3 I have commanded H6680 my sanctified ones, H6942 I have also called H7121 my mighty ones H1368 for mine anger, H639 even them that rejoice H5947 in my highness. H1346
Now in the first H259 year H8141 of Cyrus H3566 king H4428 of Persia, H6539 that the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 by the mouth H6310 of Jeremiah H3414 might be fulfilled, H3615 the LORD H3068 stirred up H5782 the spirit H7307 of Cyrus H3566 king H4428 of Persia, H6539 that he made a proclamation H5674 H6963 throughout all his kingdom, H4438 and put it also in writing, H4385 saying, H559 Thus saith H559 Cyrus H3566 king H4428 of Persia, H6539 The LORD H3068 God H430 of heaven H8064 hath given H5414 me all the kingdoms H4467 of the earth; H776 and he hath charged H6485 me to build H1129 him an house H1004 at Jerusalem, H3389 which is in Judah. H3063 Who is there among you of all his people? H5971 his God H430 be with him, and let him go up H5927 to Jerusalem, H3389 which is in Judah, H3063 and build H1129 the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 (he is the God,) H430 which is in Jerusalem. H3389 And whosoever remaineth H7604 in any place H4725 where he sojourneth, H1481 let the men H582 of his place H4725 help H5375 him with silver, H3701 and with gold, H2091 and with goods, H7399 and with beasts, H929 beside the freewill offering H5071 for the house H1004 of God H430 that is in Jerusalem. H3389 Then rose up H6965 the chief H7218 of the fathers H1 of Judah H3063 and Benjamin, H1144 and the priests, H3548 and the Levites, H3881 with all them whose spirit H7307 God H430 had raised, H5782 to go up H5927 to build H1129 the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 which is in Jerusalem. H3389 And all they that were about H5439 them strengthened H2388 their hands H3027 with vessels H3627 of silver, H3701 with gold, H2091 with goods, H7399 and with beasts, H929 and with precious things, H4030 beside all that was willingly offered. H5068 Also Cyrus H3566 the king H4428 brought forth H3318 the vessels H3627 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 which Nebuchadnezzar H5019 had brought forth H3318 out of Jerusalem, H3389 and had put H5414 them in the house H1004 of his gods; H430 Even those did Cyrus H3566 king H4428 of Persia H6539 bring forth H3318 by the hand H3027 of Mithredath H4990 the treasurer, H1489 and numbered H5608 them unto Sheshbazzar, H8339 the prince H5387 of Judah. H3063 And this is the number H4557 of them: thirty H7970 chargers H105 of gold, H2091 a thousand H505 chargers H105 of silver, H3701 nine H8672 and twenty H6242 knives, H4252 Thirty H7970 basons H3713 of gold, H2091 silver H3701 basons H3713 of a second H4932 sort four H702 hundred H3967 and ten, H6235 and other H312 vessels H3627 a thousand. H505 All the vessels H3627 of gold H2091 and of silver H3701 were five H2568 thousand H505 and four H702 hundred. H3967 All these did Sheshbazzar H8339 bring up H5927 with them of the captivity H1473 that were brought up H5927 from Babylon H894 unto Jerusalem. H3389
Then H116 Darius H1868 the king H4430 made H7761 a decree, H2942 and search H1240 was made in the house H1005 of the rolls, H5609 where H8536 the treasures H1596 were laid up H5182 in Babylon. H895 And there was found H7912 at Achmetha, H307 in the palace H1001 that is in the province H4083 of the Medes, H4076 a H2298 roll, H4040 and therein H1459 was a record H1799 thus H3652 written: H3790 In the first H2298 year H8140 of Cyrus H3567 the king H4430 the same Cyrus H3567 the king H4430 made H7761 a decree H2942 concerning the house H1005 of God H426 at Jerusalem, H3390 Let the house H1005 be builded, H1124 the place H870 where they offered H1684 sacrifices, H1685 and let the foundations H787 thereof be strongly laid; H5446 the height H7314 thereof threescore H8361 cubits, H521 and the breadth H6613 thereof threescore H8361 cubits; H521 With three H8532 rows H5073 of great H1560 stones, H69 and a row H5073 of new H2323 timber: H636 and let the expenses H5313 be given H3052 out of H4481 the king's H4430 house: H1005 And also H638 let the golden H1722 and silver H3702 vessels H3984 of the house H1005 of God, H426 which Nebuchadnezzar H5020 took forth H5312 out of H4481 the temple H1965 which is at Jerusalem, H3390 and brought H2987 unto Babylon, H895 be restored, H8421 and brought again H1946 unto the temple H1965 which is at Jerusalem, H3390 every one to his place, H870 and place H5182 them in the house H1005 of God. H426 Now H3705 therefore, Tatnai, H8674 governor H6347 beyond H5675 the river, H5103 Shetharboznai, H8370 and your companions H3675 the Apharsachites, H671 which are beyond H5675 the river, H5103 be ye H1934 far H7352 from H4481 thence: H8536 Let the work H5673 of this H1791 house H1005 of God H426 alone; H7662 let the governor H6347 of the Jews H3062 and the elders H7868 of the Jews H3062 build H1124 this H1791 house H1005 of God H426 in H5922 his place. H870 Moreover I H4481 make H7761 a decree H2942 what H3964 ye shall do H5648 to H5974 the elders H7868 of these H479 Jews H3062 for the building H1124 of this H1791 house H1005 of God: H426 that of the king's H4430 goods, H5232 even of H1768 the tribute H4061 beyond H5675 the river, H5103 forthwith H629 expenses H5313 be H1934 given H3052 unto these H479 men, H1400 that they be not H3809 hindered. H989 And that which H4101 they have need of, H2818 both young H1123 bullocks, H8450 and rams, H1798 and lambs, H563 for the burnt offerings H5928 of the God H426 of heaven, H8065 wheat, H2591 salt, H4416 wine, H2562 and oil, H4887 according to the appointment H3983 of the priests H3549 which are at Jerusalem, H3390 let it be H1934 given H3052 them day H3118 by day H3118 without H3809 fail: H7960 That they may offer H1934 H7127 sacrifices of sweet savours H5208 unto the God H426 of heaven, H8065 and pray H6739 for the life H2417 of the king, H4430 and of his sons. H1123 Also H4481 I have made H7761 a decree, H2942 that whosoever H3606 H606 shall alter H8133 this H1836 word, H6600 let timber H636 be pulled down H5256 from H4481 his house, H1005 and being set up, H2211 let him be hanged H4223 thereon; H5922 and let his house H1005 be made H5648 a dunghill H5122 for H5922 this. H1836 And the God H426 that hath caused his name H8036 to dwell H7932 there H8536 destroy H4049 all H3606 kings H4430 and people, H5972 that shall put H7972 to their hand H3028 to alter H8133 and to destroy H2255 this H1791 house H1005 of God H426 which is at Jerusalem. H3390 I H576 Darius H1868 have made H7761 a decree; H2942 let it be done H5648 with speed. H629 Then H116 Tatnai, H8674 governor H6347 on this side H5675 the river, H5103 Shetharboznai, H8370 and their companions, H3675 according H6903 to that which Darius H1868 the king H4430 had