Westminster Annotations, Isaiah · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
Vers. 1. BƲrden] An heavy, or burdensome prophecie, of calamities to befall those it concerneth. 2 King. 9. 25. Jer. 23. 33-36. So Chap. 15. 1. and 16. 1. &c.
Babylon,] Jer. 50. and 51.
see] Chap. 2. 1.
V. 2. a banner upon the high mountain,] Chap. 5. 26. and 11. 12.
unto them,] To the Medes and Persians to come against Babylon. vers. 17.
shake the hand,] Call to those that are neer at hand, and can hear; …ecken to those, that are further of.
the gates of] The cities; as Deut. 16. 5. or the houses of the princes of Ba…ylon. Chap. 45. 1.
V. 3. sanctified ones,] Men prepared and appointed to execute judgement. Jer. 51. 27, 28.
that rejoyce] That shall go willingly about my work: or, that shall victoriously triumph, by the successe that I shall give them.
in my highnesse.] Or, highly, proudly. Heb. in, or, with pride. Psal. 36. 11.
V. 4. noise] Or, rumour. Jer. 4. 15.
like as of a great people:] Heb. the likenesse of.
the kingdoms] The two kingdoms of the Medes and the Persians; both which Cyrus held: or the other kingdoms also, whose people served under him. Jer. 25. 14. and 27. 7. and 50. 41.
V. 5. from the end] A common phrase, used to signifie the remotest people of the world commonly known, and with whom any ordinary commerce is. Nehem. 1. 9. Act. 2. 5. Col. 1. 23.
heaven,] The land, or countrey lying under that part of heaven. Jer. 50. 26.
V. 6. ye,] Ye Babylonians.
the day] Gods day of visitation and vengeance. Chap. 10. 3. Jer. 46. 10, 21. and 50. 27. Ezek. 30. 3. Joel 1. 15. and 2. 1. and 3. 14. Obad. 15. Zeph. 1. 7.
from the Almighty.] And therefore unavoidable. Job 31. 23. Joel 1. 15.
V. 7. hands] Jer. 6. 24. and 50. 43. Ezek. 7. 17. and 21. 15.
be faint,] Or, fall down. or, hang down.
heart shall melt.] Psal. 22. 14. Chap. 19. 1.
V. 8. sorrows] Or, pains.
as a woman] Psal. 48 6. Chap. 21. 3. Jer. 30. 6. and 49. 22, 24.
be amazed,] Heb. wonder.
one at another,] Heb. every man at his neighbour. Gen. 11. 3. Jer. 36. 16.
at another] Or, looking one upon another. as Gen. 43. 33.
their faces] Their faces shall with grief and fear, be as black as if they had been scorched with fire. Lam. 4. 8. and 5. 10. Ezek. 20. 47. Joel 2. 6.
flames.] Heb. faces of the flames. as Lam. 4. 7.
V. 9. fierce anger,] Heb. fervor of nose, or, anger. Chap. 7. 4. vers. 13.
lay the land desolate,] Heb. put the land into desolation. Jer. 2. 15. and 4. 7.
he shall destroy] Or, to destroy. as Josh. 24. 9.
V. 10. the starres of heaven,] All shall be so full of horrour and dread, that the very heavens shall seem to have lost their light. Chap. 5. 30. and 34. 4. Ezek. 32. 7, 8. Amos 8. 9. Joel 2. 10, 31. and 3. 15. Matth. 24. 29. Mark. 13. 24. Luk. 21. 25.
V. 11. punish] Heb. visite. Chap. 26. 14.
the world] The state of Babylon; so tearmed for her ample empire. Jer. 27. 5, 6. Dan. 4. 22. and 5. 19.
arrogancie] One of Babylons principall sins. Dan. 5. 20.
will lay low] Chap. 2. 17.
terrible.] Or, roisters. Chap. 25. 4, 5.
V. 12. more precious then fine gold] For the great havock and slaughter, that shall be made of them: the Medes sparing none for money. vers. 17. See Chap. 4. 1.
V. 13. I will shake] They shall be so distracted, as if the heavens above them were falling upon their heads; and the earth moving, or removing from under their feet. See Chap. 29. 6.
remove out of her place] Hag. 2. 7. Job 9. 6.
fierce anger.] Heb. heat, or, fervor, of his nose, or, anger. vers. 9. Psal. 18. 8. Jer. 4. 8.
V. 14. it shall be as the chased roe,] Babylon forsaken by her hired souldiers and confederates; Jer. 50. 16. and 51. 9. and being now as an hunted deer, Prov. 6. 5. or a stragling sheep, Psal. 119. 176. not knowing, whither to betake her self, or where to finde safetie.
V. 16. dashed to pieces] Psal. 137. 9.
their houses shall be spoiled,] Zech. 14. 2.
V. 17. Medes against them,] Under whom the Persians are also comprehended, as in a manner one people, because acknowledging one king, Chap. 21. 2. Jer. 51. 11. Dan. 5. 28.
not regard silver,] They shall not regard to spare any for ransome, as Saul did Agag. 1 Sam. 15. 20.
V. 18. Their bows] Or, But with their bows shall they dash.
dash the young men to pieces,] Shooting them to death.
no pitie] They shall shew no more pitie to them, then they did to Gods people, Psal. 137. 8, 9. 2 Chron. 36. 17. Jer. 50. 15, 29. Jam. 2. 13.
the fruit of the wombe] The children yet in the wombe, either destroying their mothers going great with them; or ripping them up inhumane manner. 2 King. 8. 12. and 15. 16.
V. 19. as when God overthrew] Heb. as, or, according to, (as Jer. 3. 26.) the overthrowing. Amos 4. 11.
Sodom, and Gomorrha] Gen. 19. 24. Jer. 50. 40.
V. 20. It shall never] It shall neither have throne to sit on, nor place to dwell in; neither regain power to rule; no… rise to be a place of habitation again. Jer. 50. 39. and 51. 26, 62.
be inhabited] Heb. sit. to wit, on a throne; as a queen, or empresse. Chap. 10. 13. or, inhabite, be inhabited by any. Jer. 51. 43. or, have any place to inhabite. So Zech. 7. 7. and 9. 5.
be dwelt in] Heb. dwell. Jer. 50. 39.
from generation] Heb. to generation and generation. Psal. 100. 5.
Arabian] A people, that used to go from place to place, to seek pasture for their cattle. Jer. 49. 29.
V. 21. wild beasts] Heb. Ziim.
dolefull creatures] Heb. Ochim.
owls] Or, ostriches. See Lam. 4. 3.
owls] Heb. daughters of the owl. Mic. 1. 8.
satyres shall dance there] Either evill spirits, devils, appearing in the form of some rough and hairie creature, Lev. 17. 7. 2 Chron. 11. 17. or, strange beasts; of their horride and ugly shape so tearmed. Chap. 34. 14.
V. 22. the wild beasts] Heb. Iim.
desolate houses] Or, palaces.
her time is neer] It shall not be long, before this judgement be put in execution. vers. 6. It was not till about some 200. yeers after this prophecie, that Bablyon was surprised, sacked, and ruined by Cyrus. But besides that, what may seem long to man, is short with God. Jam. 5. 8, 9. 2 Pet. 3. 8. Psal. 90. 4. This is by the Prophet said, as speaking to those in the captivitie; for whose comfort and support especially this was delivered, and left by him upon record.