Isaías 13
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Isaías 13
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS Isaiah 13 marks a new division in the book of Isaiah that extends through Isa. 21:17 and the subject/genre also continuing in Isa. 23:1-8. This section of Isaiah deals with judgment of the surrounding nations. It is a genre in and of itself. It is very similar to Jeremiah 46-51; Ezekiel 25-32; Amos 1-2; Obadiah, Nahum, and Zephaniah 2. YHWH addresses the surrounding nations, both large and small, through His prophet; messages they will never hear or respond to. This demonstrates His universal sovereignty (cf. Isa. 2:1-4; 9:7; 11:9)! He is King of the earth; Lord of creation (cf. LXX Deut. 32:8)! The nations addressed are Old Babylon (or Assyria using Babylonian throne name "King of Babylon"), Isa. 13:1-14:23 Assyria, Isa. 14:24-27 Philistia, Isa. 14:28-32 Moab, Isa. 15:1-16:14 Syria, Isa. 17:1-3 Israel, Isa. 17:4-14 Ethiopia (Cush), Isa. 18:1-7; 20:1-6 Egypt, Isa. 19:1-25; 20:1-6 Neo-Babylon, Isa. 21:1-10 Edom, Isa. 21:11-12 Arabia, Isa. 21:13-17 Jerusalem, Isa. 22:1-25 Tyre, Isa. 23:1-18 You will notice that Assyria seems to break into the context in Isa. 14:24-27. It is surprising that Babylon is addressed first when the problem in Isaiah's day was Assyria. Babylon is addressed again in Isa. 21:1-10. Assyria is abruptly mentioned only briefly in Isa. 14:24-27 with no new heading (i.e. "oracle"). One way to contextually deal with these problems is to view all of Isa. 13:1-14:27 as directed toward Assyria. Assyria completely subjected and conquered Babylon in 689 B.C. and her kings took the title of "king of Babylon" (cf. Isa. 14:4). If this is right then it is not Neo-Babylon (i.e. Nebuchadnezzar), but earlier Babylon (Merodach-baladan) that fell to Assyria in 729 B.C. and the capital city of Babylon sacked and destroyed in 689 B.C. The NASB Study Bible (p. 976) notes that there is no new "oracle" heading at Isa. 14:24, which implies one literary unit from Isa. 13:1-14:32. The one problem with this approach is that "the Medes," who destroyed Neo-Babylon in 539 B.C., are mentioned in Isa. 13:17. However, with the weakening of Assyria in 660 B.C., Media and Babylon combined to rebel against the declining empire under Ashurbanipal (IVP Bible Background Commentary, p. 601). The capital of Assyria fell to a combined army of Media and Babylon in 612 B.C. SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF ASSYRIA SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF NEO-BABYLON This is a good place to show how the poetic sections switch from first person (prophet speaking for God) to the third person (the prophet speaking about God). Isa. 13:1-3, first person Isa. 13:4-10, third person Isa. 13:11-16, first person Isa. 13:17-18, first person Isa. 13:19-22, third person But, Isa. 13:13 and 19 show how hard it is to follow this structure. In reality the prophet moves freely back and forth to reveal the message "poetically" (word plays, line beat, rare words, change of person).
