Isaiah 13

Isaiah 13:1

THe burden] this word amongst the Prophets, doth often signifie a prophecie of threatnings and curses, which are like unto an unsufferable burden to them upon whom they are denounced, see 2 King. 9. 25. Jeremiah 23:33.

Isaiah 13:2

Lift ye up] a representation of the Persians and Medes enterprise against Babylon. As if he should say, Let the Army be gathered together, and let a signall bee given for the assault.Unto them] namely, to the Medes Into the gates] of Babylon, which is the Imperiall seat, and royall Residence, the City wherein dwell the great Officers of the Kingdome, who were so many. Princes, Isaiah 10:8.

Isaiah 13:3

I have commanded] namely, by a secret inspiration and motion of my providence, and not by any expresse command, see 2 Samuel 16:10. Isaiah 36:10. Even them that rejoyce] the Italian, that triumph; namely, those brave Souldiers belonging to my glorious Majestie, whom I make victorious and triumphant, through my power which accompanieth them.

Isaiah 13:5

Of heaven] a popular and vulgar kinde of speech, because that to the eye the hemisphere of Heaven seemeth to rest upon the plain of the earth, and to be bounded by it, see Nehemiah 1:9. Matthew 24:31. The whole land] namely, the Babylonian Empire, which through excesse of ambition, termed it selfe the universall Empire of the whole world, see Daniel 2:38.

Isaiah 13:7

Therefore] because this shall bee Gods worke, no humane power nor strength shall be able to oppose it.

Isaiah 13:8

Their faces] they shall look dimme, and full of horrour through fear, and through the disasters of war, see Lam. 4. 8. and 5. 10 Ezech. 21. 3.

Isaiah 13:10

For the Starres] a figurative description of an extreme horror and ruine, all manner of direction, order, counsell, conduct, and reliefe from God being quite taken away, as if the world had no light at all from above, see Ezech. 32. 7. Joel 2. 31. and 3. 15.

Isaiah 13:11

Of the terrible] the Italian, of the violent; or of tyrants.

Isaiah 13:12

A man] that is to say, they shall all be slaine, and no man shall redeeme his life with money.

Isaiah 13:13

Therefore] namely, for the sinnes mentioned, vers. 11. I will shake] a figurative description very freqent in Scripture.

Isaiah 13:14

And it shall be, the Italian, and they shall be; that is to say, all his hired Souldiers, and such as come to aid him, shall disband themselves, and shall be dispersed, see Jer. 50. 16. and 51. 9.

Isaiah 13:15

Unto them] namely, to the Babylonians:

Isaiah 13:17

The Medes] under which name are also comprehended the Persians, because that these two Nations were united under Cyrus his Empire, but by reason that the Medes were more ancient and worthy, the State takes its name from them, see Isaiah 21:2. Jeremiah 51:11. Daniel 8:20. Shall not regard] they shall kill all, without taking any ransome, vers. 12.

Isaiah 13:20

It shall never] the City of Babylon did stand a great while after it was taken by Cyrus in great splendor and power, but it then lost the Empire and command, whereupon began the decay of the City, and some ages after followed her totall ruine The Arabian] that is to say, the place shall be accursed and desolate by overflowing of waters or some other meanes, so that even those kinde of people that lead a wandring kinde of life, living upon thefts, or upon grazing of cattell, shall not be able for to live there for want of all manner of commodities.

Isaiah 13:21

Satyrs] the Italian, devils; in borrowed shapes, and hideous apparitions: your unclean spirits having their residences here in the world in such solitary and terrible places, see Isaiah 34:14. Matthew 12:43.