Isaiah 21 DBY
Summary: The "burden of the desert of the sea" pictures a terrible vision of Babylon's fall coming like whirlwinds from the desert, so dreadful that Isaiah's body is convulsed with pain and fear, his pleasure turned to fear. A watchman is set to report what he sees, and he cries that Babylon has fallen, its carved images broken to the ground, news given especially for the threshed and afflicted people of Israel. Shorter burdens follow: against Dumah (Edom), where a voice from Seir asks the watchman how much of the night remains, and against Arabia, warning the fleeing caravans of Dedan to bring water to the thirsty and bread to fugitives from the sword and battle. The chapter closes with a burden against Kedar, prophesying that within a year its glory and archers will be diminished, leaving only a small remnant.
1The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through, so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land.
2A grievous vision is declared unto me: the treacherous dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, Elam! besiege, Media! All the sighing thereof have I made to cease.
3Therefore are my loins filled with pain; anguish hath taken hold upon me, as the anguish of a woman in travail: I am bowed down so as not to hear, I am dismayed so as not to see.
4My heart panteth, horror affrighteth me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into trembling unto me.
5Prepare the table, appoint the watch; eat, drink: arise, ye princes, anoint the shield.
6For thus hath the Lord said unto me: Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.
7And he saw chariots, horsemen by pairs, a chariot with asses, a chariot with camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed.
8And he cried [as] a lion, Lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights.
9— And behold, there cometh a chariot of men; horsemen by pairs. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of hergods he hath broken unto the ground.
10O my threshing, and the corn of my floor! What I have heard of Jehovah of hosts, theGod of Israel, have I declared unto you.
11The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
12The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire; return, come.
13The burden against Arabia. In the forest of Arabia shall ye lodge, [ye] caravans of Dedanites.
14Bring ye water to meet the thirsty! The inhabitants of the land of Tema come forth with their bread for him that fleeth.
15For they flee from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
16For thus hath the Lord said unto me: Within a year, according to the years of a hired servant, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail;
17and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, shall be diminished: for Jehovah, theGod of Israel, hath spoken.
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