Isaiah 13

Isaiah 13:1

Babylon] Here begin Prophecies, purposely against forreign States.

And first against Babylon, that should be their principal enemy. The Inscription of this Sermon is here in the first words. Of Burden, See Jer. XXIII. 33, 36. Of Babylon, see my Observations on Dan. IV. 30. Of her Fall, see Jer. L. and LI. And this seemes to be the seventh Sermon.

Isaiah 13:2

Lift ye up a banner] To summon those that were to be imployed against Babylon.

nobles] The great Peeres of Babylon.

Isaiah 13:3

my sanctified ones] Set apart to this service, ver. 17. Jer. LI. 27, 28.

Isaiah 13:5

A far countrey] Media and Persia.

Whole land] Of Chaldea.

Isaiah 13:6

Howle ye] Babylonians.

Isaiah 13:8

their faces shall be as flames] Lam. IV. 8. and V. 10.

Ezek. XX. 47. Yet this here seemes to be for fear of evil yet to come. See therefore that, Jer. XXX. 5, 6. Joel II. 6. Nahum II. 10. Yet the Original word seemes to incline, to the faces of Lybians, or tawny-moores.

Isaiah 13:10

the stars] All shall be so full of horror and terror, that the heavenly bodies may seem to have lost their light; no glimps of comfort shall appeare.

Isaiah 13:12

Ophir] See the Observations on 1 King. X. 11.

Isaiah 13:13

shake the heavens] I will cause them to be in such confusion and distraction, as if heaven it self were falling upon their heads, and the earth moving or removing from under their feet.

Isaiah 13:14

And it shall be] Babylon.

turne to his owne people] Babylon shall be forsaken by her hired forces, and confederates.

Isaiah 13:15

found] Medes and Persians.

Isaiah 13:17

Medes] Under the conduct of Cyrus and Darius.

Isaiah 13:19

overthrew Sodom] This utter devastation of Babylon was not at once; but began at the conquest of it by Cyrus, and in the succeeding ages was consummated.

Isaiah 13:20

It shall never be inhabited] Jer. LI. 26, 29, 43.

Isaiah 13:22

and her time is near to come] Esay in vision seeth the judgements as if presently approaching: or, this may be taken as spoken to and for them that then should be living in the time of the captivity of the LXX. years.