sent, H7972 so H3660 they did H5648 speedily. H629 And the elders H7868 of the Jews H3062 builded, H1124 and they prospered H6744 through the prophesying H5017 of Haggai H2292 the prophet H5029 and Zechariah H2148 the son H1247 of Iddo. H5714 And they builded, H1124 and finished H3635 it, according H4481 to the commandment H2941 of the God H426 of Israel, H3479 and according to the commandment H2942 of Cyrus, H3567 and Darius, H1868 and Artaxerxes H783 king H4430 of Persia. H6540 And this H1836 house H1005 was finished H3319 on H5705 the third H8532 day H3118 of the month H3393 Adar, H144 which was H1932 in the sixth H8353 year H8140 of the reign H4437 of Darius H1868 the king. H4430 And the children H1123 of Israel, H3479 the priests, H3549 and the Levites, H3879 and the rest H7606 of the children H1123 of the captivity, H1547 kept H5648 the dedication H2597 of this H1836 house H1005 of God H426 with joy, H2305 And offered H7127 at the dedication H2597 of this H1836 house H1005 of God H426 an hundred H3969 bullocks, H8450 two hundred H3969 rams, H1798 four H703 hundred H3969 lambs; H563 and for a sin offering H2402 H2409 for H5922 all H3606 Israel, H3479 twelve H8648 H6236 he H6841 goats, H5796 according to the number H4510 of the tribes H7625 of Israel. H3479 And they set H6966 the priests H3549 in their divisions, H6392 and the Levites H3879 in their courses, H4255 for H5922 the service H5673 of God, H426 which is at Jerusalem; H3390 as it is written H3792 in the book H5609 of Moses. H4873 And the children H1121 of the captivity H1473 kept H6213 the passover H6453 upon the fourteenth H702 H6240 day of the first H7223 month. H2320 For the priests H3548 and the Levites H3881 were purified H2891 together, H259 all of them were pure, H2889 and killed H7819 the passover H6453 for all the children H1121 of the captivity, H1473 and for their brethren H251 the priests, H3548 and for themselves. And the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 which were come again H7725 out of captivity, H1473 and all such as had separated H914 themselves unto them from the filthiness H2932 of the heathen H1471 of the land, H776 to seek H1875 the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 did eat, H398 And kept H6213 the feast H2282 of unleavened bread H4682 seven H7651 days H3117 with joy: H8057 for the LORD H3068 had made them joyful, H8055 and turned H5437 the heart H3820 of the king H4428 of Assyria H804 unto them, to strengthen H2388 their hands H3027 in the work H4399 of the house H1004 of God, H430 the God H430 of Israel. H3478
Artaxerxes, H783 king H4430 of kings, H4430 unto Ezra H5831 the priest, H3549 a scribe H5613 of the law H1882 of the God H426 of heaven, H8065 perfect H1585 peace, and at such a time. H3706 I H4481 make H7761 a decree, H2942 that all H3606 they of H4481 the people H5972 of Israel, H3479 and of his priests H3549 and Levites, H3879 in my realm, H4437 which are minded of their own freewill H5069 to go up H1946 to Jerusalem, H3390 go H1946 with thee. H5974 Forasmuch H1768 H6903 as H3606 thou art sent H7972 of H4481 H6925 the king, H4430 and of his seven H7655 counsellors, H3272 to enquire H1240 concerning H5922 Judah H3061 and Jerusalem, H3390 according to the law H1882 of thy God H426 which is in thine hand; H3028 And to carry H2987 the silver H3702 and gold, H1722 which the king H4430 and his counsellors H3272 have freely offered H5069 unto the God H426 of Israel, H3479 whose H1768 habitation H4907 is in Jerusalem, H3390 And all H3606 the silver H3702 and gold H1722 that thou canst find H7912 in all H3606 the province H4083 of Babylon, H895 with H5974 the freewill offering H5069 of the people, H5972 and of the priests, H3549 offering willingly H5069 for the house H1005 of their God H426 which is in Jerusalem: H3390 That H3606 H6903 thou mayest buy H7066 speedily H629 with this H1836 money H3702 bullocks, H8450 rams, H1798 lambs, H563 with their meat offerings H4504 and their drink offerings, H5261 and offer H7127 them H1994 upon H5922 the altar H4056 of the house H1005 of your God H426 which is in Jerusalem. H3390 And whatsoever H4101 H1768 shall seem good H3191 to thee, and to H5922 thy brethren, H252 to do H5648 with the rest H7606 of the silver H3702 and the gold, H1722 that do H5648 after the will H7470 of your God. H426 The vessels H3984 also that are given H3052 thee for the service H6402 of the house H1005 of thy God, H426 those deliver H8000 thou before H6925 the God H426 of Jerusalem. H3390 And whatsoever more H7606 shall be needful H2819 for the house H1005 of thy God, H426 which thou shalt have occasion H5308 to bestow, H5415 bestow H5415 it out of H4481 the king's H4430 treasure H1596 house. H1005 And I, H4481 even I H576 Artaxerxes H783 the king, H4430 do make H7761 a decree H2942 to all H3606 the treasurers H1490 which are beyond H5675 the river, H5103 that whatsoever Ezra H5831 the priest, H3549 the scribe H5613 of the law H1882 of the God H426 of heaven, H8065 shall require H7593 of you, it be done H5648 speedily, H629 Unto H5705 an hundred H3969 talents H3604 of silver, H3702 and to an hundred H3969 measures H3734 of wheat, H2591 and to an hundred H3969 baths H1325 of wine, H2562 and to an hundred H3969 baths H1325 of oil, H4887 and salt H4416 without H3809 prescribing H3792 how much. Whatsoever H3606 is commanded by H2941 H4481 the God H426 of heaven, H8065 let it be diligently H149 done H5648 for the house H1005 of the God H426 of heaven: H8065 for H1768 why H4101 should there be H1934 wrath H7109 against H5922 the realm H4437 of the king H4430 and his sons? H1123 Also we certify H3046 you, that touching any H3606 of the priests H3549 and Levites, H3879 singers, H2171 porters, H8652 Nethinims, H5412 or ministers H6399 of this H1836 house H1005 of God, H426 it shall not H3809 be lawful H7990 to impose H7412 toll, H4061 tribute, H1093 or custom, H1983 upon H5922 them. And thou, H607 Ezra, H5831 after the wisdom H2452 of thy God, H426 that is in thine hand, H3028 set H4483 magistrates H8200 and judges, H1782 which may judge H1934 H1778 all H3606 the people H5972 that are beyond H5675 the river, H5103 all H3606 such as know H3046 the laws H1882 of thy God; H426 and teach H3046 ye them that know H3046 them not. H3809 And whosoever H3606 will not H3809 do H1934 H5648 the law H1882 of thy God, H426 and the law H1882 of the king, H4430 let judgment H1780 be H1934 executed H5648 speedily H629 upon him, H4481 whether H2006 it be unto death, H4193 or H2006 to banishment, H8332 or H2006 to confiscation H6065 of goods, H5232 or to imprisonment. H613
