Study notes

Isaiah 21

Introducing IsaiahWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

13:1–23:18 Section

Isaiah spoke many messages from God about the people and leaders of other nations. These included Babylon, Assyria, the Philistines, Moab, Syria and its capital city Damascus.

They also included the northern kingdom, Cush, Egypt, Edom, Arabia and Tyre. Cush was a nation in Africa south of Egypt. The desert area west of Babylon was called Arabia.

The messages were warnings about things that were going to happen. Most of these things were terrible and would lead to those nations being destroyed. Talking about them caused the prophet fear, pain and deep sadness. It isn’t known if the people and leaders of these nations knew about Isaiah’s prophecies. But the people of the southern kingdom were made aware of them. This was one way that God taught his people about the nations around them.

The prophecies showed that God had authority and power over those nations. The prophecies showed that God’s people shouldn’t trust any of those nations to save them. None of those nations could save them from stronger nations like Assyria and Babylon. The messages showed God’s people that God would bring judgement against all nations. He would bring judgement against their leaders for being proud and causing others to suffer.

The prophecies also showed God’s people that God wanted those other nations to know him. He wanted those nations to be humble. He wanted them to recognise that he is the Lord who rules over all. He wanted them to worship him and to become a blessing to other people groups. Isaiah’s messages invited these nations to trust the God of Jacob’s people as their own God. The messages invited them to come to God for safety and protection. This was a lesson for Jerusalem and the southern kingdom to do the same.

21:1

This is the burden against the Desert by the Sea: This description of Babylon might ironically suggest that the land was physically lush but spiritually empty.
from the desert, from a land of terror: (compare Deuteronomy 8:15).

21:2

A dire vision is declared to me: The prophet makes Babylon's experience personal, which strengthens his poetry. The concise language and repeated sounds, like The traitor still betrays (Hebrew habboged boged) and the destroyer still destroys (Hebrew hashoded shoded; also in Isaiah 33:1), add to this effect.
The Elamites lived northeast of Babylon. They, along with the Medes, were major rivals of the Babylonians.
I will put an end to all her groaning: Babylon caused suffering by attacking and enslaving many nations. The Elamites and Medes likely helped overthrow Babylon in 539 BC (Isaiah 21:9).

21:3

I am bewildered to hear, I am dismayed to see: Through his vision, Isaiah felt the fear of the Babylonian people (see also Daniel 8:27; 10:16–17).

21:7

The riders were messengers who reported what had taken place on the battlefield.

21:9

fallen is Babylon!: Assyrian King Sennacherib destroyed Babylon in 689 BC. The final fall of Babylon occurred in 539 BC.
In Scripture, Babylon symbolizes all ungodly power structures, including nations and kingdoms that do not follow God and his word. The apostle John offered hope with his prophecy that all Babylons will fall (Revelation 14:8; 18:2).
All the images of her gods lie shattered on the ground!: False gods could not save the Babylonians (see Isaiah 46:1–2).

21:10

O my people: The focus returned to the people of Judah.
The Babylonians would oppress (thresh and winnow) Judah, but Babylon would also fall.
I tell you what I have heard: The prophet faithfully reported what the Lord revealed to him.

21:11–12

Seir: This refers to the mountainous region of Edom.
Watchman, what is left of the night: Edom's suffering would last a long time. The Assyrians controlled the ancient Near East during the 700s and 600s BC.

21:11–17

These two prophecies are about Edom and Arabia, located between Babylon and Israel. These regions suffered under Assyrian control. Like Judah, they would not find peace under Babylon's harsh rule.

21:12

Morning is coming, but it will start another difficult time. The Babylonians are approaching, so night will soon return.

21:13

Dedan was a tribe in Arabia (see Ezekiel 27:20; 38:13).
Caravans (groups of traders traveling together) would hide in the deserts of Arabia to escape attack. The Assyrians and Babylonians often attacked and troubled the Arabian tribes (see Isaiah 21:1–10; Jeremiah 49:28–29).