Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 13

Verse 1

burden = a prophetic oracle or warning. This begins the fourth great division of the book. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 24:3 ), App-92 .

Babylon. This takes precedence, and stands for Chaldsea generally. It reached its height about 100 years later, under Nahopolassar and his son Nebuchadnezzar. A generation later it was captured by Cyrus and Darius the Mede (see App-57 ). Babylon was of little importance at this time.

Isaiah. His name given in Isaiah 1:1 ; Isaiah 2:1 ; Isaiah 7:3 ; Isaiah 13:1 ; Isaiah 20:2 , Isaiah 20:3 ; Isaiah 37:2 , Isaiah 37:5 , Isaiah 37:6 , Isaiah 37:21 ; Isaiah 39:3 , Isaiah 39:5 , Isaiah 39:8 .

Verse 3

sanctified ones = separated ones. Here = the armies of the Medes and Persians. Compare Isaiah 44:28 ; Isaiah 45:1 .

mighty ones = heroes. Hebrew. gibbor. App-14 .

them that rejoice in My highness = my proudly exulting ones.

Verse 5

the end of heaven: i.e. from afar.

the whole land = all the land [of Chaldaea].

Verse 6

the day. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for the events (or judgments) which shall take place in it.

day of the Lord. . See note on Isaiah 2:12 . Occurs in fifteen other places in O.T. : (Isaiah 13:9 . Ezekiel 13:5 .Joel 1:15 ; Joel 2:1 , Joel 2:11 , Joel 2:31 ; Amos 5:18 , Amos 5:18 , Amos 5:20 . Obadiah 1:15 .Zephaniah 1:7 , Zephaniah 1:14 , Zephaniah 1:14 .Malachi 4:5 (total 4x4, App-10 ).

destruction . . . ALMIGHTY. Note Figure of speech Paronomasia . Hebrew. keshod . . . mishshaddai .

the ALMIGHTY = the All-bountiful One. Hebrew. Shaddai ( App-4 ).

Verse 7

man's = mortal's. Hebrew. enosh.

App-14 .

Verse 8

as flames = as [faces of] flames darkened.

Verse 9

cruel = stern.

Verse 10

shall not give their light. Quoted in Matthew 24:29 . Shall not celebrate [Thee]. Compare Psalms 19:1-3 ; Psalms 145:10 . Hebrew. halel.

Occurs twice in "former" portion (here and in Isaiah 38:18 "celebrate") and four times in "latter" portion (Isaiah 41:16 ; Isaiah 45:25 , "glory"; Isaiah 62:9 ; Isaiah 64:11 , "praise") See App-79 .

Verse 11

the world = the habitable world. Hebrew tebel.

evil. Hebrew. ra'a. App-44 .

wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha .

iniquity. Hebrew. avah .

Verse 12

man. Hebrew. adam . App-14 .

Verse 14

man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Verse 16

children = babes.

Verse 17

Medes. Here only "Medes". in Isaiah 21:2 , "Persians and Medes. "In Isaiah 45:1 Cyrus named. The order is chronological.

Verse 18

their. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and their".

children = sons.

Verse 19

as when God, &c. Reference to Pentateuch. See note on Isaiah 1:9 .

Verse 20

never. See note on Isaiah 25:8 .

Verse 21

doleful creatures. Probably hyenas.

satyrs = goat-shaped demons worshipped by the Seirites (Edom). Compare Leviticus 17:7 . 2Ch 11:15 ; 2 Chronicles 25:14 .

Verse 22

the wild beasts = jackals.

dragons , or wild dogs.