Isaias, 21
The destruction of Babylon by the Medes and Persians: a prophecy against the Edomites and the Arabians.
[1] The burden of the desert of the sea 1. As whirlwinds come from the south, it cometh from the desert from a terrible land. •
The desert of the sea: So Babylon is here called, because from a city as full of people as the sea is with water, it was become a desert.
[2] A grievous vision is told me: he that is unfaithful dealeth unfaithfully: and he that is a spoiler, spoileth. Go up, O Elam 1, besiege, O Mede: I have made all the mourning thereof to cease. •
O Elam: That is, O Persia.
[3] Therefore are my loins filled with pain, anguish hath taken hold of me, as the anguish of a woman in labour: I fell down at the hearing of it, I was troubled at the seeing of it. •
[4] My heart failed, darkness amazed me: Babylon my beloved is become a wonder to me. •
[5] Prepare the table, behold in the watchtower them that eat and drink: arise, ye princes, take up the shield. •
[6] For thus hath the Lord said to me: Go, and set a watchman: and whatsoever he shall see, let him tell.
[7] And he saw a chariot with two horsemen, a rider upon an ass 1, and a rider upon a camel: and he beheld them diligently with much heed. •
A rider upon an ass: These two riders are the kings of the Persians and Medes.
[8] And a lion cried out 1: I am upon the watchtower of the Lord, standing continually by day: and I am upon my ward, standing whole nights. •
And a lion cried out: That is, I Isaiah seeing the approaching ruin of Babylon, have cried out as a lion roaring.
[9] Behold this man cometh, the rider upon the chariot with two horsemen, and he answered, and said: Babylon is fallen, she is fallen, and all the graven gods thereof are broken unto the ground. •
[10] O my thrashing, and the children of my floor, that which I have heard of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I have declared unto you. •
[11] The burden of Duma 1 calleth to me out of Seir: Watchman, what of the night? watchman, what of the night? •
Duma: That is, Idumea, or Edom.
[12] The watchman said: The morning cometh, also the night: if you seek, seek: return, come. •
[13] The burden in Arabia. In the forest at evening you shall sleep, in the paths of Dedanim. •
[14] Meeting the thirsty bring him water, you that inhabit the land of the south, meet with bread him that fleeth. •
[15] For they are fled from before the swords, from the sword that hung over them, from the bent bow, from the face of a grievous battle.
[16] For thus saith the Lord to me: Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Cedar 1 shall be taken away. •
Cedar: Arabia.
[17] And the residue of the number of strong archers of the children of Cedar shall be diminished: for the Lord the God of Israel hath spoken it.