Isaiah 13:4 - Exposition

The noise of a multitude in the mountains . I do not know why Isaiah should not have been "thinking of his geography" (Cheyne). As soon as the Greeks knew anything of the Persians, they knew of them as a mountain people, and attributed their valor and their handy habits to the physical character of their country (Herod; 9. ad fin .). Jeremiah connects the invading army which destroyed Babylon with mountains, when he derives it from. Ararat (comp. Genesis 8:4 ), Minni (Armenia), and Ashchenaz ( Jeremiah 51:27 ). At any rate, the mention of "mountains" here is very appropriate, both Media and Persia being, in the main, mountainous countries. A great people ; or, much people— not necessarily of one nation only. The host of the battle; rather, a host of war ; i.e. a multitude of men, armed and prepared for war.