CHAP. XXI.
A prophecy of the destruction of Babylon by the Medes and Persians, 1-10. The burden of Dumah, 11, 12. The burden of Arabia, 13-17.
THE burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, d from a terrible land.
n 36:6. 2 Kings 18:21. Ez. 29: | Heb. 2:3. 6,7.
o 2:22. Jer. 9:23,24. 17:5. 1 Cor. 3:21.
Or, country. Job 22:30.
p 28:17. 30:1-7,15,16. 31:1-3. q Matt. 23:33. 1 Thes. 5:3.
a 13:1. 17:1.
b 13:20-22.14:23. Jer. 51:42. c Job 37:9. Dan. 11:40. Zech. 9:14.
d 13:4,5,17,18. Ez. 30:11. 31: 12.
called Sargon. (2 Kings 18:17.) Tartan was sent by him to form the siege of Ashdod, a very strong city in Philistia, ( Marg . Ref . b.) which is recorded to have afterwards held out against a king of Egypt for twenty-nine years. Tirhakah, against whom Sennacherib march- ed, was king of Cush: whether Cush meant Ethiopia south of Egypt in Africa, or a part of Arabia in Asia. (2 Kings 19:9.) The inhab- itants of Ashdod expected help from the Egyp-then succors. (Notes, 30:1-7.31:1-5.)
from the Ethiopians, and glorying in their al- liance with Egypt, would, on this event, de- spair of help, and surrender to the besiegers.
tians and Ethiopians; and many of the Jews did the same; but the prophet was ordered to predict Sennacherib's victory over those confederated nations. Some think that Ashdod was at this time in the hands of Hezekiah.
V. 2-4. Multitudes of prisoners, taken by the Assyrians, and reserved for sale as slaves, would be driven before them bare-foot and uncovered, save with a short garment, which scarcely sufficed to hide their nakedness; the prophet therefore, was ordered to walk abroad in the same manner. As a mourner for the sins and miseries of his people, and as de
V. 6. This isle.] Or, "country." Marg . -The Jews also, hearing of the successes of Sennacherib against their allies, would despair of help from that quarter, and be ready to give up all for lost. God, however, purposed to deliver them by his own power, and not by hea
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
We should by no means habituate ourselves to indulgence, sloth, or delicacy: for we know not how soon we may be called to endure hardship, reproach, and contempt, for the Lord's sake. We ought not indeed to do any thing of our own minds, which may appear absurd or ridiculous: but the world will often deem us foolish or mad, when we are singular in obedience to God: ( Note , 2 Kings 9:11.) and we must at all times refuse cont conformity to its vain fashions, and be mortified to its pleas
nouncing judgments on them, and as morti-ures. The attire and demeanor of ministers
fied to the world, he was used, it seems, to wear sackcloth constantly: ( Notes , 2 Kings 1: Note 8. Zech. 13:2,3. Matt . 3:4. Rev. 11:3-6.) but on this occasion, he was to lay even that aside,
and to appear exactly as the captives were ex- posed. This would subject him to ridicule and reproach, and be uneasy both to his body and mind yet he promptly obeyed. It is not probable, that he continued to appear in this manner for three years: but rather it was a sign of what would take place after three years; and the wonder excited by seeing the prophet walking publicly in this manner, would render his prediction the more noticed. If he once walked out thus, it might answer this end; but it is most likely he continued to do so for three days. ( Notes , Jer. 13:1-11.
Ez . 4:) -Sennacheribis computed to have been absent above three years, from the time that he first laid Hezekiah under contributions, till he came back with the design of besieging Jerusalem. During this time he gained many advantages over the Egyptians: and just before his return, he obtained a complete victory over Tirhakah, king of Ethiopia, when, it is probable, this pre- diction was literally fulfilled. (Notes, 2 Kings 18:13. 19:9-13.)
