Westminster Annotations, Isaiah · Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI.
Vers. 1. BƲrden] Chap. 13. 1.
the desert of the sea] Chaldea, and Babylon, so called, of the great meers in that region: for such in Scripture are called Seas, Joh. 6. 1. & 21. 1. Or, because it was to be destroyed, and made a pool of water, chap. 14. 23. Jer. 51. 42.
south] Or, heath. or, wast, dry land, Josh. 15. 19. Jer. 17. 26. such as the Southern parts are wont to be, lying neer to the scorching heat of the Sunne.
passe through] There being nothing there to hinder, or restrain them. Jer. 4. 11.
it cometh] the ruine of Babylon, by the Medes and Persians, breaking in fiercely and furiously upon them, Jer. 50. 42, 44. and 51. 28, 30.
the desert] Lying between Media and Babylon.
V. 2. grievous] Heb. hard. Chap. 19. 4.
vision] Chap. 1. 1.
the treacherous dealer] The sinnes of Babylon, for which it was to be destroyed; extreame perfidiousnesse, and inhumanity, Hab. 2. 5.
the spoiler spoileth] Chap. 33. 1.
Elam] A part of Persia, Gen. 10. 22.
Media] Chap. 13. 17.
thereof have I made to cease] Procured by the Chaldeans and their cruelty, as Gen. 18. 20.
V. 3. are my loyns filled with pain] Spoken in the person of the Babylonians: or, as one amazed and affrighted at the sight of so dreadfull a vision, Hab. 3. 15. See Chap. 15. 5.
pangs have taken hold] Chap. 13. 8. & 26. 17. Jer. 48. 41.
V. 4. My heart panted] Or, my mind wandred.
the night of my pleasure] Or, my night of desire. 1 King. 9. 1, 19.
night of my pleasure] The evening, or night, desired for rest, was turned with me into terrour, Deut. 28. 67. Job 7. 4, 13, 14. Or, the Babylonians festivall night shall be turned into terrour, Jer. 51. 39. Dan. 5. 1, 30.
turned] Heb. put.
V. 5. arise ye princes] While they are feasting and making merry, they shall be commanded and compelled to betake themselves to their weapons▪
anoint] Or, forbish.
the shield] Chap. 22. 6.
V. 6. let him declare what] Or, that may tell what. as Chap. 57. 16.
V. 7. saw] In a vision, vers. 2.
a chariot, &c▪] Troops of chariots of men of warre; and others with baggage.
a chariot] Or, a company of horse. or, chariots. 2 King. 6. 17.
a couple of] Or, two troops of.
a chariot of asses] Or, a company.
a chariot of camels] Or, a company.
hearkened diligently] Heb. attended with attention, even great attention. as Chap. 22. 17.
V. 8. he cried] Or, cried as a lion. as Psal. 11. 1.
A lion] Cyrus, or Darius, that took Babylon, Dan. 5. 30. called a lion, Jer. 50. 44. Or, the watchman cried aloud, like a lion, as Lam. 3. 10. Hose. 11. 10. by his hideous noise expressing much fear of great danger approaching.
I stand continually] The watch-mans speech, professing his constant diligence in his place of employment: and withall relating, what he had therein discovered.
watch-tower] Jer. 6. 27. Hab. 2. 1.
whole nights] Or, every night.
a chariot of men] See vers. 7.
and said] Upon relation of what the watchman had seen, God expoundeth it to the Prophet.
Babylon is fallen] Jer. 51. 8. Rev. 14. 8. & 18. 2.
the graven images] Chap. 46. 1. Jer. 50. 2. & 51. 44.
broken unto the ground] Or, broken and thrown down, as Psal. 89. 39. Chap. 14. 12.. & 22. 18.
V. 10. threshing] Babylon, by whom God formerly threshed, or afflicted, other people; as Chap. 25. 10. & 41. 15. is now her self to be threshed; or, to be made a floor, for her own people to be threshed in, Jer. 51. 33. Mic. 4. 13.
corn of] Heb. sonne. as Thren. 3. 13.
V. 11. burden] Vers. 1.
Dumah] Jer. 49. 7. Ezek. 35. 2. Obad. 1.
Dumah] Edom, or Idumea, as Ram for Aram, Job 32. 2.
Seir] The Edomites countrey, Deut. 2. 4, 5.
what of the night?] What saw you the last night? or, how much of the night is spent? The speech of persons possessed with fear of some evil approaching, and enquiring oft of the watchman, whether he discover ought: Or, partly so affected, and partly weary of attending all night in arms; and enquiring how neer it is to break of day, Psal. 130. 6.
of the night] Or, saith the watch-man? as Gen. 21. 7.
V. 12. The morning cometh] As sure as the night succeedeth the day; so sure is such calamitie shortly to surprise you, as by no diligence of enquiry, or running to and fro, ye will be able to avert, or avoid. Or, the morning indeed is coming: but as little comfort will ye have of it, as if it were night still; (Chap. 51. 30. and 59. 10.) unlesse ye turn from your sinnes, seek to God, and joyn your selves to his people, Chap. 55. 6, 7. Psal. 47. 9.
return] Or, go and come. or, come again. as Gen. 26. 18.
V. 13. burden upon Arabia] Vers. 1. 11.
forest in Arabia] Ye shall flee to the woods, fo… fear of the Assyrians invading you, as to places of covert and retreat, Gen. 3. 8. 1 Sam. 22. 5.
travelling companies] Heb. paths. or, journies. as Gen. 37. 25.
Dedanim] People of Arabia, descended from Dedan, Gen. 25. 3. Jer. 49. 8.
V. 14. the] Or, ye.
Tema] Job 6. 19.
brought] Or, bring.
water to him] Because for fear they durst not stay to eat, or drink: or because in those wast places there was great want of either sustenance, Job 6. 19.
was] Or, is.
they prevented with their bread] Or, prevent with your bread him that fleeth.
V. 15. fled] Or, flee.
from the swords] Or, for fear of. Heb. from the face of. Chap. 31. 8.
bent bow] Heb. trodden. Chap. 5. 28.
from the, &c.] Or, from a grievous warre. as Gen. 18. 20.
grievousnesse of warre] Heb. heavinesse. Chap. 30. 27.
V. 16. a yeer] A shorter time, then that assigned Moab, Chap. 16. 14. and Egypt. Chap. 20. 3. the Assyrian, it seemeth, seizing sooner upon these countries of Arabia, then upon either of them.
of an hireling] See Chap. 16. 14.
Kedar shall fail] A people of Arabia, Psal. 120. 5. Chap. 60. 7. descended from Ishmael, Gen. 25. 13.
V. 17. archers] Heb. bows. Chap. 22. 3.
the mighty] Or, of the.
diminished] Psal. 107. 39.
for the LORD God] Chap. 1. 20.
of Israel] The onelyonly true God, Jer. 10. 10.