Compiled by WD Kemner January 2024
CHAPTER 21
Prophecy - Babylon falls to the Medes
This is prophetic vision of what would occur in the Book of Daniel. Babylon would be taken over by the Medes as told in Daniel chapter 5.
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Isaiah Chapter 21 verse 1-2 |
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The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land.
A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.
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Although not mentioned by name until verse 8, he is referring to Babylon. Babylon was conquered by armies coming out of the desert: Medes and Persians from out of Elam.
Elam = east of Babylon, named after a son of Shem Genesis 10:22. An early power (Genesis 14) with capital being city of Shushan. Shushan being center of story in book of Esther. Elam is also referred to in Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Daniel’s vision in chapter 8 was of himself at the palace at Shushan.
Cyrus the Great merged Elam and Media into what became called Persia. Elamites are also mentioned in Acts 2 as being present at Pentecost.
Media = north of Persia and name coming from a son of Japheth. Genesis 10:2
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Isaiah Chapter 21 verse 3-5 |
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Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it. My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.
Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.
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Isaiah is overcome by what he witnesses occurring and his heart aches for the amount of suffering. He sees such a debauchery also taking place. Daniel 5 describes the night of the fall of Babylon when Belshazzar has a drunken party.
This makes for an interesting discussion. Did Isaiah see the actual event as it unfolded with Daniel present?
“…anoint the shield” = some shields had leather wrapped around them. Before battle they would be treated with oil to prevent drying out.
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Isaiah Chapter 21 verse 6-10 |
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For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.
And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed:
And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights: And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen.
And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.
O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.
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Isaiah is told to set a watch on the event as this unfolds, as a witness of what unfolds. This evidence of what happens.
The Burden of Dumah (Edom)
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Isaiah Chapter 21 verse 11-12 |
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The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.
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See the Word Study on “Selah” for more information on Seir and Edom
“…return, come.” Telling those that are asking questions to come and get the answers they are seeking.
The Burden on Arabia
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Isaiah Chapter 21 verse 13-17 |
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The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim. The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.
For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail: And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken it.
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Arabia = country south of Syria and Jordan. North of Red Sea and east of Canaan. Mentioned in 1 Kings 10:15
“traveling companies” = caravans or roving tribes of Arabs.
Dedanim = descendents of Dedan, son of Abraham and Keturah.
Tema and Kedar = descendants of Ishmael (Abraham and Hagar).
This would be proven true a year later.