The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary

3. Third paragraph4. Etc.CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTSA. This chapter lists several nations addressed by YHWH through His prophet, all introduced bythe literary marker, “the oracle about.”B. I have mentioned earlier that I think the oracle addressed to the “king of Babylon” really dealswith Assyria (i.e., 13:1-14:27). This chapter (i.e., vv. 1-10) is about Babylon.This is not Neo-Babylon of Nabonidus and Nebuchadnezzar, but the Chaldean peopleclose to the mouth of the Tigris and Euphrates. Their capital would be the city of Babylonand their king Merodach-baladan, who rebelled in 720 B.C., but was defeated by Sargon II andescaped into the marshes and fled to Elam in 710 B.C. (IVP Bible Background Commentary, p.611). The city of Babylon was destroyed by Assyria in 703 B.C. and the King of Assyria tookthe title “King of Babylon.”C. This chapter also addresses1. Edom, vv. 11-122. Arabia, vv. 13-17WORD AND PHRASE STUDYNASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 21:1-101The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea.As windstorms in the Negev sweep on,It comes from the wilderness, from a terrifying land.2A harsh vision has been shown to me;The treacherous one still deals treacherously, and the destroyer still destroys.Go up, Elam, lay siege, Media;I have made an end of all the groaning she has caused.3For this reason my loins are full of anguish;Pains have seized me like the pains of a woman in labor.I am so bewildered I cannot hear, so terrified I cannot see.4My mind reels, horror overwhelms me;The twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling.5They set the table, they spread out the cloth, they eat, they drink;"Rise up, captains, oil the shields,"6For thus the Lord says to me,"Go, station the lookout, let him report what he sees.7When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs,A train of donkeys, a train of camels,Let him pay close attention, very close attention."209