Chapter 21 -The burden of the
desert of the sea
Chapter 21 begins with - The burden of the desert of the sea.
What is the burden (V2 - Isaiah calls this vision grievous
V1 - A whirlwind from the south - A terrible land
V2 - Great spoiling through treachery (not by battle)-
V2 - the spoilers - Elam [see Daniel 8] was providence of Babylon
later it was likely aligned with Persian and the Medes
V3-4 - The effect this vision had on Isaiah - brought great pain
V5-7 - Isaiah sets a watchman on the tower and he sees the army of
the spoilers coming chariot drawn by horses {swift battle chariots}.
Chariots drawn by asses - beasts of burden likely used for supplies.
Chariots drawn by camels also beasts of burden [camels known for the
ability to store water for long desert journeys] A fast moving, well
supplied army.
V8 - the watchman sees that stands out A lion he reports to his lord
(Isaiah) - this watch was faithful he didn’t leave his post - he
cried out - A loin {some believe this lion to be a king either
Darius or Cyrus if they are right it was probably Cyrus who was a
friend of the Jews} who came after Darius entered Babylon
V9 - The watchman reports a chariot drawn by men and horsemen; the
news Babylon has fallen - Could the chariots of men be chariots
pulled by the slaves of Babylon that has fallen) being herded by the
horsemen of the Spoilers.
V10 - Isaiah is declaring this vision - the fall of Babylon to My
threshing, the corn of my floor [Jer 51:33] - To Israel who Babylon
has thrashed - soon they will be the harvest.
This first applies to the fall of Babylon (Dan ch. 5) to the Medes
and Persia
Look at some phrases in these verses.
V3 - a woman that travaileth
Travailed - is associated with the labor and pain of childbirth
Isaiah 66:7-8 - In one day the children of Israel became the nation
of Israel - when they left Egypt - Here identifies travailed with
the nation of Israel as does Jer 4:31
(Isa 13:8, Psalm 48:6, Jer 31:8, Mic 5:8, Rev 12:1-17)
Israel was as a women in travail - suffering because of their sins -
also looking for the Messiah to come forth from them
V9 - Babylon is fallen, is fallen
Jer 51:8 Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her;
take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. [only one
fallen) - the first Babylon (Dan 5:16)
Re 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen,
is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of
the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Re 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon
the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of
devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every
unclean and hateful bird.
The repeat of is fallen is seen only in Revelation and Isa 21:9 so
the Second Babylon
V8 - A lion
Re 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the
Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open
the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
What is the difference between the loin in Isa 21:8 and Rev 5:5 -
The capital L in Rev 5:5 - Speaking clearly of The Lord Jesus Christ
- The lion in Isa 21:8 is not The LORD
Nu 23:24 Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift
up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of
the prey, and drink the blood of the slain. - (No nation would be
able stand against Israel, when God was with them,) I do not think
it is talking about Israel or Judah, Babylon would soon take them
away as slaves.
Isa 30:6 The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of
trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the
viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon
the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches
of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.
This verse could support the teaching that this loin is Darius or
Cyrus of Mede & Persia the same beasts of burden are seen pulling
chariots.
In Daniel chapter 7 Daniel has a vision of four world powers. In the
first is Babylon (Dan 7:4) seen as a lion with wings - when the
wings were plucked it became just like a mere man.
After Babylon were Mede/Persia than Greece than Rome
Revelation 13:2 - The beast seems to be a union of three beast
spoken of in Dan 7 (Leopard, Lion, & bear) [Babylon, Mede/Persia &
Greece]
1Peter 5:8 ¶ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the
devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Could the lion seen by the watchman in ISA 21:8 be the beast in Rev
13:2 whose head was the restored Babylon during “That Day“, seeking
to devour Israel. When coming a far off the watchman could only see
the head which was like a lion.
Two applications of the lion seen by the watchman
Cyrus the true head of the Mede/Persian empire who enters Babylon
after Darius takes the city
That Day when Babylon is restored with the combined power of the
Babylonian, Medo/Persian and Greecian empires. (likely the main
application because Babylon is fallen , is fallen points to the
Babylon of Revelation 14 & 18)
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