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)