Isaiah 21 GNV
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 Sea. As the whirlewindes in the South vse to passe from the wildernesse, so shall it come from the horrible land.
2A grieuous vision was shewed vnto me, The transgressour against a transgressour, and the destroyer against a destroyer. Goe vp Elam, besiege Media: I haue caused all the mourning thereof to cease.
3Therefore are my loynes filled with sorow: sorowes haue taken me as the sorowes of a woman that trauayleth: I was bowed downe when I heard it, and I was amased when I sawe it.
4Mine heart failed: fearefulnesse troubled me: the night of my pleasures hath he turned into feare vnto me.
5Prepare thou the table: watch in the watch towre: eate, drinke: arise, ye princes, anoynt the shielde.
6For thus hath the Lord said vnto me, Go, set a watchman, to tell what he seeth.
7And he sawe a charet with two horsemen: a charet of an asse, and a charet of a camel: and he hearkened and tooke diligent heede.
8And he cryed, A lyon: my lorde, I stand continually vpon ye watche towre in the day time, and I am set in my watche euery night:
9And beholde, this mans charet commeth with two horsemen. And he answered and said, Babel is fallen: it is fallen, and all the images of her gods hath he broken vnto the ground.
10O my threshing, and the corne of my floore. That which I haue heard of the Lord of hostes, the God of Israel, haue I shewed vnto you.
11The burden of Dumah. He calleth vnto me out of Seir, Watchman, what was in ye night? Watchman, what was in the night?
12The watchman saide, The morning commeth, and also the night. If yee will aske, enquire: returne and come.
13The burden against Arabia. In the forest of Arabia shall yee tarie all night, euen in the waies of Dedanim.
14O inhabitants of the lande of Tema, bring foorth water to meete the thirstie, and preuent him that fleeth with his bread.
15For they flee from the drawen swords, euen from the drawen sword, and from the bent bowe, and from the grieuousnesse of warre.
16For thus hath the Lord sayd vnto me, Yet a yeere according to the yeeres of an hireling, and all the glorie of Kedar shall faile.
17And the residue of the nomber of ye strong archers of the sonnes of Kedar shall be fewe: for the Lord God of Israel hath spoken it.
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