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The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.
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.
Set up a banner on the bare mountain! Lift up your voice to them! Wave your hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.
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.
I have commanded my consecrated ones; yes, I have called my mighty men for my anger, even my proudly exulting ones.
Verse 3. Sanctioned. The Medes and Persians were appointed by God to punish Babylon. Worthington.
The noise of a multitude is in the mountains, as of a great people; the noise of an uproar of the kingdoms of the nations gathered together! The LORD of Armies is mustering the army for the battle.
Verse 4. Kings. Darius styles himself king of the Medes and Persians. Daniel 6:12. Many princes and nations composed his army.
They come from a far country, from the uttermost part of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.
Verse 5. Heaven. Where it seems to touch the horizon. Thus the countries beyond the Euphrates are often designated.
Wail, for the LORD’s day is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty.
Verse 6. Near. Though one hundred and seventy-two years distant.
Therefore all hands will be feeble, and everyone’s heart will melt.
They will be dismayed. Pangs and sorrows will seize them. They will be in pain like a woman in labor. They will look in amazement one at another. Their faces will be faces of flame.
Verse 8. Burnt. Black with despair. Nahum 2:10 and Joel 2:6.
Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger; to make the land a desolation, and to destroy its sinners out of it.
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.
For the stars of the sky and its constellations will not give their light. The sun will be darkened in its going out, and the moon will not cause its light to shine.
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.
I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity. I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will humble the arrogance of the terrible.
Verse 11. World. The vices of all nations were concentrated at Babylon. Calmet.
I will make people more rare than fine gold, even a person than the pure gold of Ophir.
Verse 12. Precious. Rare, ( Worthington.) or sought after for destruction. verse 17.
Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place in the LORD of Armies’ wrath, and in the day of his fierce anger.
Verse 13. Heaven. With thunders.
It will happen that like a hunted gazelle and like sheep that no one gathers, they will each turn to their own people, and will each flee to their own land.
Verse 14. Land. Baltassar shall be abandoned by his allies. Crœsus had been already defeated, before Cyrus invested Babylon.
Everyone who is found will be thrust through. Everyone who is captured will fall by the sword.
Their infants also will be dashed in pieces before their eyes. Their houses will be ransacked, and their wives raped.
Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, who will not value silver, and as for gold, they will not delight in it.
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.
Their bows will dash the young men in pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb. Their eyes will not spare children.
Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, will be like when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
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.
It will never be inhabited, neither will it be lived in from generation to generation. The Arabian will not pitch a tent there, neither will shepherds make their flocks lie down there.
Verse 20. Tents. To dwell, ( Calmet.) or to traffic. Theod.—Another city was built, but not so large, nor in the same place. Worthington.
But wild animals of the desert will lie there, and their houses will be full of jackals. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will frolic there.
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.
Hyenas will cry in their fortresses, and jackals in the pleasant palaces. Her time is near to come, and her days will not be prolonged.
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.