Let the saints H2623 be joyful H5937 in glory: H3519 let them sing aloud H7442 upon their beds. H4904 Let the high H7319 praises of God H410 be in their mouth, H1627 and a twoedged H6374 sword H2719 in their hand; H3027 To execute H6213 vengeance H5360 upon the heathen, H1471 and punishments H8433 upon the people; H3816 To bind H631 their kings H4428 with chains, H2131 and their nobles H3513 with fetters H3525 of iron; H1270 To execute H6213 upon them the judgment H4941 written: H3789 this honour H1926 have all his saints. H2623 Praise H1984 ye the LORD. H3050
That saith H559 to the deep, H6683 Be dry, H2717 and I will dry up H3001 thy rivers: H5104 That saith H559 of Cyrus, H3566 He is my shepherd, H7462 and shall perform H7999 all my pleasure: H2656 even saying H559 to Jerusalem, H3389 Thou shalt be built; H1129 and to the temple, H1964 Thy foundation shall be laid. H3245
For Jacob H3290 my servant's H5650 sake, and Israel H3478 mine elect, H972 I have even called H7121 thee by thy name: H8034 I have surnamed H3655 thee, though thou hast not known H3045 me. I am the LORD, H3068 and there is none else, there is no God H430 beside H2108 me: I girded H247 thee, though thou hast not known H3045 me:
Go up H5927 against the land H776 of Merathaim, H4850 even against it, and against the inhabitants H3427 of Pekod: H6489 waste H2717 and utterly destroy H2763 after H310 them, saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 and do H6213 according to all that I have commanded H6680 thee. A sound H6963 of battle H4421 is in the land, H776 and of great H1419 destruction. H7667 How is the hammer H6360 of the whole earth H776 cut asunder H1438 and broken! H7665 how is Babylon H894 become a desolation H8047 among the nations! H1471 I have laid a snare H3369 for thee, and thou art also taken, H3920 O Babylon, H894 and thou wast not aware: H3045 thou art found, H4672 and also caught, H8610 because thou hast striven H1624 against the LORD. H3068 The LORD H3068 hath opened H6605 his armoury, H214 and hath brought forth H3318 the weapons H3627 of his indignation: H2195 for this is the work H4399 of the Lord H136 GOD H3069 of hosts H6635 in the land H776 of the Chaldeans. H3778 Come H935 against her from the utmost border, H7093 open H6605 her storehouses: H3965 cast her up H5549 as heaps, H6194 and destroy her utterly: H2763 let nothing of her be left. H7611 Slay H2717 all her bullocks; H6499 let them go down H3381 to the slaughter: H2874 woe H1945 unto them! for their day H3117 is come, H935 the time H6256 of their visitation. H6486 The voice H6963 of them that flee H5127 and escape out H6405 of the land H776 of Babylon, H894 to declare H5046 in Zion H6726 the vengeance H5360 of the LORD H3068 our God, H430 the vengeance H5360 of his temple. H1964 Call together H8085 the archers H7228 against Babylon: H894 all ye that bend H1869 the bow, H7198 camp H2583 against it round about; H5439 let none thereof escape: H6413 recompense H7999 her according to her work; H6467 according to all that she hath done, H6213 do H6213 unto her: for she hath been proud H2102 against the LORD, H3068 against the Holy One H6918 of Israel. H3478 Therefore shall her young men H970 fall H5307 in the streets, H7339 and all her men H582 of war H4421 shall be cut off H1826 in that day, H3117 saith H5002 the LORD. H3068 Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, H2087 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 of hosts: H6635 for thy day H3117 is come, H935 the time H6256 that I will visit H6485 thee. And the most proud H2087 shall stumble H3782 and fall, H5307 and none shall raise him up: H6965 and I will kindle H3341 a fire H784 in his cities, H5892 and it shall devour H398 all round about H5439 him. Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 The children H1121 of Israel H3478 and the children H1121 of Judah H3063 were oppressed H6231 together: H3162 and all that took them captives H7617 held them fast; H2388 they refused H3985 to let them go. H7971 Their Redeemer H1350 is strong; H2389 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 is his name: H8034 he shall throughly H7378 plead H7378 their cause, H7379 that he may give rest H7280 to the land, H776 and disquiet H7264 the inhabitants H3427 of Babylon. H894 A sword H2719 is upon the Chaldeans, H3778 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 and upon the inhabitants H3427 of Babylon, H894 and upon her princes, H8269 and upon her wise H2450 men. A sword H2719 is upon the liars; H907 and they shall dote: H2973 a sword H2719 is upon her mighty men; H1368 and they shall be dismayed. H2865 A sword H2719 is upon their horses, H5483 and upon their chariots, H7393 and upon all the mingled people H6153 that are in the midst H8432 of her; and they shall become as women: H802 a sword H2719 is upon her treasures; H214 and they shall be robbed. H962 A drought H2721 is upon her waters; H4325 and they shall be dried up: H3001 for it is the land H776 of graven images, H6456 and they are mad H1984 upon their idols. H367 Therefore the wild beasts of the desert H6728 with the wild beasts of the islands H338 shall dwell H3427 there, and the owls H1323 H3284 shall dwell H3427 therein: and it shall be no more inhabited H3427 for ever; H5331 neither shall it be dwelt H7931 in from generation H1755 to generation. H1755 As God H430 overthrew H4114 Sodom H5467 and Gomorrah H6017 and the neighbour H7934 cities thereof, saith H5002 the LORD; H3068 so shall no man H376 abide H3427 there, neither shall any son H1121 of man H120 dwell H1481 therein. Behold, a people H5971 shall come H935 from the north, H6828 and a great H1419 nation, H1471 and many H7227 kings H4428 shall be raised up H5782 from the coasts H3411 of the earth. H776 They shall hold H2388 the bow H7198 and the lance: H3591 they are cruel, H394 and will not shew mercy: H7355 their voice H6963 shall roar H1993 like the sea, H3220 and they shall ride H7392 upon horses, H5483 every one put in array, H6186 like a man H376 to the battle, H4421 against thee, O daughter H1323 of Babylon. H894 The king H4428 of Babylon H894 hath heard H8085 the report H8088 of them, and his hands H3027 waxed feeble: H7503 anguish H6869 took hold H2388 of him, and pangs H2427 as of a woman in travail. H3205 Behold, he shall come up H5927 like a lion H738 from the swelling H1347 of Jordan H3383 unto the habitation H5116 of the strong: H386 but I will make H7323 them suddenly H7280 run away H7323 H7323 from her: and who is a chosen H977 man, that I may appoint H6485 over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? H3259 and who is that shepherd H7462 that will stand H5975 before H6440 me? Therefore hear H8085 ye the counsel H6098 of the LORD, H3068 that he hath taken H3289 against Babylon; H894 and his purposes, H4284 that he hath purposed H2803 against the land H776 of the Chaldeans: H3778 Surely the least H6810 of the flock H6629 shall draw them out: H5498 surely he shall make their habitation H5116 desolate H8074 with them. At the noise H6963 of the taking H8610 of Babylon H894 the earth H776 is moved, H7493 and the cry H2201 is heard H8085 among the nations. H1471
