Frameworks:
Isaiah 21: Against
Babylon, against Edom & against Arabia
Context:
1.2.2
Second wave Ch.21-23
Ch.21
– Against
Babylon, against Edom & against Arabia
Ch.22
– Against Jerusalem
Ch.23
– Against Tyre
This
Chapter:
v.1-10
Against Elam, Media & Babylon, a warning
v.11,12
A brief word against Edom
v.13-17
A brief word against Arabia
[Introductory
Comment: This and the following two
chapters vary greatly in style from chapters 13 to 20 that were
all straight forward warnings of what was soon to come. These
three chapters start by being full of personal pronouns – I, me,
my [of the Lord and the prophet – ch.21] that make them very much
more personal, not merely declaratory warnings of the previous
chapters. In chapters 22 & 23 the pronouns are ‘you' and ‘your'
again personal words rather than the blunt information of the
previous chapters.
Babylon
is not mentioned until v.9. The land of Elam [v.2] adjacent to
Babylonia, had a coastline abutting the Persian Gulf – hence v.1
‘Desert by the Sea'. Media [v.2] lay to the north of Babylonia.
These are warnings about the fall of these three peoples [v.1-10].
This is followed by a very brief warning that something is about
to happen in Edom [v.11,12] and then to the desert tribes of Arabia
in the south [v.13-17]. Again rather than specific words of warning
from heaven over these peoples, this chapter comes more as prophetic
anguish and anxiety that Isaiah is feeling about what is coming
to the whole region.]
v.1-10
Against Elam, Media & Babylon, a warning
v.1
(The word comes against
Elam – see above – of an invader) A
prophecy against the Desert by the Sea:
Like
whirlwinds sweeping through the southland,
an invader comes from the desert,
from a land of terror.
v.2
(The invader will pillage
these lands) A
dire vision has been shown to me:
the traitor betrays, the looter takes
loot.
Elam, attack! Media, lay siege!
I will bring to an end all the groaning
she caused.
v.3
(The prophet senses the
awfulness of this) At
this my body is racked with pain,
pangs seize me, like those of a woman
in labour;
I am staggered by what I hear,
I am bewildered by what I see.
v.4 My
heart falters,
fear makes me tremble;
the twilight I longed for
has become a horror to me.
v.5
(They appeared to be
at ease and comfort) They
set the tables,
they spread the rugs,
they eat, they drink!
Get up, you officers,
oil the shields!
v.6
(But the Lord tells them
to be on the lookout) This
is what the Lord says to me:
‘Go,
post a lookout
and let him report what he sees.
v.7 (When
they see an approaching army they should alert) When
he sees chariots
with teams of horses,
riders on donkeys
or riders on camels,
let him be alert,
fully alert.'
v.8
(The lookouts ease will
be shattered) And
the lookout shouted,
‘Day
after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower;
every night I stay at my post.
v.9 (He
realises next door Babylon has fallen) Look,
here comes a man in a chariot
with a team of horses.
And he gives back the answer:
“Babylon has fallen, has fallen!
All the images of its gods
lie shattered on the ground!”'
v.10
(This is Isaiah's insight)
My people
who are crushed on the threshing-floor,
I tell you what I have heard
from the Lord Almighty,
from the God of Israel.
v.11,12
A brief word against Edom
v.11
(A foreboding of the
peace of the night about to be shattered) A
prophecy against Dumah: [in
Edom]
Someone
calls to me from Seir, [again
in Edom to the south-east of the Dead Sea]
‘Watchman, what is left of the night?
Watchman, what is left of the night?'
v.12 (There
is a feeling of uncertainty about something about to happen) The
watchman replies,
‘Morning is coming, but also the night.
If you would ask, then ask;
and come back yet again.'
v.13-17
A brief word against Arabia
v.13 (The
spotlight turns on the south) A
prophecy against Arabia:
You
caravans of Dedanites,
who camp in the thickets of Arabia,
v.14
bring
water for the thirsty;
you who live in Tema, [in
northern Saudi Arabia]
bring food for the fugitives.
v.15
(Fugitives will flee from
an invader) They
flee from the sword,
from the drawn sword,
from the bent bow
and from the heat of battle.
v.16 (Downfall
is coming to their areas within a year) This
is what the Lord says to me: ‘Within one year, as a servant bound
by contract would count it, all the splendour of Kedar
[in the north-western
Arabian desert] will come to
an end.
v.17
(Few of their own warriors
will be left) The
survivors of the archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.'
The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.
CONTINUE
TO CHAPTER 22