTIUS]. Otherwise, simply, the prophetical declaration, from a Hebrew root to put forth with the voice anything, as in
Num 23:7 [MAURER].
of Babylon--concerning Babylon.
2 Lift . . . banner-- (
Isa 5:26;
Isa 11:10).
the high mountain--rather, "a bare (literally, "bald," that is, without trees) mountain"; from it the banner could be seen afar off, so as to rally together the peoples against Babylon.
unto them--unto the Medes (
Isa 13:17), the assailants of Babylon. It is remarkable that Isaiah does not foretell here the Jews' captivity in Babylon, but presupposes that event, and throws himself beyond, predicting another event still more future, the overthrow of the city of Israel's oppressors. It was now one hundred seventy-four years before the event.
shake . . . hand--beckon with the hand--wave the hand to direct the nations to march against Babylon.
nobles--Babylonian. Rather, in a bad sense, tyrants; as in
Isa 14:5, "rulers" in parallelism to "the wicked"; and
Job 21:28 [MAURER].
3 sanctified ones--the Median and Persian soldiers solemnly set apart by Me for the destruction of Babylon, not inwardly "sanctified," but designated to fulfil God's holy purpose (
Jer 51:27-
Jer 51:28;
Joel 3:9,
Joel 3:11; where the Hebrew for prepare war is "sanctify" war).
for mine anger--to execute it.
rejoice in my highness--"Those who are made to triumph for My honor" [HORSLEY]. The heathen Medes could not be said to "rejoice in God's highness" MAURER translates, "My haughtily exulting ones" (
Zeph 3:11); a special characteristic of the Persians [HERODOTUS,1.88]. They rejoiced in their own highness, but it was His that they were unconsciously glorifying.
4 the mountains--namely, which separate Media and Assyria, and on one of which the banner to rally the hosts is supposed to be reared.
tumultuous noise--The Babylonians are vividly depicted as hearing some unwonted sound like the din of a host; they try to distinguish the sounds, but can only perceive a tumultuous noise.
nations--Medes, Persians, and Armenians composed Cyrus' army.
5 They--namely, "Jehovah," and the armies which are "the weapons of His indignation."
far country--Media and Persia, stretching to the far north and east.
end of heaven--the far east (
Ps 19:6).
destroy--rather, "to seize" [HORSLEY].
6 day of the Lord--day of His vengeance on Babylon (
Isa 2:12). Type of the future "day of wrath" (
Rev 6:17).
destruction--literally, "a devastating tempest."
from the Almighty--not from mere man; therefore irresistible. "Almighty," Hebrew, Shaddai.
7 faint . . . melt--So
Jer 50:43; compare
Josh 7:5. Babylon was taken by surprise on the night of Belshazzar's impious feast (
Dan 5:30). Hence the sudden fainting and melting of hearts.
8 pangs--The Hebrew means also a "messenger." HORSLEY, therefore, with the Septuagint translates, "The heralds (who bring word of the unexpected invasion) are terrified." MAURER agrees with English Version, literally, "they shall take hold of pangs and sorrows."
woman . . . travaileth-- (
1Thess 5:3).
amazed--the stupid, bewildered gaze of consternation.
faces . . . flames--"their visages have the livid hue of flame" [HORSLEY]; with anguish and indignation.
9 cruel--not strictly, but unsparingly just; opposed to mercy. Also answering to the cruelty (in the strict sense) of Babylon towards others (
Isa 14:17) now about to be visited on itself.
the land--"the earth" [HORSLEY]. The language of
Isa 13:9-
Isa 13:13 can only primarily and partially apply to Babylon; fully and exhaustively, the judgments to come, hereafter, on the whole earth. Compare
Isa 13:10 with
Matt 24:29;
Rev 8:12. The sins of Babylon, arrogancy (
Isa 13:11;
Isa 14:11;
Isa 47:7-
Isa 47:8), cruelty, false worship (
Jer 50:38), persecution of the people of God (
Isa 47:6), are peculiarly characteristic of the Antichristian world of the latter days (
Dan 11:32-
Dan 11:37;
Rev 17:3,
Rev 17:6;
Rev 18:6-
Rev 18:7,
Rev 18:9-
Rev 18:14,
Rev 18:24).