Thou art my battle axe H4661 and weapons H3627 of war: H4421 for with thee will I break in pieces H5310 the nations, H1471 and with thee will I destroy H7843 kingdoms; H4467 And with thee will I break in pieces H5310 the horse H5483 and his rider; H7392 and with thee will I break in pieces H5310 the chariot H7393 and his rider; H7392 With thee also will I break in pieces H5310 man H376 and woman; H802 and with thee will I break in pieces H5310 old H2205 and young; H5288 and with thee will I break in pieces H5310 the young man H970 and the maid; H1330 I will also break in pieces H5310 with thee the shepherd H7462 and his flock; H5739 and with thee will I break in pieces H5310 the husbandman H406 and his yoke of oxen; H6776 and with thee will I break in pieces H5310 captains H6346 and rulers. H5461 And I will render H7999 unto Babylon H894 and to all the inhabitants H3427 of Chaldea H3778 all their evil H7451 that they have done H6213 in Zion H6726 in your sight, H5869 saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
And G2532 the ten G1176 horns G2768 which G3739 thou sawest G1492 are G1526 ten G1176 kings, G935 which G3748 have received G2983 no G3768 kingdom G932 as yet; G3768 but G235 receive G2983 power G1849 as G5613 kings G935 one G3391 hour G5610 with G3326 the beast. G2342 These G3778 have G2192 one G3391 mind, G1106 and G2532 shall give G1239 their G1438 power G1411 and G2532 strength G1849 unto the beast. G2342 These G3778 shall make war G4170 with G3326 the Lamb, G721 and G2532 the Lamb G721 shall overcome G3528 them: G846 for G3754 he is G2076 Lord G2962 of lords, G2962 and G2532 King G935 of kings: G935 and G2532 they that are with G3326 him G846 are called, G2822 and G2532 chosen, G1588 and G2532 faithful. G4103 And G2532 he saith G3004 unto me, G3427 The waters G5204 which G3739 thou sawest, G1492 where G3757 the whore G4204 sitteth, G2521 are G1526 peoples, G2992 and G2532 multitudes, G3793 and G2532 nations, G1484 and G2532 tongues. G1100 And G2532 the ten G1176 horns G2768 which G3739 thou sawest G1492 upon G1909 the beast, G2342 these G3778 shall hate G3404 the whore, G4204 and G2532 shall make G4160 her G846 desolate G2049 and G2532 naked, G1131 and G2532 shall eat G5315 her G846 flesh, G4561 and G2532 burn G2618 her G846 with G1722 fire. G4442 For G1063 God G2316 hath put G1325 in G1519 their G846 hearts G2588 to fulfil G4160 his G846 will, G1106 and G2532 to agree, G4160 G3391 G1106 and G2532 give G1325 their G846 kingdom G932 unto the beast, G2342 until G891 the words G4487 of God G2316 shall be fulfilled. G5055 And G2532 the woman G1135 which G3739 thou sawest G1492 is G2076 that great G3173 city, G4172 which G3588 reigneth G2192 G932 over G1909 the kings G935 of the earth. G1093
And G2532 I heard G191 another G243 voice G5456 from G1537 heaven, G3772 saying, G3004 Come G1831 out of G1537 her, G846 my G3450 people, G2992 that G3363 ye be G4790 not G3363 partakers G4790 of her G846 sins, G266 and G2532 that G3363 ye receive G2983 not G3363 of G1537 her G846 plagues. G4127 For G3754 her G846 sins G266 have reached G190 G2853 unto G891 heaven, G3772 and G2532 God G2316 hath remembered G3421 her G846 iniquities. G92 Reward G591 her G846 even G2532 as G5613 she G846 G3778 rewarded G591 you, G5213 and G2532 double G1363 unto her G846 double G1362 according to G2596 her G846 works: G2041 in G1722 the cup G4221 which G3739 she hath filled G2767 fill G2767 to her G846 double. G1362 How much G3745 she hath glorified G1392 herself, G1438 and G2532 lived deliciously, G4763 so much G5118 torment G929 and G2532 sorrow G3997 give G1325 her: G846 for G3754 she saith G3004 in G1722 her G846 heart, G2588 I sit G2521 a queen, G938 and G2532 am G1510 no G3756 widow, G5503 and G2532 shall see G1492 no G3364 sorrow. G3997 Therefore G5124 G1223 shall G2240 her G846 plagues G4127 come G2240 in G1722 one G3391 day, G2250 death, G2288 and G2532 mourning, G3997 and G2532 famine; G3042 and G2532 she shall be utterly burned G2618 with G1722 fire: G4442 for G3754 strong G2478 is the Lord G2962 God G2316 who G3588 judgeth G2919 her. G846
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » John Gill's Exposition of the Bible » Commentary on Isaiah 13
Commentary on Isaiah 13 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 13
This chapter contains a prophecy of the destruction of Babylon, literally understood as a type and exemplar of the destruction of the mystical Babylon, so often spoken of in the book of the Revelation: an account is given of the persons that should be the instruments of it, and of the desolation they should make; which would issue in the utter ruin of that once famous city. The title of the prophecy, and the person that had it, and brought it, are expressed, Isaiah 13:1 orders are given to the Medes and Persians to prepare for war, Isaiah 13:2 and are described as the Lord's sanctified ones, his mighty ones, and who rejoiced in his highness, Isaiah 13:3 by the multitude of them, by the length of the way they came, and the end of their coming, by divine direction, and as the instruments of God's wrath, to destroy the land of the Chaldeans, Isaiah 13:4 wherefore the inhabitants of it are called to howling, because that destruction from the Lord was at hand, Isaiah 13:6 the effects of which were fainting, fear, consternation, pain, and sorrow, without the least relief and comfort, Isaiah 13:7 the causes of which were their sin and iniquity, particularly their arrogance, pride, and haughtiness, Isaiah 13:11 which destruction is further described by the fewness of men that should be left in the land, Isaiah 13:12 by the strange revolution made in it, and the confusion it should be in, Isaiah 13:13 by the fear and flight of men, both of their own and other nations, that should be among them, Isaiah 13:14 by the slaughter of men and children, the plunder of their houses, and the ravishing of their wives, Isaiah 13:15 the persons that should be employed as instruments are mentioned by name, and represented as not to be bribed with gold and silver; and as merciless and uncompassionate, that should spare neither young men nor children, Isaiah 13:17 and the chapter is concluded with a particular account of the destruction of Babylon; which is aggravated, by observing its former glory; by comparing its ruin to the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah; by its being no more to be inhabited by men within, nor to have Arabian shepherds pitching their tents without it; and by being the habitation of wild beasts, satyrs, dragons, and doleful creatures, Isaiah 13:19.
