Chapter 21

1 The prophet, bewailing the captivity of his people, seeth in a vision the fall of Babylon by the Medes and Persians. 11 Edom, scorning the prophet, is moved to repentance. 13 The set time of Arabia’s calamity.

1. The burden. See on ch. 13:1.

The desert of the sea. The nation against which this solemn message is directed, though not expressly named in the title, is obviously Babylon (see vs. 2, 9; PK 531; cf. v. 4). The LXX omits “of the sea.” Isaiah seems to compare the endless wastes of the wilderness to the sea. Some have translated this expression as “sandy wastes.”

It cometh. It is not clear whether this refers to “the burden,” or whether it should be translated “he cometh,” with reference to the Elamite-Median invasion of Babylon (see v. 2). The latter seems more probable, for in v. 2 the Elamites and Medians are told to “go up.” If so, this invasion is compared to a whirlwind coming out of the south (Heb. negeb; see on Gen. 12:9), and the land of Elam-Media would be the “terrible land” to which Isaiah refers.

2. A grievous vision. Before the prophet’s gaze appeared a stern, sobering vision of a plundering power engaged in treachery, violence, and destruction. This was Babylon (see ch. 14:4, 6), “the treacherous dealer.” Elam and Media were called to go up against it and bring to an end the sighing and misery it had caused.

3. I was dismayed. The scene of destruction presented to the prophet is so horrible that he finds himself completely overwhelmed.

4. My heart panted. That is, “my mind became confused,” or “my mind staggered.”

The night of my pleasure. The prophet’s fright reflects that of Belshazzar and the Babylonians on the night of their riotous feasting (see v. 5), which Isaiah saw in this “grievous vision” (v. 2; see PK 531).

5. Prepare the table. See Dan. 5:1–4; Jer. 51:39. Riotous festivity marked the night of Babylon’s fall to the armies of Media and Persia.

Watch in the watchtower. Heb. saphoh hassaphith, literally, “arrange the order [of the seats],” that is, of the carpets or couches on which to recline at the feast.

6. Set a watchman. Isaiah was first shown the approaching Elamite-Median host (v. 2), then the feasting Babylonians (vs. 4, 5), and now the entrance of the invading hordes into the city (vs. 6–9). The prophet identifies himself with a watchman on the walls of Babylon prior to its fall, and as a watchman he reports what he sees.

7. A couple of horsemen. Probably, “horsemen in pairs” (RSV). Isaiah sees the enemy advancing to the attack.

8. A lion. Heb. Хaryeh. Dead Sea scroll 1QIs reads hrХh (haХroeh), “the one seeing,” or “the seer.” The statement would then read, “The one seeing [that is, the “watchman” of v. 6] cried.” The reading of the Dead Sea scroll accords better with the context.

9. He answered and said. The watchman is still speaking. He does not “answer” someone who has addressed him, however. According to Hebrew idiomatic usage a person may speak in response to a situation, or, as here, express his reaction to what he has observed. Such a response is commonly spoken of as answering (see Matt. 11:25; Matt. 17:4, 17; see on Job 3:2).

Babylon is fallen. This is the climax of the scene the prophet has related (see on v. 6). Its idols have been humbled in the dust; they have failed to protect the proud capital (Jer. 50:2; 51:17, 18, 47, 52; cf. Isa. 47:13–15). Compare Jer. 51:8; Rev. 14:8; 18:2.

10. Threshing. The text reads literally, “my threshed one, my son of the threshing-floor.” In Scripture a time of judgment is often likened to reaping (see Isa. 41:15; Jer. 51:33; Amos 1:3; Micah 4:13; Hab. 3:12; Matt. 13:39; Rev. 14:14–20).

11. The burden of Dumah. See on ch. 13:1. For Dumah the LXX has Edom. Dumah was one of the descendants of Ishmael (Gen. 25:14; 1 Chron. 1:30). Since the prophecy mentions Mt. Seir, some would place Dumah in Edom, but no Edomite town by this name is known. Hence, some take Dumah as a symbolic name for Edom. However, there was a Dumah in the Arabian Desert, east of Edom, and this could conceivably be connected with the Ishmaelites.

