Of the battle "For the battle" - The Bodleian MS. has למלחמה lemilchamah . Cyrus's army was made up of many different nations. Jeremiah calls it an "assembly of great nations from the north country," Jeremiah 50:9 . And afterwards mentions the kingdoms of "Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz, (i.e. Armenia, Corduene, Pontus or Phrygia, Vitring.), with the kings of the Medes," Jeremiah 51:27 , Jeremiah 51:28 . See Xenophon. Cyrop. read more
They come from a far country - The word מארץ meerets is wanting in one MS. and in the Syriac: "They come from afar." From the end of heaven - Kimchi says, Media, "the end of heaven," in Scripture phrase, means, the East. read more
Which Isaiah … did see (comp. Isaiah 1:1 ; Isaiah 2:1 , etc.). Isaiah always "sees" his prophecies, whether they are of the nature of visions (as Isaiah 6:1-13 .) or the contrary. The word is probably used to express the strong conviction that he has of their absolute certainty. read more
The burden of the Lord. "The burden of Babylon" (see Isaiah 15:1 ; Isaiah 17:1 ; Isaiah 19:1 , etc.). The use of the word "burden," to signify a message and its subsequent expansion into the phrase "the burden of the Lord" (see Jeremiah 23:33 ), suggest to us— I. THAT TO ALL MEN EVERYWHERE BELONGS THE SACRED DUTY OF CARRYING THE MESSAGES OF GOD . The term here used may simply signify this—the bearing of the Word of God to those for whom it was... read more
The fall of Babylon a type of the general punishment of the wicked. Scripture deals with history altogether in the way of example. Whether the subject be Assyria, or Syria, or Egypt, or Babylon, or even the "peculiar people of God," the object is to teach men by the facts adduced what they have to expect themselves. In Isaiah 10:1-34 . Assyria, here Babylon, is held up as a warning to sinners. The absolute certainty that punishment will overtake them at God's hands is the main lesson... read more
It is remarkable that Babylon heads the list of the Church's enemies in the present catalogue. Dr. Kay supposes the term "Babel" to be equivalent to "Asshur-Babel," and to designate "the Assyro-Babylonian Empire." He thinks that "Babel" heads the list on account of Assyria's position, under Tiglath-Pileser and Shalmaneser, in the van of Israel's adversaries. But neither Isaiah nor any other sacred writer knows of an Assyro-Babylonian kingdom or empire. Assyria and Babylonia are distinct... read more
Oracle concerning Babylon. I. APPROACH OF THE WARRIORS OF JEHOVAH . On the bare mountain the banner is upraised, and with loud cry and commanding gesture of the hand a host of warriors is summoned from all sides. As in verse 26, Jehovah is viewed by the poet as a mighty Battle-Leader, Lord of hosts. His voice is heard, "I have given commission to my anointed ones, have called my heroes for my work of punishment, my proudly rejoicing ones!" And then a noise is heard in the... read more
Lift ye up a banner ; rather, a standard — " an ensign ," as in Isaiah 5:26 : Isaiah 11:12 . "Ensigns" were used both by the Assyrians and the Egyptians. "Banners," or flags, do not seem to have been employed in the ancient world. Upon the high mountain ; rather, upon a bare mountain—one that was clear of trees, so that the signal might be the better seen from it. God's army having to be summoned against Babylon, the summons is made in three ways: The whole description is, of... read more
The kingdom of God. These stirring, eloquent words of the prophet describing the gathering of the hosts at the summons of Jehovah speak to us of— I. THE EXCEEDING BREADTH OF THE DIVINE CLAIM . All things, all nations, are Jehovah's; all these hosts that are to be gathered together are "my sanctified ones;" they are "my mighty ones." They did not know him, but, notwithstanding, God claims them as belonging to himself. He does claim all nations and peoples as his own; not... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 13:3
I have commanded my sanctified ones - מקדשי mekuddashai , the persons consecrated to this very purpose. Nothing can be plainer than that the verb כדש kadash , "to make holy," signifies also to consecrate or appoint to a particular purpose. Bishop Lowth translates, "my enrolled warriors." This is the sense. read more