10 stars, &c.--figuratively for anarchy, distress, and revolutions of kingdoms (
Isa 34:4;
Joel 2:10;
Ezek 32:7-
Ezek 32:8;
Amos 8:9;
Rev 6:12-
Rev 6:14). There may be a literal fulfilment finally, shadowed forth under this imagery (
Rev 21:1).
constellations--Hebrew, "a fool," or "impious one"; applied to the constellation Orion, which was represented as an impious giant (Nimrod deified, the founder of Babylon) chained to the sky. See on
Job 38:31.
11 world--the impious of the world (compare
Isa 11:4).
arrogancy--Babylon's besetting sin (
Dan 4:22,
Dan 4:30).
the terrible--rather, tyrants [HORSLEY].
12 man . . . precious--I will so cut off Babylon's defenders, that a single man shall be as rare and precious as the finest gold.
13 Image for mighty revolutions (
Isa 24:19;
Isa 34:4;
Hab 3:6,
Hab 3:10;
Hag 2:6-
Hag 2:7;
Rev 20:11).
14 it--Babylon.
roe--gazelle; the most timid and easily startled.
no man taketh up--sheep defenseless, without a shepherd (
Zech 13:7).
every man . . . to his own people--The "mingled peoples" of foreign lands shall flee out of her (
Jer 50:16,
Jer 50:28,
Jer 50:37;
Jer 51:9).
15 found--in the city.
joined--"intercepted" [MAURER]. "Every one that has withdrawn himself," namely, to hide in the houses [GESENIUS].
16 (
Ps 137:8-
Ps 137:9).
17 Medes-- (
Isa 21:2;
Jer 51:11,
Jer 51:28). At that time they were subject to Assyria; subsequently Arbaces, satrap of Media, revolted against the effeminate Sardanapalus, king of Assyria, destroyed Nineveh, and became king of Media, in the ninth century B.C.
not regard silver--In vain will one try to buy his life from them for a ransom. The heathen XENOPHON (Cyropćdia, 5,1,10) represents Cyrus as attributing this characteristic to the Medes, disregard of riches. A curious confirmation of this prophecy.
18 bows--in the use of which the Persians were particularly skilled.
19 glory of kingdoms-- (
Isa 14:4;
Isa 47:5;
Jer 51:41).
beauty of . . . excellency--Hebrew, "the glory of the pride" of the Chaldees; it was their glory and boast.
as . . . Gomorrah--as utterly (
Jer 49:18;
Jer 50:40;
Amos 4:11). Taken by Cyrus, by clearing out the canal made for emptying the superfluous waters of the Euphrates, and directing the river into this new channel, so that he was able to enter the city by the old bed in the night.
20 Literally fulfilled.
neither . . . Arabian pitch tent--Not only shall it not be a permanent residence, but not even a temporary resting-place. The Arabs, through dread of evil spirits, and believing the ghost of Nimrod to haunt it, will not pass the night there (compare
Isa 13:21).
neither . . . shepherds--The region was once most fertile; but owing to the Euphrates being now no longer kept within its former channels, it has become a stagnant marsh, unfit for flocks; and on the wastes of its ruins (bricks and cement) no grass grows.
21 wild beasts--Hebrew, tsiyim, animals dwelling in arid wastes. Wild cats, remarkable for their howl [BOCHART].
doleful creatures--"howling beasts," literally, "howlings" [MAURER].
owls--rather, "ostriches"; a timorous creature, delighting in solitary deserts and making a hideous noise [BOCHART].
satyrs--sylvan demi-gods--half man, half goat--believed by the Arabs to haunt these ruins; probably animals of the goat-ape species [VITRINGA]. Devil-worshippers, who dance amid the ruins on a certain night [J. WOLFF].
22 wild beasts of the islands--rather, "jackals"; called by the Arabs "sons of howling"; an animal midway between a fox and a wolf [BOCHART and MAURER].
cry--rather, "answer," "respond" to each other, as wolves do at night, producing a most dismal effect.
dragons--serpents of various species, which hiss and utter dolorous sounds. Fable gave them wings, because they stand with much of the body elevated and then dart swiftly. MAURER understands here another species of jackal.
her time . . . near--though one hundred seventy-four years distant, yet "near" to Isaiah, who is supposed to be speaking to the Jews as if now captives in Babylon (
Isa 14:1-
Isa 14:2).
"It moves in lengthened elegiac measure like a song of lamentation for the dead, and is full of lofty scorn" [HERDER].
a pledge to assure the captives in Babylon that He who, with such ease, overthrew the Assyrian, could likewise effect His purpose as to Babylon. The Babylonian king, the subject of this prediction, is Belshazzar, as representative of the kingdom (Dan. 5:1-31).