Watchman. See on v. 6.

What of the night? Literally, “What from the night?” probably meaning, “What time of night is it?” (see 6T 407). Some in Edom inquire urgently and insistently of the prophet what the tidings are. The hour is one of darkness and danger, and they are anxious to know when the morning will come, bringing relief from anxiety and fear.

12. The morning cometh. The answer of the watchman is mysterious and bodes ill. He gives no definite reply, but simply says that though morning may come, night will again follow. There is little of light or hope to look forward to. The hours ahead are dark, gloomy, and uncertain. Such was to be the future history of the unhappy land of Edom, to be trodden under foot by a succession of conquerors and ultimately reduced to an altogether desolate state. God’s watchmen upon the walls of Zion today should be ready to give an answer to those who inquire what hour of earth’s long night it is, and when the dawn of eternal day may be expected (see GC 632).

If ye will enquire. These words presuppose an anxious desire to know the meaning of the cryptic answer of the watchman. He has declined to give them a definite reply, and they remain in darkness. If they desire to ask again, that is their privilege. But there is no assurance that a second inquiry will be more fruitful than the first.

13. The burden upon Arabia. See on ch. 13:1. This is another cryptic prophecy. Caravans of Dedanites were to pass the night in the thickets of the Arabian Desert. From Jer. 49:7, 8 it would seem that the Dedanites dwelt in the neighborhood of Tema, south of Dumah and southeast of Edom. Dedan was famous as a trading center (Eze. 27:15, 20). In Jer. 25:23, 24, both Dedan and Tema are mentioned in connection with “the kings of Arabia” and the “people that dwell in the desert.” Both Jeremiah and Ezekiel had messages of doom for Dedan (Jer. 49:8; Eze. 25:13). Dedan has been identified with the oasis of elРФUla in northern Hejaz.

14. The land of Tema. In Gen. 25:13–15 and 1 Chron. 1:29, 30, Tema and Dumah are listed as descendants of Ishmael. Tema is situated in the Arabian Desert, about 165 mi. (264.5 km.) south-southwest of Dumah, about 300 mi. (480 km.) east of the point of the Sinai Peninsula.

Brought water. Literally, “bring ye water.” The words indicate the plight of the Dedanites (v. 13), who had been forced to flee from the enemy without provisions. Their neighbors, the Temanites, were called upon to take pity on them in their famished condition.

Prevented. Literally, “met.” When the KJV was translated, the word “prevent” had the meaning “meet,” or “precede.”

16. A year. The Dead Sea scroll 1QIs reads “three years.”

The years of an hireling. See on ch. 16:14. A hireling would not work more than the time that had been bargained for. The meaning is that the fall of Kedar would not be delayed. Within a year the specified judgment was certain to fall.

Kedar. In Genesis, Kedar is listed as an Ishmaelite tribe, as are also Dumah and Tema (Gen. 25:13–15). But elsewhere Kedar seems to be a general term for nomadic peoples of the Arabian Desert (Ps. 120:5; S. of Sol. 1:5; cf. Isa. 42:11; 60:7; Jer. 2:10). Isaiah proclaims an extensive judgment to fall within a year upon all the desert region of northern Arabia. Tiglath-pileser III declares that he inflicted a sore judgment upon Samsi, an Arabian queen, that he slew 1,100 of her people and took 30,000 of her camels and 20,000 head of cattle. Sargon likewise claims to have received tribute from the Arabian queen in the form of gold dust, ivory, horses, and camels, and he also claims to have subdued other Arabian tribes who had never before paid tribute. The exact year, however, of the judgment specified is not known.

17. Residue. Heb. sheХar, “remnant” (see chs. 10:20, 21, 22; 11:11, 16; 14:22; 16:14; 17:3). When Sargon struck down the distant Arab tribes of Tamud, Ibadidi, Marsimanu, and Haiapa, he declares he deported the remnant and settled them in Samaria.

Ellen G. White comments

4    PK 531

11   Ev 144; 4T 592; 6T 431

11, 12  GC 632; TM 231; 1T 430; 6T 407

12   Ev 218; 2T 194; 4T 592; 6T 26