Bible Commentaries

The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.

The burden. — That is, the burdenous prophecy. It should not have seemed a burden, Jeremiah 23:36 but it is a grievous burden to graceless persons to be told of their sins, and foretold of their punishments. See Trapp on " Nahum 1:1 " See Trapp on " Malachi 1:1 "

Of Babylon. — Not that Babylon in Egypt (of which 1 Peter 5:13 , as some hold), now called Grand Cairo, the sultan’s seat royal, but the metropolis of Chaldea, built by Semiramis about a hundred years after the flood, whither the Jews were to be carried captive, and concerning which calamity they are here aforehand comforted. See Micah 7:8 ; Micah 7:16 .

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Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.

Lift up a banner. — Deus hic quasi classicum canit; God, as chief general, gives forth his orders to the Medes and Persians. He is a "man of war," Exodus 15:3 yea, the Lord victor of war, as the Chaldee there paraphraseth. See the like Jeremiah 50:2 .

Upon the high mountain. — Where it may best be seen. Media is a mountainous country. Or, contra montem caliglnosum, against the dark mountain - i.e., Babylon, which, though situated in a plain, yet was tumoured up with her wealth and power, and seemed unmoveable. Famous this city was for a hortus pensilis, an artificial garden (made by Nebuchadnezzar for the pleasure of his wife Nicotris), which, hanging over the city, darkeneth it, Strabo, lib. xvi.; Curtius, lib. v.; Josephus, lib. x. like as that continual cloud doth the island of St Thomas, on the back side of Africa.

Exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand. — Propinquos voce, longinquos significatione ad arma convocate; Junius. give the alarm to those that are near hand and further off.

That they may go into the gates of the nobles. — Or, Of the munificent or bounteous lords; for such all nobles are, or ought to be. Our English word lord, contracted of the Saxon word laford, cometh of luef, to sustain or succour others.

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I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, [even] them that rejoice in my highness.

I have commanded my sanctified ones, — i.e., I have by my secret instinct stirred up and set on my Medes and Persians, Isaiah 13:17 whom in my decree I have set apart for this holy work of executing vengeance on the Babylonians.

I have also called my mighties. — My heroes, armed with my might.

Even them that rejoice in my highness. — Heb., Exultantes superbiae meos; my brave soldiers, whom I render victorious and triumphant.

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The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.

The noise of the multitude. — The Medes that come against Babylon are both numerous and streperous, as is here graphically described by an elegant hypotyposis. Vivid description of a scene, event, or situation, bringing it, as it were, before the eyes of the hearer or reader.

The Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. — No marvel, then, that the forces are so many and mighty, for if he but stamp with his foot, all creatures are up in arms immediately.

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They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, [even] the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.

They come from a far country. — Heb., From a land of longinquity.

Even the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation. — ’ Oπολομαχους , "Vessels of wrath," the Septuagint render them; but in another sense, then, the apostle useth that expression concerning reprobates designed to destruction.

To destroy the whole land. — Or, The whole world, for so the Chaldees, in the pride of their empire, styled it. The Romans did the like. Luke 2:1 The Turks do the same at this day, such is their ambition.

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Howl ye; for the day of the LORD [is] at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.

Howl ye. — "For the evils that are coming upon you" (as in James 5:1 ). We may well say the same to mystical Babylon.

For the day of the Lord is at hand. — And yet it came not till over two hundred years after. Think the same of the day of judgment, and reckon that a thousand years with God is but as one day.

It shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. — Heb., Cleshod Mishaddai, an elegance that cannot be translated. Shaddai (God’s name) signifieth a conqueror, say some; a destroyer, say others, which a conqueror must needs be, - Eundem victorem et vastatorem esse oportet. Here is threatened a devastation from the devastator.

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Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt:

Therefore shall all hands be faint. — Base fear, that cowardly passion, shall betray them to the enemy, by expectorating their courage, and causing their hearts to fall into their heels, as we say. But this also cometh from the Lord of hosts, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working, for he ordereth the armour, Jeremiah 50:25 and he strengtheneth or weakeneth the armies of either party. Ezekiel 30:24 Whencesoever the sword cometh it is "bathed in heaven." Isaiah 34:5

And every heart shall melt. — How much more shall wicked men’s hearts do so at the day of judgment, when the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Luke 21:26 Alegoriae; haec veriora erunt in die iudicii cuius hic est typus.

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And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces [shall be as] flames.

And they shall be afraid. —

“ Conturbabuntur -

Innumerabilibus sollicitudinibus. ”

They shall be amazed one at another. — Amused, amazed, amated, as being at their wits’ ends.

Their faces shall be as flames. — So Jeremiah 30:5-6 , a voice of fear and trembling, every man with his hands on his loins, the posture of a travailling woman, and all faces turned into paleness. The prophet here alludeth, saith Musculus, to the face of a smith at dark night, when he standeth blowing his fire, for his face appears as if it had no blood in it, most wan and pale. Or, as others think, to a man frightened, who first looketh pale, the blood running to the heart to relieve it, afterwards, upon the return of the blood to the outward parts, he looketh red, and of a flame colour.

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