V. 5. The Ashdodites, who had hitherto held out against the Assyrians, expecting help
should be such, as may best give emphasis to their message, and call men's attention to them as the servants of God: and in order to be a sign and an example to others, we must be
such men as the world wonders at.-True faith will produce implicit obedience: and the minister cannot reasonably expect that his hearers should regard his doctrine, unless he demonstrate his own belief of it by his practice. The Lord will effectually support his servants under the most painful and mortifying effects of their obedience: and what we are called to suffer for his sake, is commonly very trivial or transient, compared with what numbers groan under from year to year, through the cruelty of conquerors, or lordly oppressors, who hold them in bondage.-All men's expectations from creatures, and glorying in them, will end in terror and shame: those who flee for succor to such deceitful refuges, will often be reduced to despair; and if the people of God have recourse to these carnal confidences, they will infallibly tend to discourage their hope and comfort: but they, who trust in the Lord, shall never finally be confounded.
NOTES.
CHAP. XXI. V. 1. 'The ten first verses of this chapter contain a prediction of the taking
2 A * grievous vision is declared unto 6 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treach-Go, set a watchman, let him declare what erously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, he seeth. O Elam; besiege, O Media: & all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.
3 Therefore hare my loins filled with pains: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it ; I was dismayed at the seeing of it .
4 My theart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: 'the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.
5 Prepare the table, watch in the watcharise, ye princes,
tower, meat, drink; and anoint the shield.
* Heb. hard. Ps. 60:3. Prov. 13:15.
e 24:16. 33:1. 1 Sam. 24:13. Jer. 51:44,48,49,53. Rev. 13: 10.
f 13:2-4,17,18. Jer. 50:14,34. 51:11,27,28. Dan. 5:23. 8:20. g 14:1-3. 35:10. 47:6. Ps. 12: 5. 79:11. 137:1-3. Jer. 31:11, 12,20,25. 45:3.51:3,4. Lam. 1: 22. Mic. 7:8-10. Zech. 1:15, 16.
b 15:5. 16:9,11. Hab. 3:16. 113:8. 26:17. Ps. 48:6. Jer.
48:41. 49:22.50:43. Mic. 4:9, 10. 1 Thes. 5:3.
k Deut. 28:67. Dan. 5:5,6. † Or, mind wandered. 15:11-14. 1 Sam. 25:36-38. 2 Sam. 13:28,29. Esth. 5:12. 7:6-10. Job 21:11-13. Jer. 51:39,57. Dan. 5:1,30. Nah. 1:10. Luke 21:34-36.
Heb. put.
m 22:13,14. Dan. 5:1-5. Cor. 15:32.
n 13:2,17,18.45:1-3. Jer. 51: 11,27,28.
'of Babylon by the Medes and Persians. It is 'a passage singular in its kind, for its brevity 'and force; for the rapidity and variety of the 'movements; and for the strength and energy 'of coloring, with which the action and event 'is painted. It opens by the prophet seeing at 'a distance the dreadful storm that is gather'ing, and ready to burst upon Babylon.' Bp . Lowth . Babylon and the adjacent country is here called "the desert of the sea;" (9) because it was shortly to become desert, and a marsh full of pools of water; as if converted into a
7 And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed.
8 And he cried, A lion: My lord, $I stand continually upon the watch-tower in the day-time, and I am set in my ward || whole nights:
9 And behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.
10 Omy threshing, and the corn of
o 62:6. 2 Kings 9:17-20. Jer. | || Or, every night. 51:12,13. Ez. 3:17. 33:2-7. Hab. 2:1,2.
p 9. 37:24. q Heb. 2:1.
Or, cried as a lion.
r 5:29. Jer. 4:7. 25:33. 49:19. 50:44. 1 Pet. 5:8.
s 56:10. 62:6. Ps. 63:6. 127:1. Hab. 2:1,2.
t Jer. 50:3,9,29,42. 51:27.
0 13:19. 14:4. Jer. 50:2. 51:8,
64. Rev. 14:8. 18:2,21.
x 46:1,2. Jer. 50:2,38. 51:44,47, 52.
y 41:15,16. 2 Kings 13:7. Jer. 51:33. Mic. 4:13. Hab. 3:12. Matt. 3:12.
Heb. son.
26.51:20-25.) For the Lord had called r. am, or Persia, and Media, to go up and besiege Babylon; and thus to terminate the sighing of the captive Jews, and many others, who had been grievously oppressed by Babylon.
