Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 21

Verse 1

burden. The fifth of the seven burdens.

of = relating to. Genitive of Relation. App-17 .

the sea. The waters of the Euphrates in flood were so called, as the Nile was (Isaiah 19:6 ). Compare Revelation 17:3 , Revelation 17:15 .

whirlwinds = storms.

pass = sweep.

Verse 2

dealer = one.

sighing. Caused by the oppression of Babylon.

Verse 4

night. A Homonym. Hebrew. nesheph = darkness, here, but daylight in Job 7:4 . 1 Samuel 30:17 . See notes there. The Revised Version, in doubt, renders it here "twilight".

pleasure = joy.

fear = trembling.

Verse 5

Prepare, &c. Figure of speech Irony. App-6 .

Verse 7

a chariot = a troop.

a chariot with a couple of horsemen = a troop of horsemen in pairs.

Verse 8

Alion: My LORD*. Read: [as] a lion, "O LORD", &c.

Verse 9

men. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Babylon is fallen, &c. Note the Figure of speech Epizeuxis , for emphasis.

the graven images of her gods. Reference to Pentateuch. Phrase peculiar to Deuteronomy 7:25 ; Deuteronomy 12:3 . App-92 .

Verse 10

threshing. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause) for the results of it. Here = my oppressed People. Compare Isaiah 41:15 .Micah 4:13 .Jeremiah 51:33 .

corn of my floor. Literally son of my threshingfloor.

the LORD of hosts. See note on Isaiah 1:9 .

the God of Israel. See note on Isaiah 29:23 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 11

burden. The sixth of the seven burdens.

Dumah = Edom. An abbreviated form of fuller name "Idumea" (Isaiah 34:5 .Ezekiel 35:15 ; Ezekiel 36:5 .Mark 3:8; Mark 3:8 ).

Dumah = silence, prophetic of its end.

Seir. The inheritance of Esau (or Edom).

what of the night? = how far is it in the night? Note the Figure of speech Epizeuxis . Repeated in an abbreviated form thus: Hebrew. shomer mah-millayelah? shomer ma-milleyl ? = how far gone is the night? how far gone the night? This is Edom's inquiry.

Verse 12

The morning cometh, &c. This may be the oracle of silence implied in the name "Dumah" (see above, and compare Psalms 94:17 ; Psalms 115:17 ).

if ye will inquire. Isaiah had no answer. He is silent, but intimates that they may inquire again.

Verse 13

burden. The seventh and last of the seven burdens

upon Arabia: ba'rab = in Arabia.

in Arabia: or, in the evening, or, at sunset. The name is as significant as "Dumah" (Isaiah 21:11 ).

travelling companies = caravans.

Dedanim = Dedanites, Descendants of Abraham by Keturah: Dedan, son of Midian (Genesis 25:3 . 1 Chronicles 1:32 ).

Verse 14

Tema. Descendants of Abraham through Hagar and Ishmael (Genesis 25:3 . 1 Chronicles 1:32 )

: both mentioned in Jeremiah 25:23 .Job 6:19 .

brought = bring ye.

prevented = meet ye.

Verse 15

they fled. From the Assyrian invaders.

Verse 16

Within a year. Later afflictions were foretold in Jeremiah 49:28 .

Kedar. Another descendant of Abraham by Hagar through Ishmael (Genesis 25:13 ).

Verse 17

mighty men. Hebrew. gibbor . App-14 .

children = sons.