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

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

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21:3-4 The prophet describes the effect the message had on him personally. Daniel also experiencedphysical distress at YHWH’s revelations (cf. Dan. 7:15,28; 8:27; 10:16-17).1. loins are full of anguish2. pains have seized me like the pains of a woman in labor, cf. 13:8; 26:173. I am so bewildered I cannot hear, cf. 19:14 (i.e., an idiom of drunkenness)4. so terrified I cannot see5. my mind reels6. horror overwhelms me7. the twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling (“twilight” possibly Babylon’sdefeat meant a stronger, more expansionistic Assyria)All of these VERBS are PERFECTS, which denote a complete situation. Why was he so distressed? Thereis no one to stop Assyria now! She is coming!21:4 This verse expands on v. 2a (“a harsh vision”). It describes Isaiah’s reaction to this oracle.1. my mind reels, BDB 1073, KB 1766, Qal PERFECT2. horror overwhelms me, BDB 129, KB 147, Piel PERFECT3. the twilight I long for has been turned for me into trembling, BDB 962, KB 1321, QalPERFECTThe question is, “Why was Isaiah so upset at the fall of Babylon?” Possibly because of1. the terrible violence involved2. Babylon kept Assyria in balance. Now Assyria was free to expand region-wide (seeExposition Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 134).21:5 This verse has a series of four Qal INFINITIVE ABSOLUTES (functioning as IMPERATIVES) and thentwo Qal IMPERATIVES.1. set the table2. spread the rugs (see note following)3. eat4. drinkThis would denote a lavish meal. Some commentators see this as referring to Daniel 5. If so, then thischapter refers to Neo-Babylon of a later period (i.e., Nebuchadnezzar).In the midst of the party a messenger arrives and calls them to military preparations (“captains,”BDB 978).1. rise up, BDB 877, KB 1086, Qal IMPERATIVE2. oil the shields, BDB 602, KB 643, Qal IMPERATIVE. The ancient warriors covered theirshields with leather so that flaming arrows would penetrate the soft leather and beextinguished, cf. II Sam. 1:21.}NASB, NJBNKJV, PeshittaNRSV, TEV,REBJB“spread out the cloth”“set a watchman in the tower”“spread the rugs”“cover it with cloth”This phrase is made up of a NOUN and a very similar VERBAL root.1. NOUN, ;*57 (BDB 860 II) found only here, some scholars see it as “carpet,” others as“watchman” (BDB 859, %57/2. VERBAL, %57 (BDB 860 II, INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE), meaning “lay out” or “lay over”Since people of the ANE ate sitting on the floor with pillows, this could refer to this type ofsitting/eating arrangement (i.e., “arrange the pillows,” cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 832).211

21:6 Notice the prophet is relaying YHWH’s words.1. go, BDB 229, KB 246, Qal IMPERATIVE2. station the sentry, BDB 763, KB 840, Hiphil IMPERATIVE (“sentry,” lit. “one who watches,”BDB 859, KB 1044, Piel PARTICIPLE)3. let him report, BDB 616, KB 665, Hiphil IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense21:7 He is instructed to watch for a very specific kind of military formation.1. riders on horses in pairs2. a train of donkeys3. a train of camelsThe term “riders” (BDB 935) could be understood as chariots pulled by two horses (NKJV,Peshitta). For #2 and #3, this could also designate riders (cf. NRSV, LXX).At the sight of this type of military equipment and formation, he is to report immediately (doubleuse of “attention,” BDB 904). Assyria is coming!21:8 This is a way of announcing a loud military-type (i.e., like a lion) report by the watchman on thewall. He has so far seen nothing.The MT is difficult and the Hebrew manuscripts from DSS make the watchman call out like a lion,which is the best option for understanding a cryptic Hebrew text.However, it is possible to see “lion,” %*9! (BDB 71) as a copyist’s error for “saw,” %!9 (BDB906), thereby resulting in the translation, “then the one who sees the sentry” (i.e., watchman) cries out.21:9 Suddenly the military formation and equipment come into view! Its presence in Palestine showsthe previous fall of the city of Babylon. This fall is expressed by doubling the VERB (BDB 656, KB 709,Qal PERFECTS), which is so common in Isaiah. The city of Babylon fell several times to differentAssyrian kings.Her demise is complete as illustrated by the shattering (BDB 990, KB 1402, Piel PERFECT) of heridols (cf. chapters 46-47). With Babylon defeated and Elam and Media inactive, Assyria can resume herexpansionistic intentions!21:10 The prophet tells the oppressed covenant people that their God (i.e., “LORD of hosts,” “God ofIsrael”) has acted, but how?1. The fall of Babylon was not a victory for them, but a sure promise that Assyria will come.2. The question remains which Babylon is the prophet referring to?a. Babylon of Merodach-baladan of Isaiah’s dayb. Neo-Babylon of Nebuchadnezzar of Ezekiel and Jeremiah’s dayThe issue is not one of the reality of the predictive prophecy, but of historical setting!Just a note about an alternate way of interpreting this verse. It is possible that the ones who areaddressed are the Babylonians who Assyria will destroy. YHWH has earlier heard the fall of Moab (cf.15:5; 16:11) and the prayers of the oppressed Egyptians (cf. 19:20).} “my afflicted of the threshing floor” This is a Hebrew idiom “son of my threshing floor.” TheHebrew term “son” has many semantic usages in Isaiah.1. son of fatness, 5:12. son of dawn, 14:123. son of the wise, 19:114. son of man, 56:25. son of a foreign land, 56:6212

