For, behold, I will stir up and cause to come up against Babylon a company of great nations from the north country; and they will set themselves in array against her. She will be taken from there. Their arrows will be as of an expert mighty man. None of them will return in vain.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 9. Nations. Cyrus had Armenians, and so forth in his army. Calmet.—Thence, by the bed of the Euphrates, the waters of which were mostly let out into the marshes. Thus the city was taken, while the people were feasting. Herod. i. 191.—Aristotle (Pol. iii. 3.) says, three days passed before all the citizens were apprised of its fate, it was so extensive: but this is incredible. If we follow the account of Berosus, Cyrus routed Nabonides, who fled to Borsippe, while he took Babylon and demolished the outer walls. Jos. c. Ap. i. Calmet.—North, with respect to Babylon. Worthington.—The Persians lay rather to the south, and to the east of Palestine, ( Bible.) if our maps be accurate. Calmet.