The burden of Babylon,.... That is, a prophecy concerning Babylon, as the word is rendered, Proverbs 31:1. The Septuagint and Arabic versions translate it "the vision"; it signifies a taking upF23משא a נשא "tollere". a speech against it, and pronouncing a heavy sentence on it, such an one as should sink it into utter destruction; which will be the case of mystical Babylon, when it shall be as a millstone cast into the sea, never to be brought up again, Revelation 18:21. The Targum is,
"the burden of the cup of cursing to give Babylon to drink:'
after some prophecies concerning the Messiah and his kingdom, and the church's song of praise for salvation by him, others are delivered out concerning the enemies of the people of God, and their destruction, and begin with Babylon the chief of these enemies, and into whose hands the people of Israel would be delivered for a while; wherefore this prophecy is given forth, in order to lay a foundation for comfort and relief, when that should be their case; by which it would appear that they should have deliverance from them by the same hand that should overthrow them:
which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see: by a spirit of prophecy; for this he saw not with his bodily eyes, though it was as clear and certain to him as if he had. The Targum is,
"which Isaiah the son of Amoz prophesied.'
Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain,.... Or "upon the mountain Nishphah"; some high mountain in Media or Persia, proper to set a standard on, or erect a banner for the gathering men together, to enlist themselves as soldiers, and so form an army to march into the land of Chaldea. Vitringa thinks there may be an allusion to the mountain Zagrius, which divides Media and Persia from Assyria, mentioned by StraboF24Geograph. l. 11. p. 359. . Or "upon a high mountain"; any high mountain fit for such a purpose; or "against the high mountain", as someF25על הר נשפה "contra montem excelsum", Forerius, Sanctius. read it; meaning Babylon, called a mountain, Jeremiah 51:25 not because of its situation, for it was in a plain; but because of its eminence above other cities and states. The Targum is,
"against the city that dwells securely, lift up a sign;'
a token of war, proclaim war against it, that lives at ease, and is in peace; and so the word is used in the Talmudic language, as Kimchi observes; and to this agrees Jarchi's note,
"to gather against the mountain that is quiet, and trusts in its tranquillity, lift up a banner to the nations.'
Exalt the voice unto them; the Medes, mentioned by name in Isaiah 13:17 such as were within call, or were gathered together by the lifting up of the banner; such were to be urged with great vehemency to enlist themselves, and engage in a war against Babylon:
shake the hand; beckon with it to them that are afar off, that cannot hear the voice:
that they may go into the gates of the nobles; that dwell in the city of Babylon, where they might expect to find rich plunder; though some understand this of the nobles or princes of the Medes and Persians, as Kimchi observes, that should enter through the gates of Babylon into the city; and by others it is interpreted of the soldiers coming to the doors of the leaders or generals of the army, to give in their names, and enlist themselves in their service; which well agrees with what goes before.
I have commanded my sanctified ones,.... The Medes and Persians, so called, not because sanctified by the Spirit of God, or made holy persons, through the regenerating and renewing grace of God, or purified by the blood of Christ, and prepared for glory; but because they were set apart in the mind and counsel of God for a special work and service, and were qualified by him with courage and strength to perform it, and therefore said to be his; and this command that was given them was not by a voice from heaven, or in a message by one of his prophets; but by a secret instinct, and, by the power of his providence, stirring them up to engage in such an enterpriseF26Vid. T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 8. 2. & Gloss. in ib. .
I have also called my mighty ones; meaning Cyrus and Darius, and the officers of their armies, with the common soldiers, who were furnished with might and strength to do his will, to which they were called in his providence:
for mine anger; to execute his wrath upon the Babylonians; so the Targum,
"that they may avenge my wrath upon them:'
or, "in mine anger"; which being stirred up, put him upon calling those mighty ones to his service, and fitting them for it: literally it is, "to my nose"F1לאפי "in ira mea", Vatablus; "ad iram meam", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "in naso meo", Montanus. ; to be before him, to be at his beck and will, and to minister his wrath and vengeance:
even them that rejoice in my highness; in doing that which tended to the exaltation and glory of God; they went cheerfully about the work, and exulted and triumphed in their success: or, "that rejoice my highness"F2עליזי גאותי "exultantis celsitudinis meae", Montanus. ; make me glad, because I am glorified by them. So seven angels, the Lord's holy and mighty ones, will be employed in pouring out the vials of his wrath on mystical Babylon, Revelation 15:1.
The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people,.... That is, like the noise of a very numerous people; this noise was heard either on the mountains of Media, where they flocked in vast numbers to the standard set; or on the mountains upon the borders of Chaldea, when the army under Cyrus was marching towards Babylon:
a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together; for Cyrus's army consisted of several kingdoms and nations; for besides the thirty thousand Persians he brought with him into Media, where he was made general of the Medes also, and was sent with the joint forces of both nations against Babylon, the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz, were prepared, gathered together, and called forth against it, Jeremiah 51:27,
the Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle; or the warlike army: it was the Lord, that has the armies of heaven and earth at his command, who in his providence caused such a numerous army to be formed, directed them where to march, and put them in battle array, and gave them the victory.