Isaías 13:1-16
13:1 NASB, NRSV, REB "oracle" "burden" "a message" "proclamation" "a vision" "the prophecy" "a prophecy" This term (BDB 672, KB 639) can mean "burden" or "load." It is used eleven times in this section of Isaiah (Isaiah 13-23) to describe oracles of future doom on the nations surrounding Israel. The term may simply denote a voice lifted to proclaim a message a message carried by someone to a recipient an emotional heaviness associated with a judgment oracle in Jer. 23:33 it may refer to sinful Judeans ▣ "Babylon" This was an empire of the Fertile Crescent that affected the people of God. The first major world power of the Fertile Crescent to affect Israel was Assyria, then Neo-Babylon, then Medo-Persia. Babylon is used in the Bible as a symbol of oppression and cruelty (cf. 1 Pet. 5:13; Rev. 14:8; 16:19; 17:5). The downfall of Babylon is revealed in Isa. 13:1-14:23 (old Babylon) and 21:1-10 (new Babylon). SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF NEO-BABYLON ▣ "which Isaiah son of Amoz saw" The immediate contemporary enemy of Israel and Judah in Isaiah's day was Assyria. But as a prophet of God he was shown ("saw," BDB 302, KB 301, Qal PERFECT, cf. Isa. 1:1; 2:1; 13:1; Amos 1:1; Mic. 1:1; Hab. 1:1) the future demise of old Babylon, Assyria, Neo-Babylon, and the rise of Cyrus the Great (cf. Isa. 13:17; 44:28-45:1). Those who deny predictive prophecy exhibit a bias that affects all their interpretations! Predictive prophecy is the main evidence of a unique supernaturally-inspired Bible. See my sermons "The Trustworthiness of the Old Testament" and "The Trustworthiness of the New Testament" online at www.freebiblecommentary.org in the "Video Sermons" section under Lakeside Baptist church. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE BIBLE (its uniqueness and inspiration) 13:2 This describes the gathering of a mighty army (cf. Isa. 13:9). From Isa. 13:17 we learn that it is the army of (1) Assyria or (2) Medo-Persia under Cyrus II gathered by God to defeat either "old" or "new" Babylon (cf. Isa. 44:28; 45:1). Remember, Isaiah is an anthology of Isaiah's messages, but not in chronological order and usually with no specific historical setting. ▣ "Lift up a standard on a bare hill" This describes how ancient armies communicated. banners, flags in easily visible places, cf. Isa. 5:26; 31:9; Jer. 51:12 shouts (whistle, cf. Isa. 5:26) hand movements, cf. Isa. 10:32; 19:16 There is a series of IMPERATIVES denoting YHWH's will. lift up, BDB 669, KB 724, Qal IMPERATIVE raise, BDB 926, KB 1202, Hiphil IMPERATIVE wave, BDB 631, KB 682, Hiphil IMPERATIVE, cf. Isa. 10:32; 11:15; 19:16 enter, BDB 97, KB 112, Qal IMPERFECT, but used in a JUSSIVE sense (NEB changes vowels and translates it as "draw your swords, you nobles") ▣ "enter the doors of the nobles" This is imagery for a city's defeat and plunder (cf. Isa. 45:1e). The doors are imagery for security of a city or a house. Old Babylon will fall to Assyria. 13:3 "I have commanded my consecrated ones" YHWH is in control of history! These Median warriors are not consecrated in a moral or religious sense. For the most part they are unknowing servants of YHWH "set apart" ("consecrated ones," BDB 872, KB 1073, Pual PARTICIPLE) to do His bidding. This same concept can be seen in Cyrus being called "My anointed" in Isa. 44:28; "His anointed" in Isa. 45:1. The Jewish Study Bible footnotes from JPSOA sees "My consecrated ones" (i.e. "My purified one," a COLLECTIVE SINGULAR) as a reference to a sacrificial meal (i.e. the impending slaughter) where the guests are told to prepare themselves (cf. Zeph. 1:7; p. 809). Another option is to see this poem as expressing "Holy War" terminology and if so, then these could refer to angels (cf. Josh. 5:13-15; see SPECIAL TOPIC: HOLY ONES). 13:4 This describes the sounds of battle and victory! 13:5 YHWH is bringing large mercenary armies from the Fertile Crescent to punish His people in Canaan (cf. Isa. 5:26; 7:18). "farthest horizons" NKJV, Peshitta "the end of heaven" "the end of the heavens" "the ends of the earth" "from the far horizons" "from the utmost foundation of heaven" "from the end of the sky" The NRSV and JPSOA are the most literal. It (BDB 892 CONSTRUCT BDB 1029) denotes the place where the sun rises, therefore, to the east, the very direction of the homelands of the Mesopotamian powers. 