Isaiah 13:9-10

9, 10. Day of the Lord cometh The meaning the same as in Isaiah 13:6.

Cruel Applied to “day,” etc., and means, rather, terrible, inexorable; a judgment so viewed abstractly, and to human view.

Wrath… fierce anger Predicates also applying to “day,” and characterizing it. If the preposition “with” is to be used, (which from the text is doubtful,) the sense remains the same.

Sinners They who in Babylon had incurred such fierce retribution.

Stars of heaven The Chaldeans were of note, far and near, as cultivators of astronomy; hence Isaiah’s use of this illustration.

Shall not give their light No metaphor so vividly represents calamity as extinguishment of light. (See Isaiah 34:4; Matthew 24:29, et plura.) Not Babylonians alone, but Egyptians and Phenicians gave much attention to astronomy, as evidenced by very early attempts at regulating time divisions by the solar and lunar motions and revolutions. Exodus 7:11; Leviticus 20:27; Leviticus 19:31; Deuteronomy 18:10. These passages show that astrology, which was interdicted to the Hebrews, was connected with their study of astronomy.