Isaiah 21

Isaiah 21:1

The desert of the sea. So Babylon is here called, because from a city as full of people as the sea is with water, it was become a desert. (Challoner) — After its fall, it was mostly inundated, chap. xiii. 20. — Land. Media and Persia, which lay to the south, and were not so beautiful as the environs of Babylon.

Isaiah 21:2

Spoileth. Baltassar is incorrigible, or his opponents must proceed. (Calmet) — Elam; that is, O Persia: (Challoner) Cyrus, and Darius, the Mede. (Calmet) — The former nation was weak, and the latter strong. (Worthington) — Cease. The enemy will shew no pity; nor shall I; as Babylon did not heretofore. (Haydock)

Isaiah 21:3

Pain. He bewails the crimes and the fall of Babylon, which at this time was in amity with Ezechias, ver. 10. (Calmet)

Isaiah 21:4

Babylon. Protestants, “the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.” Septuagint, “My soul is turned into fear.” (Haydock)

Isaiah 21:5

CHAPTER XXI.

Drink. Persians refresh yourselves. — Take up. Hebrew, “anoint.” He may also allude to the Babylonians, who were feasting.

Isaiah 21:7

Camel. These two riders are the kings of the Persians and Medes. (Challoner) — The sentinel, placed by Isaias, in spirit, or rather by the king of Babylon, brings these tidings. (Calmet)

Isaiah 21:8

Out. Literally, “He cried, a lion.” (Haydock) — Cyrus appears like one. Septuagint, “And call Urias to the watch-tower,” &c., chap. viii. 2.

Isaiah 21:9

Horsemen, drawn by the ass and camel, ver. 7. This was verified long after.

Isaiah 21:10

Floor: you who must shortly be reduced to the utmost distress. Baladan was friendly to Ezechias. But Assaradon having seized Babylon, took Manasses prisoner; and the city thenceforward continued to fill up the measure of its sins. (Calmet)

Isaiah 21:11

Duma. That is, Idumea, or Edom. (Challoner) — It was a city of that country, twenty miles from Eleutheropolis. (St. Jerome) — Assaradon desolated Idumea the following year, ver. 16. The Jews absurdly apply to Rome what is said of Edom. (St. Jerome) (Calmet)

Isaiah 21:12

Night. Instead of joy, I must announce dreadful things. (Haydock)

Isaiah 21:13

Arabia. This sentence is not in the Roman (Calmet) or Alexandrian Septuagint, (Haydock) and Dedan is a city of Idumea. (Calmet) — The Israelites are threatened. (Worthington)

Isaiah 21:14

Water. To neglect this was to be accessary to another’s death, in those dreary regions, chap. xvi. 3., and Deuteronomy xxiii. 2.

Isaiah 21:16

Hireling; counting precisely, chap. xvi. 14. (Calmet) — Cedar: Arabia, (Challoner) near to Edom. (Calmet)