13:6 "Wail" This term (BDB 410, KB 413, Hiphil IMPERATIVE) refers to howling, wailing. Orientals are much more expressive of emotions in grieving than westerners. This term is used often in Isaiah (cf. Isa. 13:6; 14:31; 15:2,3; 16:7 [twice]; 23:1,6,14; 52:5; 65:14) and also in Jeremiah (cf. Isa. 4:8; 25:34; 47:2; 48:20,31,39; 49:3; 51:8). ▣ "for the day of the Lord is near" The creator God is a moral, ethical God. He approaches His creation and creatures in light of His character. Sometimes He approaches for affirmation and blessing, but other times (as here) He approaches for judgment (cf. Lev. 26 and Deut. 27-29). All moral creatures must give an account both temporally and eschatologically (cf. Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 20:11-15) to the One who gave them life! SPECIAL TOPIC: The Day of the Lord (NT) SPECIAL TOPIC: JUDGMENT IN THE NT ▣ "the Almighty" This is the Hebrew title Shaddai. This was the patriarchal name for YHWH (cf. Exod. 6:3). See SPECIAL TOPIC: SHADDAI There is a sound play (BDB 994) between "destruction" (כשׁד, BDB 994) and "the Almighty" (משׁדי, BDB 994). Note the connection with Joel 1:15. These types of Hebrew sound plays are very common in Isaiah. 13:7-8 The approach of YHWH will cause certain fearful responses. "wail," Isa. 13:6 "all hands will fall limp," Isa. 13:7, cf. Ezek. 7:17; 21:7 "every man's heart will melt," Isa. 13:7, cf. Isa. 19:1; Nah. 2:10 "they will be terrified," Isa. 13:8 "pain and anguish will take hold of them," Isa. 13:8 "writhe like a woman in labor," Isa. 13:8, cf. Isa. 21:3; 26:17; 66:7; see SPECIAL TOPIC: BIRTH PAINS "look at one another in astonishment," Isa. 13:8 "their faces aflame," Isa. 13:8 13:8 "Their faces aflame" NKJV, Peshitta "Their faces will be like flames" "their face will be aflame" "their faces will burn with shame" "with feverish faces" REB, JPSOA "their faces livid with fear" "their faces are flushed red" "they will change their face like a flame" The MT has two NOUNS in CONSTRUCT and no VERB aflame ‒ BDB 815 faces ‒ BDB 529 This phrase is in a series of descriptive phrases on the fear and anguish of those who experience YHWH's judgment. 13:9 This verse describes the day of the Lord as it relates to sinners (cf. Isa. 13:10). Note the threefold characterization. cruel with fury burning anger A wasted and unpopulated land is exactly opposite to God's will for His creation (cf. Genesis 1-2). 13:10 The approach of YHWH to His physical creation causes reactions in nature. These reactions are often referred to as apocalyptic, but in reality they are simply imagery in the OT prophets and only turn to apocalyptic imagery in the inter-biblical period and NT. stars and constellations cease to shine (the ancients thought these were life-controlling deities), Isa. 13:10 sun and moon grow dark, Isa. 13:10 the heavens tremble, Isa. 13:13 the earth will be shaken from its place, Isa. 13:13 The heavens, the abode of God, become dark and fearful (cf. Isa. 24:23; 34:4; Ezek. 32:7-8; Joel 2:10,31; 3:15; Matt. 24:29; Acts 2:20; Rev. 6:12-13). But there is a new light coming (cf. Isa. 2:5; 9:2; 60:1-3,19-20). SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HEAVENS AND THE THIRD HEAVEN SPECIAL TOPIC: DARKNESS SPECIAL TOPIC: LIGHT 13:11 "the world" This (BDB 385) is a poetic synonym for ארץ (BDB 75, KB 90, i.e. "land," "earth," cf. Isa. 14:21; 24:4; 34:1). It is obviously a hyperbole (or maybe not, cf. Isa. 12:5; 24:4; 34:1), but it does express the theological concept of YHWH the creator and controller of this planet! Notice how humans are characterized. evil wicked for their iniquity arrogance of the proud haughtiness of the ruthless These same attributes describe the covenant people in Isa. 2:9,11,17; 5:15! The deadly tentacles (i.e. self, sin) of the Fall are everywhere (also note Gen. 6:5,11; 8:21; Rom. 3:9-18)! SPECIAL TOPIC: LAND, COUNTRY, EARTH SPECIAL TOPIC: WORLD (several terms) SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL OF MANKIND ▣ Notice how the people of old Babylon, who do not have the Law of YHWH, are characterized. evil wicked iniquity arrogance of the proud haughtiness of the ruthless Fallen mankind, without the knowledge of God, is trapped by sin, self, and pride! 