They come from a far country, from the end of heaven,.... The east, as Kimchi observes; the Targum is, from the ends of the earth; the furthermost parts of it, as Persia and Media were: the former is bounded on the south side by the main ocean; and the latter, part of it by the Caspian sea; and between Babylon and these kingdoms lay the large kingdom of Assyria; so that this army might be truly said to come from a far country:
even the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation; the Medes and Persians, who were the instruments of his wrath and vengeance against Babylon; just as Assyria is called the rod of his anger, Isaiah 10:5 with these he is said to come, because this army was of his gathering, mustering, ordering, and directing, in his providence; the end and design of which was,
to destroy the whole land; not the whole world, as the Septuagint render it; but the whole land of Chaldea, of which Babylon was the metropolis. The Targum is,
"to destroy all the wicked of the earth.'
Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand,.... These words are an address to the Babylonians, who instead of rejoicing and feasting, as Belshazzar and his nobles were the night that Babylon was taken, had reason to howl and lament; seeing the day that the Lord had fixed for their destruction was very near, and he was just about to come forth as a judge to take vengeance on them; for though it was about two hundred and fifty years from the time of this prophecy, to the taking of Babylon, yet it is represented as at hand, to show the certainty of it, both for the comfort of the Jewish captives, when they should be in it, and for the awakening of the sluggish inhabitants, who were secure, and thought themselves out of danger:
it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty: suddenly, swiftly, and irresistibly: there is a beautiful paronomasia in the Hebrew text, "ceshod mishaddai"F3כשוד משדי. ; as destruction from the destroyer; from God, who is able to save, and to destroy; he is almighty and all sufficient, so some render the word; the hand of God was visible in it.
Therefore shall all hands be faint,.... Or hang down; that is, the hands of all the Babylonians, the city being taken suddenly and at once, so that they should not be able to lift them up to lay hold on a weapon, and defend themselves:
and every man's heart shall melt; like wax before the fire; be dispirited, and lose all their valour and courage, have neither power nor heart to resist their enemies, and attempt to save themselves.
And they shall be afraid,.... Troubled, dismayed, frightened, at the sudden taking of the city, and at the sight of Cyrus's troops marching up into the very heart of it, and to the king's palace:
pangs and sorrow shall take hold of them; as convulsions, pains in the bowels, &c. more fully explained in the next clause:
they shall be in pain, as a woman that travaileth; that is in labour, and ready to bring forth her child, whose pains are very sharp, and agonies great; the same is said of the king of Babylon, Jeremiah 50:43,
they shall be amazed one at another; that so great a city should be so surprised, and so suddenly taken; and that they shall not be able to help one another; and that such as were so famous for courage and valour should be at once so dispirited:
their faces shall be as flames; not red with blushing, through shame, as Kimchi; but pale with fear, as the colour of flame, or, as the faces of smiths, that work at a forge: the words may be rendered, "their faces are as the faces of Lehabim"F4פני להבים פניהם "ut facies Lehabim, sive Lybiorum facies eorum", Gataker. ; the name of a people mentioned in Genesis 10:13 the same with the Libians, which were of a blackish or tawny colour; so Jarchi interprets it, and says they were a people of a yellow complexion: and Aben Ezra observes, that some interpret it of a nation like the Ethiopians; and so it denotes, that the Babylonians, their faces should be black with distress and anguish; see Joel 2:6.
Behold, the day of the Lord cometh,.... Or "is come"F5בא "venit", Piscator; "veniens", Montanus. ; said in Isaiah 13:6 to be at hand, but now it is represented in prophecy as already come:
cruel both with wrath and fierce anger; which, whether referred to "the Lord", or to "the day", the sense is the same; the day may be said to be cruel, and full of wrath and fury, because of the severity and fierceness of the Lord's anger, exercised upon the Babylonians in it; and he may be said to be so, not that he really is cruel, or exceeds the bounds of justice, but because he seemed to be so to the objects of his displeasure; as a judge may be thought to be cruel and severe by the malefactor, when he only pronounces and executes a righteous judgment on him; a heap of words are here made use of, to express the greatness and fierceness of divine wrath:
to lay the land desolate; the land of the Chaldeans:
and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it; this shows that what is before said most properly belongs to the Lord, to whom the destruction of Babylon, and the country belonging to it, must be ascribed; and indeed it was such as could not be brought about by human force; the moving cause of which was the sin of the inhabitants, some of whom were notorious sinners, for whose sakes it was destroyed by the Lord, and they in the midst of it, or out of it; see Psalm 104:35.
For the stars of heaven,.... This and what follows are to be understood, not literally, but figuratively, as expressive of the dismalness and gloominess of the dispensation, of the horror and terror of it, in which there was no light, no comfort, no relief, nor any hope of any; the heavens and all the celestial bodies frowning upon them, declaring the displeasure of him that dwells there:
and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; which are assemblages of stars, or certain configurations of the heavenly bodies, devised by the ancients; to which each of the names are given for the help of the imagination and memory; the number of them are forty eight, twelve in the Zodiac, twenty one on the northern side of it, and fifteen on the southern. R. Jonah, mentioned both by Aben Ezra and Kimchi, says that "Cesil", the word here used, is a large star, called in the Arabic language "Suel", and the stars that are joined unto it are called by its name "Cesilim"; so that, according to this, only one constellation is meant; and Aben Ezra observes, that there are some that say that Cesil is a star near to the south pole, on which, if camels look, they die; but, says he, in my opinion it is "the scorpion's heart". Jerom's Hebrew master interpreted it to him Arcturus; and it is in Job 9:9 rendered Orion, and by the Septuagint here; which is one of the constellations, and one of the brightest; and the word being here in the plural number, the sense may be, were there ever so many Orions in the heavens, they should none of them give light. The Targum and Jarchi interpret it of the planets:
the sun shall be darkened in his going forth; as soon as it rises, when it goes forth out of its chamber, as in Psalm 19:5 either by an eclipse of it, or by dark clouds covering it:
and the moon shall not cause her light to shine: by night, which she borrows from the sun; so that it would be very uncomfortable, day and night, neither sun, moon, nor stars appearing, see Acts 27:20 by the sun, moon, and stars, may be meant king, queen, and nobles, whose destruction is here prophesied of; it being usual in prophetic language, as well as in other writersF6"Solem Asiae Brutum appellat, stellasque salubres appellat comites", Hor. Serm. 1. Satyr. 7. , to express great personages hereby.
