1. BURDEN] The corresponding verb means 'to lift up' (_a_) a load, (_b_) the voice (cp. Isaiah 3:7; Isaiah 42:2; Isaiah 42:11), used of Balaam lifting up his voice in oracular utterance (Numbers 24:3; Numbers 24:15; Numbers 24:23). Hence the noun signifies an utterance, or oracle (e.g. 2 Kings 9:25)... [ Continue Reading ]
BANNER] RV 'ensign,' i.e. a signal for the mustering of distant armies (Isaiah 5:26). HIGH] RV 'bare,' i.e. without trees; upon such a mountain the signal would be clearly seen. UNTO THEM] i.e. the people whom the prophet has in mind, though they have not yet been mentioned. SHAKE THE HAND] the thr... [ Continue Reading ]
SANCTIFIED ONES] RV 'consecrated ones,' i.e. warriors. The thought may be that the war is a holy one, Babylon's destroyers being the ministers of Jehovah's vengeance.... [ Continue Reading ]
The prophet hears the noise of the armies assembling at the signal (Isaiah 13:2). OF THE BATTLE] RV 'for the battle.'... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ALMIGHTY] Heb. _Shaddai,_ a name of God frequent in the Pentateuch, and belong-to the pre-Mosaic revelation (Exodus 6:3); it is not often found in the prophets, and when it occurs the severe and awful aspect of the divine nature is the more prominent one (Joel 1:15; Ezekiel 1:24; Ezekiel 10:5).... [ Continue Reading ]
_AS_ FLAMES] RV 'faces of flame,' i.e. flushed with agitation.... [ Continue Reading ]
The day of Jehovah is accompanied by signs in the heavens as in Joel 2:10; Joel 2:31; Joel 3:15; Zephaniah 1:14; Zephaniah 1:15. Such language need not be understood literally, but vividly expresses a time of terror and dismay.... [ Continue Reading ]
PRECIOUS] RV 'rare'; the slaughter will be so great that few men will be left (Isaiah 24:6). GOLDEN WEDGE] RV 'pure gold'; the gold of Ophir was most esteemed.... [ Continue Reading ]
See a similar description Haggai 2:6. The prophets are carried in thought beyond the particular political convulsion in view to the final overthrow of all that is hostile to God.... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'And it shall come to pass that as,' etc. THAT NO MAN TAKETH UP] i.e. without a shepherd. THEY SHALL.. TURN] i.e. the settlers in Babylon, either taken captive from other countries, or resorting thither for trade (Jeremiah 50:16), will, on the overthrow of the city, disperse to their own lands.... [ Continue Reading ]
The reason for the hurried flight of Isaiah 13:14 the fall of the city will be accompanied by indiscriminate slaughter. JOINED _unto them_] i.e. by colonisation. But RV 'taken,' not having been able to make good his escape.... [ Continue Reading ]
The atrocities referred to frequently accompanied the sack of a city (2 Kings 8:12; Hosea 10:14; Hosea 13:16).... [ Continue Reading ]
The invaders of Babylon are here first mentioned by name, though the prophet has had them in mind from Isaiah 13:2. The MEDES had settled in the district SW. of the Caspian Sea, and are mentioned in Assyrian annals from Sargon's time onwards (cp. 2 Kings 17:6; 2 Kings 18:11): see intro. to this sect... [ Continue Reading ]
BOWS] The Medes were noted archers (Jeremiah 51:11).... [ Continue Reading ]
EXCELLENCY] RV 'pride.'... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKE THEIR FOLD] RV 'make their flocks to lie down.' A more terrible desolation awaits Babylon than that which had been foretold for Judah (Isaiah 7:21; Isaiah 7:25).... [ Continue Reading ]
DOLEFUL CREATURES] probably owls. OWLS] RV 'ostriches.' SATYRS] i.e. uncanny creatures, or demons (so Targum, LXX, and Syr.), such as were thought by the Jews to haunt ruins and desert places: cp. Luke 11:24. But as the other names in the context stand for animals many prefer to render, 'he-goats' ... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WILD.. HOUSES] RV 'wolves shall cry in their castles.' DRAGONS] RV 'jackals.' The anticipation of the utter ruin of Babylon has been literally fulfilled. In 538 b.c. it was captured by the Medes and Persians under Cyrus; and, though its glory lingered for a time, it died away before the beginnin... [ Continue Reading ]