Judgment of Babylon

Isaiah 21:1–17
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The “Desert by the Sea” could refer to the desert lands southeast of Babylon (v. 1). Possibly it was the great plain that Babylon stood on. The prophet saw in a vision an invader approaching and most commentators suggest this crisis as Elam and Media are viewed as going up against Babylon (v. 2). Isaiah shows a deep distress when he contemplates the slaughter of human beings and speaks of fear as well as horror (vv. 3-4). His reference to “the night of my pleasure” (v. 4) may have reference to Belshazzar’s banquet in Daniel (v. 5). The prophet had seen a vision; then he hears the word of the Lord (vv. 6-10). Isaiah is to have a man posed on the lookout. He was at his post for many days and his tour of duty wearied him but at last a lone character came with the news that Babylon had fallen.

“The burden of Dumah” (v. 11) refers to Edom, which was located south of Moab. These were the decedents of Esau and were (generally) the enemies of Israel. Isaiah’s announcement to the Edomites was that their land will be taken from them. Isaiah is the watchman (v. 12) as he warns that both morning and also the night are coming. He begs them to return to the Lord in whom alone they can find safety. The Assyrian army had brought fearful darkness to the nations; and Edom wanted to know if there was any hope of light (vv. 13-15). The prophet’s reply was that morning would come, because Assyria would be defeated by God in the fields of Judah (Isa. 37:36). Sad to say, Edom did not heed the warning (vv. 16-17).

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