And I will punish the world for their evil,.... Not the whole world, but the kingdom of Babylon, so called because of its large extent, and the number of its inhabitants, just as the Roman empire is called the whole world, Luke 2:1 "evil" may be meant, either of the evil of sin, which was the cause of punishment, or else of the evil of punishment itself; and the sense be this, I will visit, or, in a way of visitation, I will bring evil, or evils, upon the world; so the Targum,
and the wicked for their iniquity, or "on the wicked their iniquity"; that is, I will visit on them, or inflict upon them, the punishment of their iniquity; meaning the notorious and abandoned sinners among them, see Isaiah 13:9,
and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and I will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible: such as Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, famous for their pride, arrogance, and haughtiness, tyranny and oppression, whereby they became terrible to others.
I will make a man more precious than fine gold,.... Which may denote either the scarcity of men in Babylon, through the slaughter made of them; so things that are scarce and rare are said to be precious, 1 Samuel 3:1 or the resolution of the Medes to spare none, though ever so much gold were offered to them, they being not to be bribed therewith, Isaiah 13:17 or that such should be the fear of men, that they would not be prevailed upon to take up arms to defend themselves or their king, whatever quantity of gold, even the best, was proposed unto them, a man was not to be got for money:
even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir; which designs the same thing in different words. The Targum gives another sense of the whole, paraphrasing it thus,
"I will love them that fear me more than gold, of which men glory; and those that keep the law more than the fine gold of Ophir;'
understanding it of the Israelites, that were in Babylon when it was taken, and who were precious and in high esteem with the Medes and Persians, more than gold, and whose lives they spared. Jarchi interprets it particularly of Daniel, and of the honour that was done him by Belshazzar, upon his reading and interpreting the writing on the wall, Daniel 5:29. This is interpreted by the Jews also of the King Messiah; for in an ancient writingF7Zohar in Gen. fol. 71, 1. of theirs, where having mentioned this passage, it is added, this is the Messiah, that shall ascend and be more precious than all the children of the world, and all the children of the world shall worship and bow before him. Some take "Phaz", the word for fine gold, to be the name of a place from whence it came, and therefore was so called; and that the kingdom of Phez, in Africa, has its name from hence; and Ophir is taken to be Peru in America; though others place it in India; and the Arabic version renders it, "a man shall be more precious than a little stone that is" brought "from India"; and the Septuagint version is, "than a stone in", or "of sapphire".
Therefore will I shake the heavens,.... Some think this was literally fulfilled at the taking of Babylon, when the heavens were shook with dreadful thunders and lightnings; as well as what is said above of the sun, moon, and stars, not giving their light; and so is likewise what follows,
and the earth shall remove out of her place; and that there was a violent shock by an earthquake at the same time; but rather all this is to be understood figuratively, as expressive of the great confusion men would then be in, it being as if all nature was convulsed, and heaven and earth were coming together, or rather dissolving:
in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger; when that should be; or through it, or because of it, as the Septuagint, see Isaiah 13:6 compare with this Revelation 16:18 which expresses the destruction of mystical Babylon in much such language.
And it shall be as the chased roe,.... That is, Babylon, and the inhabitants thereof, shall be like a roe when hunted by the dogs; which is a very fearful creature, and at the sight and noise of the dogs flies here and there for safety; just so should be the most courageous of the Babylonians, when their city should be taken. The Syriac version renders it, "they shall be"; and the Septuagint and Arabic versions, "they that are left shall be as the fleeing roe", such who fall not by the sword. Kimchi interprets it of people of other nations that should be in Babylon when taken, which agrees with the latter part of the verse:
and as a sheep that no man taketh up; the Septuagint and Arabic versions read, "as a straying sheep", that flees from the wolf; and there being none to fetch it back, and bring it to the flock, it wanders about and perishes:
they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee everyone into his own land; this is to be understood of such foreigners, who were called in by the king of Babylon to his assistance, and the defence of the city; who perceiving it to be taken, or in danger, fled to their own countries, from whence they came, and so left the city naked and defenceless, see Jeremiah 50:16.
Every one that is found shall be thrust through,.... With a sword, spear, or lance, and be slain; that is, everyone that is found in the city of Babylon; and so the Targum adds,
"and everyone that is found in it shall be slain;'
so Kimchi, in the midst of it, or without; in the street, as Jarchi. The orders of CyrusF8Xenophon. Cyropaedia, l. 7. sect. 23. were, that those that were found without (in the streets) should be slain; and to proclaim in the Syriac language, that those that were within doors should continue there, but, if they were found without, they should be put to death; which orders were executed, and well agrees with this prophecy:
and everyone that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword; or "added" unto them; any of other nations that joined them as auxiliaries, see Revelation 18:4 or "that is gathered"; so the Septuagint, "they that are gathered"; that are gathered together in a body to resist the enemy, and defend themselves. Some render the word, "every one that is consumed", with age; neither old nor young, as follows, should be spared. The Targum is,
"everyone that enters into the fortified cities,'
flees there for safety and protection.
Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes,.... Upon the ground, or against the wall, as was foretold should be, Psalm 137:8 and in way of retaliation for what they did to the Jews, 2 Chronicles 36:17 and this was to be done "before their eyes", in the sight of the inhabitants, which must make it the more distressing and afflicting; and, as Kimchi observes, this phrase is to be applied to the following clauses:
their houses shall be spoiled; plundered of the substance, wealth, and riches in them, by the Persian soldiers:
and their wives ravished; by the same, and both before their eyes, and after that slain, in like manner as they had ravished the women in Zion, Lamentations 5:11.
Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them,.... The Babylonians; this explains who are meant by the sanctified and mighty ones, Isaiah 13:3 the Medes were a people that descended from Medai, one of the sons of Japheth, Genesis 10:2 as Josephus observesF9Antiqu. Jud. l. 1. c. 6. sect. 1. ; under these the Persians are included, though they are only mentioned, because Cyrus was sent by Cyaxares king of Media on this expedition against Babylon, and was made by him general of the Medes, and acted as such under him; and when Babylon was taken, and Belshazzar slain, Darius the Median took the kingdom, Daniel 5:31 now these are mentioned by name some hundreds of years before the thing came to pass, as Cyrus their general in Isaiah 45:1 which is a strong proof of the truth of prophecy, and of divine revelation; and, whatever might be the moving causes of this expedition, the affair was of God; it was he that put it into the hearts of the Medes, and stirred up their spirits to make war against Babylon; and though God is not the author of sin, yet he not only suffered the things to be done before and after mentioned, but in his providence ordered them as just punishments on a sinful people:
which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it; not but that they had a regard for, gold and silver, as appears by their spoiling of the houses of the Babylonians, Isaiah 13:16 but that they had not so great a regard for these things as to spare the lives of any for the sake of them; they were so intent upon taking away their lives, that they disregarded their substance; their first work was to slay, and then to spoil; they first destroyed, and then plundered; no man with his gold and silver could obtain a ransom of his life from them. CyrusF11Cyropaedia, l. 5. sect. 3. in his speech to his army said,
"O ye Medes, and all present, I truly know that not for want of money are ye come out with me,' &c.
