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
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
Every one that is found "Every one that is overtaken" - That is, none shall escape from the slaughter; neither they who flee singly, dispersed and in confusion; nor they who endeavor to make their retreat in a more regular manner, by forming compact bodies: they shall all be equally cut off by the sword of the enemy. The Septuagint have understood it in this sense, which they have well expressed: - Ὁς γαρ αν ἁλῳ ἡττηθησεται,π Και οἱτινες συνηγμενοι εισι πεσουνται μαχαιρα. ... read more
Which shall not regard silver "Who shall hold silver of no account" - That is, who shall not be induced, by large offers of gold and silver for ransom, to spare the lives of those whom they have subdued in battle; their rage and cruelty will get the better of all such motives. We have many examples in the Iliad and in the Aeneid of addresses of the vanquished to the pity and avarice of the vanquishers, to induce them to spare their lives. Est domus alta: jacent penitus defossa talenta ... 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