Isaiah 13:9-11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 13:6-18

We have here a very elegant and lively description of the terrible confusion and desolation which should be made in Babylon by the descent which the Medes and Persians should make upon it. Those that were now secure and easy were bidden to howl and make sad lamentation; for, I. God was about to appear in wrath against them, and it is a fearful thing to fall into his hands: The day of the Lord is at hand (Isa. 13:6), a little day of judgment, when God will act as a just avenger of his own and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 13:9

Behold, the day of the Lord cometh ,.... Or "is come" F5 בא "venit", Piscator; "veniens", Montanus. ; said in Isaiah 13:6 to be at hand, but now it is represented in prophecy as already come: cruel both with wrath and fierce anger ; which, whether referred to "the Lord", or to "the day", the sense is the same; the day may be said to be cruel, and full of wrath and fury, because of the severity and fierceness of the Lord's anger, exercised upon the Babylonians in it; and he may... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 13:10

For the stars of heaven ,.... This and what follows are to be understood, not literally, but figuratively, as expressive of the dismalness and gloominess of the dispensation, of the horror and terror of it, in which there was no light, no comfort, no relief, nor any hope of any; the heavens and all the celestial bodies frowning upon them, declaring the displeasure of him that dwells there: and the constellations thereof shall not give their light ; which are assemblages of stars, or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 13:11

And I will punish the world for their evil ,.... Not the whole world, but the kingdom of Babylon, so called because of its large extent, and the number of its inhabitants, just as the Roman empire is called the whole world, Luke 2:1 "evil" may be meant, either of the evil of sin, which was the cause of punishment, or else of the evil of punishment itself; and the sense be this, I will visit, or, in a way of visitation, I will bring evil, or evils, upon the world; so the Targum, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 13:10

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 13:11

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 13:1-18

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 13:1-22

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 13:1-22

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 13:9

The day of the Lord (see the comment on Isaiah 13:6 ). Cruel ; i.e. severe and painful, not really "cruel." To lay the land desolate . As in Isaiah 13:5 , so here, many would translate ha-arets by "the earth," and understand a desolation extending far beyond Babylonia. But this is not necessary. read more

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