21:3-4 <strong>The</strong> prophet describes the effect the message had on him personally. Daniel also experiencedphysical distress at YHWH’s revelations (cf. Dan. 7:15,28; 8:27; 10:16-17).1. loins are full of anguish2. pains have seized me like the pains of a woman in labor, cf. 13:8; 26:173. I am so bewildered I cannot hear, cf. 19:14 (i.e., an idiom of drunkenness)4. so terrified I cannot see5. my mind reels6. horror overwhelms me7. the twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling (“twilight” possibly Babylon’sdefeat meant a stronger, more expansionistic Assyria)All of these VERBS are PERFECTS, which denote a complete situation. Why was he so distressed? <strong>The</strong>reis no one to stop Assyria now! She is coming!21:4 This verse exp<strong>and</strong>s on v. 2a (“a harsh vision”). It describes <strong>Isaiah</strong>’s reaction to this oracle.1. my mind reels, BDB 1073, KB 1766, Qal PERFECT2. horror overwhelms me, BDB 129, KB 147, Piel PERFECT3. the twilight I long for has been turned for me into trembling, BDB 962, KB 1321, QalPERFECT<strong>The</strong> question is, “Why was <strong>Isaiah</strong> so upset at the fall of Babylon?” Possibly because of1. the terrible violence involved2. Babylon kept Assyria in balance. Now Assyria was free to exp<strong>and</strong> region-wide (seeExposition <strong>Bible</strong> <strong>Commentary</strong>, vol. 6, p. 134).21:5 This verse has a series of four Qal INFINITIVE ABSOLUTES (functioning as IMPERATIVES) <strong>and</strong> thentwo Qal IMPERATIVES.1. set the table2. spread the rugs (see note following)3. eat4. drinkThis would denote a lavish meal. Some commentators see this as referring to Daniel 5. If so, then thischapter refers to Neo-Babylon of a later period (i.e., Nebuchadnezzar).In the midst of the party a messenger arrives <strong>and</strong> calls them to military preparations (“captains,”BDB 978).1. rise up, BDB 877, KB 1086, Qal IMPERATIVE2. oil the shields, BDB 602, KB 643, Qal IMPERATIVE. <strong>The</strong> ancient warriors covered theirshields with leather so that flaming arrows would penetrate the soft leather <strong>and</strong> beextinguished, cf. II Sam. 1:21.}NASB, NJBNKJV, PeshittaNRSV, TEV,REBJB“spread out the cloth”“set a watchman in the tower”“spread the rugs”“cover it with cloth”This phrase is made up of a NOUN <strong>and</strong> a very similar VERBAL root.1. NOUN, ;*57 (BDB 860 II) found only here, some scholars see it as “carpet,” others as“watchman” (BDB 859, %57/2. VERBAL, %57 (BDB 860 II, INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE), meaning “lay out” or “lay over”Since people of the ANE ate sitting on the floor with pillows, this could refer to this type ofsitting/eating arrangement (i.e., “arrange the pillows,” cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 832).211

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