V. 3-5. Almost two hundred years before the time, the prophet here seems to personate Belshazzar, on the night when Babylon was taken, and he was slain. ( Notes , Dan . 5:) We are introduced, as it were, into the banqueting room of that prince, and witness his astonishment: he declares to us his dismay and an
lake, or inland sea; ( Note , 14:21-23.) or be-guish, when he saw the hand which wrote,
cause it stood in a large plain, which was often overflowed by the Euphrates and the Tigris; and had been drained by great labor and expense. The country about Babylon, and es*pecially below it toward the sea, was a great 'flat morass, often overflowed by the Euphrates 'and Tigris. It became habitable by being 'drained by the many canals that were made 'in it.' Bp. Lowth. The whirlwinds in the south of Arabia often come with destructive fury: (Marg. Ref .-Zech. 9:14. Note , Jer . 4:11 -13.) thus ruin would irresistibly come upon Babylon from Media and Persia, the armies of which were very terrible; and through the deserts, which intervened between those countries and Babylon.-"The prophet renews his 'threatenings against Babylon, as he does af'terwards, (47:) to convince the Jews, by this 'repetition, of the certainty of the event; ... and 'thereby support them under their captivity, 'when that should come.' Lowth .
V. 2. The grievous calamities coming on Babylon, were revealed in vision to the prophet. The words may be thus translated ... "A 'grievous vision: there is made known to me 'an oppressor of the oppressor, and spoiler for 'the spoiler:" that is, It is now come to the king 'of Babylon's turn, to feel that oppression and
and the writing, on the wall; and how he was bowed down, when Daniel read and explained it to him; how "his heart panted, and fearfulness affrighted him;" and the night, which he had set apart for peculiar pleasure, was thus turned into terror and dismay. For whilst he had given orders to prepare the feast and to set the watch, and whilst he and his princes ate and drank; Cyrus had commanded his captains, to burnish their arms, and prepare for the assault: or, Belshazzar's princes were loudly called to arms, from their riotous feasting.
V. 6-9. The prophet here speaks in his own person. The Lord commanded him to set a watchman, who was required to make observations, and give notice of them: and he informed the prophet, that "he saw a chariot, with a couple of horsemen, &c." This may mean the chariots of war, and the united cavalry of the Medes and Persians; and the chariot of asses, and that of camels, may mean the carriages loaded with their baggage, drawn by these animals. It, however, described the march of Cyrus's army, furnished with every thing requisite for forming the siege of Babylon. Having "hearkened diligently with much heed," he further cried, "a lion:" that is, the
'ravage himself, which he had before brought destroyers of Babylon march forward with 'on others.' Lowth.--"The plunderer is plun-boldness and fury, as a lion in quest of his dered, and the destroyer is destroyed." Bp . prey: or, according to the margin, "He cried Lowth. No change of the text is needful, for as a lion," that is, very vehemently. (Mag.)this rendering; but merely a trifling one of the 'The particle as is frequently understood.' vowel points. ( Notes , 14:1--6.33:1. Jer . 25:8-|| Lowth . Though the watchman had been used VOL. IV.
(73
my floor; that which I have heard of the || Tema brought water to him that was LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.
11 The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, * what of the night? watchman, what of the night?
12 The watchman said, dThe morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: return, come.
13 The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, & O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.
14 The inhabitants of the land of
z 1 Kings 22:14. Ez. 3:17-19. | ₫ 17:14. Jer. 50:27. Ez. 7:5- Acts 20:26,27. 7,10,12.
a Gen. 25:14. 1 Chr. 1:30.
b 34: 63.1-6. Num. 24:18. Deut. 2:5. Ps. 137:7. Jer. 49:7-22. Ez. 35: Joel 3:19. Am. 1:6,11-12. Ob. 1,&c. Mal. 1:2-4.
c 6. Jer. 37:17.
e 55:7. Jer. 42:19-22. Ex. 14:1-6. 18:30-32. Acts 2:37, 38. 17:19,20,30-32.
f 1 Kings 10:15. Jer. 25:23,24. 49:28-33. Gal. 4:25.
g 13:20. Gen. 25:3. 32. Ez. 27:15,20,21.