13:12 "Ophir" This refers geographically to southern Arabia or east Africa. It was a symbol of refined purity in metals (i.e. gold). The allusion here is that living human beings will be very scarce on the day of judgment. 13:14-16 This is a vivid description of the horrors of invasion. hunted like gazelles sheep with no shepherd flee to family and homeland inhabitants thrust through inhabitants fall by the sword little ones dashed to pieces in sight of their parents, cf. Isa. 13:18; 2 Kgs. 8:12; 15:16; Hosea 13:16; Nah. 3:10 houses plundered wives ravished (NASB), cf. Deut. 28:30 Judgment by invasion was a terrible experience. These warlike nations gave this treatment and received this treatment (cf. Ps. 137:8-9)! The worst of these violent invading armies was Assyria. 13:16 The MT has the VERB "ravish" (BDB 993, KB 1415, Niphal IMPERFECT, cf. Deut. 28:30; Jer. 3:2; Zech. 14:2), but the Masoretes suggested it be read (Qere) as "be lain with" (BDB 1011, KB 1486, Niphal IMPERFECT, cf. LXX; Lev. 15:20; Deut. 22:27; Micah 7:5).
Isaías 13:17-22
13:17 "the Medes" This is another major power of the Fertile Crescent north and east of Assyria. At first they were allied with "old" Babylon, but later they were incorporated with Persia under Cyrus II (cf. Isa. 44:28; 45:1; Jer. 51:11). SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF PERSIA ▣ "Who will not value silver or take pleasure in gold" This army will be so bent on revenge there will be no possibility of buying them off! 13:18 "the fruit of the womb" This refers to unborn children and their mothers or young childen. ▣ "eye" It is used here to represent the attitudes/actions of a person (cf. Deut. 7:16; 13:8; 19:13; Ezek. 7:4; 16:5; 20:17). Here to denote that the invaders will have no pity even on children. This line of poetry is parallel with the line above! The Median warriors had no compassion or pity (cf. Jer. 6:23; 21:7; 50:42). 13:19 Old Babylon's cultural beauty and sophistication were renowned (i.e. Daniel 4 of Neo-Babylon), but it will all be lost and destroyed! However, if this refers to Babylon during the Assyrian period, it was totally destroyed in 689 B.C. by the Assyrian king, Sennacherib. ▣ "Chaldeans" This was the name of the tribe towards the mouth of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The term is used in several senses. It is often used as a synonym for later nations (i.e. Neo-Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar). SPECIAL TOPIC: CHALDEANS. ▣ "Sodom and Gomorrah" These were cities of great wickedness, which God destroyed by fire and brimstone (cf. Gen. 19:24-28; Deut. 29:23). 13:20-22 This is hyperbolic language describing cursed and deserted places (cf. Sumerian laments over Ur and visions of Nefertiti over the old Egyptian Kingdom). The city fell in Merodach-baladan's day to Assyria with total destruction. The city fell to the Medo-Persian army in 539 B.C. without widespread destruction. The book that has really helped me, as a modern western person, to understand eastern prophetic and apocalyptic literature is D. Brent Sandy, Plowshares and Pruning Hooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptic. 13:20 The destruction was so complete that it was uninhabited for generations Arabs do not camp there no flocks grazed there building remains used only by wild animals (possibly demons, cf. Isa. 13:21-22; 34:11-15; Rev. 18:2) no longer a national entity This fits "old" Babylon better than "new" Babylon. The Medes abandoned their alliance with Merodach-baladan and joined the Assyrians in destroying the capital city of Old Babylon in 689 B.C. 13:21 "desert creatures" Often the ruins of deserted cities or desert areas were considered to be haunts of the deomonic. SPECIAL TOPIC: ANGELS AND DEMONS