Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Burden. That is, a prophecy against Babylon. Challoner.—Nimrod began the kingdom. Genesis 10. Belus and Ninus brought it to great eminence. But after 1240 years, Babylon was taken by Cyrus. Worthington.—Isaias delivered the seven following chapters in the first year of Ezechias. Calmet. 14:28.
Verse 2. Mountain of Media, whence Darius came. It was usual to erect a signal, (chapter 30:17. Jeremiah 6:1) to call troops together. Calmet.
Verse 3. Sanctioned. The Medes and Persians were appointed by God to punish Babylon. Worthington.
Verse 4. Kings. Darius styles himself king of the Medes and Persians. Daniel 6:12. Many princes and nations composed his army.
Verse 5. Heaven. Where it seems to touch the horizon. Thus the countries beyond the Euphrates are often designated.
Verse 6. Near. Though one hundred and seventy-two years distant.
Verse 8. Burnt. Black with despair. Nahum 2:10 and Joel 2:6.
Verse 9. Desolate. This was effected in the course of many centuries. Calmet.—The building of Seleucia caused Babylon to be deserted. Pliny vi. 27.—Hence we know not at present where it was situated.
Verse 10. Stars. This is not to be taken literally, but only implies that the people shall be in as much consternation ( Calmet.) as if the world were at an end. verse 13. Bible. Grot. Matthew 24:27. Revelation 6:12. Jeremiah 4:23.
Verse 11. World. The vices of all nations were concentrated at Babylon. Calmet.
Verse 12. Precious. Rare, ( Worthington.) or sought after for destruction. verse 17.
Verse 13. Heaven. With thunders.
Verse 14. Land. Baltassar shall be abandoned by his allies. Crœsus had been already defeated, before Cyrus invested Babylon.
Verse 17. Medes. Who had set themselves at liberty about twenty years before this. They were not solicitous about gold. Ezekiel 7:19. Zephaniah 1:18.
Verse 19. Gomorrha. Towards the end of the Macedonian empire. Calmet.—The Persians kept wild beasts in it. Saint Jerome—The palace of Nabuchodonosor subsisted in the days of Benjamin, ( Calmet.) but could not be approached on account of serpents. Tudel. p. 70.
Verse 20. Tents. To dwell, ( Calmet.) or to traffic. Theod.—Another city was built, but not so large, nor in the same place. Worthington.
Verse 21. Beasts. Hebrew tsiim, “fishermen.”—Serpents. Hebrew ochim. Septuagint “echo,” ( Bible.) or “reeds.” Babylon was built on a marshy situation, and Cyrus having let out the waters of the Euphrates, they could never be effectually stopped.—Ostriches. Or swans.—Hairy. Goats. Calmet. 34:14. Calmet.
Verse 22. Owls. Or jackals, which resemble foxes, and going in packs, will devour the largest creatures. Bochart. Parkhurst in aje. Bible.—But Saint Jerome explains it of birds. Job 28:7. Leviticus 14.—Sirens, fabulously supposed to be sweet singing women with wings.—Thannim denotes some great sea monsters, such as whales or sea calves. Calmet.