And they shall be afraid "And they shall be terrified" - I join this verb, ונבהלו venibhalu , to the preceding verse, with the Syriac and Vulgate. Pangs and sorrows shall take hold on them "Pangs shall seize them" - The Septuagint, Syriac, and Chaldee read יאחזום yochezum , instead of יאחזון yochezun , which does not express the pronoun then, necessary to the sense. read more
For the stars of heaven "Yea, the stars of heaven" - The Hebrew poets, to express happiness, prosperity, the instauration and advancement of states, kingdoms, and potentates, make use of images taken from the most striking parts of nature, from the heavenly bodies, from the sun, moon, and stars: which they describe as shining with increased splendor, and never setting. The moon becomes like the meridian sun, and the sun's light is augmented sevenfold; (see Isaiah 30:26 ;); new heavens and... read more
I will punish the world "I will visit the world" - That is, the Babylonish empire; as η οικουμενη , for the Roman empire, or for Judea, Luke 2:1 ; Acts 11:28 . So the universus orbis Romanus , for the Roman empire; Salvian. lib. 5 Minos calls Crete his world: " Creten, quae meus est orbis ," Ovid. Metamorph. 8:9. read more
I will make a man more precious than fine gold-wedge of Ophir - The Medes and Persians will not be satisfied with the spoils of the Babylonians. They seek either to destroy or enslave them; and they will accept no ransom for any man - either for אנוש enosh , the poor man, or for אדם adam , the more honorable person. All must fall by the sword, or go into captivity together; for the Medes, ( Isaiah 13:17 ;), regard not silver, and delight not in gold. read more
"And the remnant" - Here is plainly a defect in this sentence, as it stands in the Hebrew text; the subject of the proposition is lost. What is it that shall be like a roe chased? The Septuagint happily supply it, οἱ καταλελειμμενοι , שאר shear , the remnant. A MS. here supplies the word יושב yosheb , the inhabitant; which makes a tolerably good sense; but I much prefer the reading of the Septuagint. They shall - turn "They shall look" - That is, the forces of the king of... 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
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 13:5
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