1 Chr. 1.
to watch whole days and nights, he had never before observed such things: for the chariots and horsemen arrived at once; and instantaneously it was proclaimed, with energetic repetition, that Babylon, with all her graven images, was destroyed, and thrown to the ground. All this seems to have passed before the prophet's mind in vision: and was descriptive of his own office and duty, as a prophet and watchman to the house of Israel. ( Marg . Ref . o. Notes, 56:9-12. Ez . 3:17-19. 33:29.) This rapid succession of events does not accord to the warning given by the king of Babylon's watchmen, nor indeed to any thing which could really exist; for it comprises the transactions of many years: nay, it is probable that the ruin of the New Testament-Babylon was also intended to be predicted. ( Notes , 13 : 19-22 . Jer . 50:2,3. 51:7—9,61-64. Rev. 14: 8. 18:1-3,21-24.)
V. 10. 'O my people, whom for your punish'ment I shall make subject to the Babylonians, 'to try and to prove you, and to separate the 'chaff from the corn, the bad from the good 'among you; hear this for your consolation: 'your punishment, your slavery and oppres'sion, will have an end in the destruction of 'your oppressors.' Bp . Lowth. Marg. Ref. y.Notes, 28:23-29. Matt . 3:11,12.)
V. 11, 12. This is a distinct, brief, obscure, and almost enigmatical, prophecy. Dumah is Idumea, or the land of the Edomites, mount Seir. (Marg. Ref . a, b.) Some one of that nation called to the prophet, in vision, as the watchman who waked when others slept, to inquire, what time of the night it was, or what was the news of the night. This may either mean an earnest inquiry of the Edomites concerning the fate of their own country; or perhaps an insulting inquiry, concerning the duration of the afflictions of the Jews, in the Babylonish captivity. ( Notes , Ps . 137:7–9 . Ez . 25: 8-14. 35: Joel 3:18—21. Am . 1:6-8,11,12. Ob . 10-19.) To this the watchman answered, "The morning cometh, and also the night:" which may signify, that the deliverance of the Jews would come in its appointed time; but af
thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.
15 For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
16 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar
shall fail:
'tion is to last: he intimates, that the Jews 'should be delivered from their captivity; not 'so the Edomites.' Bp . Lowth. ( Notes , 34: 63: 1-6. Jer . 49:7-22. Mal . 1:2-5.) But if ye 'will inquire indeed, and ask questions in ear'nest; inquire of God first, ask his mercy, and 'afterward come again, and ye shall have a 'more favorable answer. Lowth .
V. 13-17. (Notes, Jer. 49:28-33.) This is a short prophecy concerning calamities, which were coming on the Arabians. ( Marg . Ref . f, g, h.) The travelling companies of the Dedanim, a tribe of the Arabians, would shelter themselves in the forests from their hostile invaders: and let other tribes, who were not molested, meet them with provisions, that they might not perish: (it may be translated as a command: Marg .) for indeed they fled from the most imminent danger of death. These desolations were to take place in an exact year from the publishing of this prophecy; and probably it was accomplished by Sennacherib, when he first marched his army into Judah. ( Marg . Ref . )
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
The history of mankind is little more than a detail of the treachery, rapine, and cruelty, which they have committed, and of the miseries which they have endured: and an insight into futurity would be attended with many grievous discoveries, respecting ourselves, our families, and those with whom we should sympathize. But, "sufficient for the day is the evil thereof."-What anguish and horror must seize the enemies of God, when he shall arise to execute vengeance upon them; and when all which they see, hear, remember, or expect, shall combine to increase their terror! This some perceive to be their wretched case, at the approach of death; and all the ungodly will know it in another world. But words can never express, nor can imagination reach to an adequate conception of their dismay or despair. And what numbers will then dolefully exclaim, "The night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me!" - While sinners are say
ter a short continuance of approaching pros-ing, "Let us eat, drink, and be merry;" and let
perity to the Edomites, a dreadful ruin would come on them, of which the prophet saw no end. The Edomites, as well as the Jews, 'were subdued by the Babylonians. They in'quire of the prophet, how long their subjec
others watch for our souls, if they see good; perhaps the Lord is about to say, "Thou fool, this night is thy soul required of thee." He has set ministers, as watchmen, to declare what they see: let ev every one, th e, therefore, to whom this