Their bows also shall dash their young men to pieces,.... That is, the bows of the Medes should dash in pieces the young men of the Babylonians. The meaning is, either that they should put them into their bows, instead of arrows, and shoot them upon the ground, or against a wall, and so dash them to pieces; or that they should first shoot them through with their arrows, and then dash them with their bows; according to XenophonF12Cyropaedia, l. 2. sect. 1. , Cyrus came to Babylon with great numbers of archers and slingers:
and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; even of those that were in the womb, but should rip up women with child, and cut them in pieces:
their eyes shall not spare children; in the arms of their parents, or running to them, shrieking and crying, and in the utmost fright; and yet their tender and innocent age would meet with no mercy. The Medes were notorious for their crueltyF13Ammian. Marcellin. l. 23. c. 6. Diodor. Sicul. l. 13. p. 342. , and which issued at last in the ruin of their empire.
And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms,.... The first and most ancient kingdom, Genesis 10:10 and now, at the time of its fall, the largest and most extensive; wherefore of the image Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream, which was a representation of several kingdoms, this was the head, the head of gold, Daniel 2:31 so Babylon is called the "lady of kingdoms", Isaiah 47:5 the word here used for "glory" is the same with that which is rendered a "roe", Isaiah 13:14. Babylon was once as a pleasant roe, but now a chased one:
the beauty of the Chaldees excellency; the glory of that nation; what they gloried in, being so famous for pompous buildings, number of inhabitants, riches and wealth, see Daniel 4:30. PlinyF14Nat. Hist. l. 6. c. 26. calls it the head of the Chaldean nations, and says it obtained great fame in the whole world:
shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah; which, though not at once, and by fire from heaven, as that was, yet was of God, and, when completed, was, like that, irrecoverable; which was begun by Cyrus and Darius, and in after times finished; and besides there was a circumstance which made it similar to that; for as the men of Sodom were eating and drinking, when their destruction came upon them, so Belshazzar, and his nobles, were feasting and revelling when the city was taken. The JewsF15Jarchi & Kimchi ex Seder Olam Rabba, c. 28. say, that, after Belshazzar was slain, Darius reigned one year, and in his second year the city was overthrown, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah by fire from heaven; but without any foundation; for certain it is that Babylon was in being many years after this, and continued to the time of Alexander the great.
It shall never be inhabited,.... As it has not been since its utter destruction. PausaniasF16Arcadica sive, l. 8. p. 509. , who lived in the times of Adrian, says, Babylon, the greatest city that ever the sun saw, that then there was nothing left of it but a wall: what is now called Babylon is a new city, and built in another place:
neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation; which is the same thing repeated in other and stronger terms, for the confirmation of it:
neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; that sort of the Arabians called Scenitae, because they dwelt in tents, and moved from place to place with their flocks, for the sake of pasture; but here there should be none for them, and therefore would not pitch their tents at it:
neither shall the shepherds make their folds there; as they had used to do in the pastures adjoining to it, which were formerly exceeding good, but now would be barren and unfruitful; and as there would be no shepherds in the city, so neither would any neighbouring ones come hither, or any from distant parts; partly because of the unfruitfulness of the place, and partly through fear of wild beasts, which had their habitation there, as follows. PlinyF17Ut supra. (Nat. Hist. l. 6. c. 26.) says it was reduced to a mere desert.
But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there,.... What sort of creatures are meant is not certain. The Targum renders it by a word which signifies monstrous, astonishing creatures; the Latin interpreter of it calls them apes. Jarchi and Kimchi say such are intended as are called martens or sables, a creature of the weasel kind. The Hebrew word does not much differ from the Arabic one used for "wild cats":
and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; whose voices are very mournful and unpleasant. Aben Ezra says such creatures are meant, that those that see them are amazed at them. Jarchi declares they are a kind of creatures he was ignorant of; and Kimchi thinks they are the same with "furon", or "ferrets": and the Latin interpreter of the Targum renders the word that uses by "weasels":
and owls shall dwell there; or "the daughters of the owl", or "of the ostriches", as the Targum and Syriac version; with which agrees the Vulgate Latin, rendering the word "ostriches", as it is in Lamentations 4:3; the Septuagint version translates it "sirens", or "mermaids":
and satyrs shall dance there; a sort of monstrous creatures with the ancients, painted half men and half goats; the upper part of them like men, except the horns on their heads, and the lower parts like goats, and all over hairy; and the word here used signifies hairy; and is used for goats, and sometimes for devils, either because they have appeared in this form, as Kimchi says, to them that believe them; or because they, by their appearance, inject such horror in men, as cause their hair to stand upright: hence the Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi, interpret it of devils here; and so the Septuagint version, and those that follow it, the Syriac and Arabic, render it, "and demons shall dance there": with this agrees the account of mystical Babylon, Revelation 18:2.
And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses,.... The Targum and Syriac version, "in their palaces", and so the Vulgate Latin; or "with their widows", such as have lost their mates: what creatures are here meant is very uncertain; we in general call them the wild beasts of the islands, because the word is sometimes used for islands; the Targum renders it "cats", wild ones; the Syriac version, "sirens"; and the Arabic, the "hyaenae"; the Septuagint version, "onocentaurs"; and the Vulgate Latin version, "owls", which live in desolate houses, and cry or answer to one another, which is the sense of the phrase here:
and dragons in their pleasant palaces; where they delight to be, though otherwise very dismal. The Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, "hedgehogs": the Syriac version, "wild dogs"; and the Vulgate Latin version, "sirens"; the word is commonly used for "whales", and sometimes for serpents, which seems to be the sense here; and to this agrees the account that R. Benjamin TudelensisF18Itinerarium, p. 76. gives of Babylon, who, when he was there, about five or six hundred years ago, saw the palace of Nebuchadnezzar in ruins, but men were afraid to enter into it, because of serpents and scorpions, which were within it. Rauwolff, a German traveller, about the year 1574, reports of the tower of Babylon, that it was so ruinous, so low, and so full of venomous creatures, which lodge in holes made by them in the rubbish, that no one durst approach nearer to it than within half a league, excepting during two months in the winter, when these animals never stir out of their holesF19Vid. Prideaux's Connection, par. 1. p. 569. :
and her time is near to come; that is, the time of the destruction of Babylon, as the Targum expresses it; which, though two hundred years or more from the time of this prophecy, yet but a short time with God; and when this was made known to the Jews in captivity, for whose comfort it is written, it was not afar off:
and her days shall not be prolonged; the days of her prosperity and happiness, but should be shortened.