1 The prophet, bewailing the captivity of his people, sees 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.

the burden. The first ten verses of this chapter contain a prediction of the taking of Babylon by the Medes and Persians; which is here denominated 'the desert of the sea,' because the country around it, and especially towards the sea, was a great morass, often overflowed by the Tigris and Euphrates, and only rendered habitable by being drained by a number of canals. Isa 13:1 17:1

the desert Isa 13:20-22 14:23 Jer 51:42

as whirlwinds Job 37:9 Da 11:40 Zec 9:14

from Isa 13:4,5,17,18 Eze 30:11 31:12

2 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.

grievous. Heb. hard Ps 60:3 Pr 13:15

the treacherous Isa 24:16 33:1 1Sa 24:13 Jer 51:44,48,49,53 Re 13:10

go up Isa 13:2-4,17,18 Jer 50:14,34 49:34 51:11,27,28 Da 5:28 8:20

all the Isa 14:1-3 35:10 47:6 Ps 12:5 79:11 137:1-3 Jer 31:11,12,20,25 45:3 51:3,4 La 1:22 Mic 7:8-10 Zec 1:15,16

3 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.

are Isa 15:5 16:9,11 Hab 3:16

pangs have Isa 13:8 26:17 Ps 48:6 Jer 48:41 49:22 50:43 Mic 4:9,10 1Th 5:3

I was bowed De 28:67 Da 5:5,6

4 My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.

heart panted. or, mind wandered
the night Isa 5:11-14 1Sa 25:36-38 2Sa 13:28,29 Es 5:12 7:6-10 Job 21:11-13 Jer 51:39,57 Da 5:1,5,30 Na 1:10 Lu 21:34-36

turned. Heb. put

5 Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.

eat Isa 22:13,14 Da 5:1-5 1Co 15:32

arise Isa 13:2,17,18 45:1-3 Jer 51:11,27,28

6 For thus hath the LORD said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.

go Isa 62:6 2Ki 9:17-20 Jer 51:12,13 Eze 3:17 33:2-7 Hab 2:1,2

7 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 saw Isa 21:9 37:24

he harkened. Heb 2:1

8 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:

cried. A lion. or, cried as a lion Isa 5:29 Jer 4:7 25:38 49:19 50:44 1Pe 5:8

I stand Isa 56:10 62:6 Ps 63:6 127:1 Hab 2:1,2

whole nights. or, every night

9 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.

behold Jer 50:3,9,29,42 51:27

Babylon Isa 13:19 14:4 Jer 50:2 51:8,64 Re 14:8 18:2,21

all Isa 46:1,2 Jer 50:2,38 51:44,47,52

10 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.

my threshing Isa 41:15,16 2Ki 13:7 Jer 51:33 Mic 4:13 Hab 3:12 Mt 3:12

corn. Heb. son
that which 1Ki 22:14 Eze 3:17-19 Ac 20:26,27

11 The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?

Dumah. Dumah is probably the same as Dumatha, a city of Arabia, mentioned by Stephanus, and the modern Dumah and Dumathalgandel, on the borders of Arabia and Syria, in a rocky valley. The Edomites, says Bp. Lowth, as well as Jews, were subdued by the Babylonians. They enquire of the prophet how long their subjection is to last; he intimates that the Jews should be delivered from their captivity; not so the Edomites. 'The morning cometh, and also the night'. Ge 25:14 1Ch 1:30

me out Isa 34:1 63:1-6 Nu 24:18 De 2:5 Ps 137:7 Jer 49:7-22 Eze 35:1 Joe 3:19 Am 1:6,11,12 Ob 1:1 Mal 1:2-4

what Isa 21:6 Jer 37:17

12 The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.

the morning Isa 17:14 Jer 50:27 Eze 7:5-7,10,12

if Isa 55:7 Jer 42:19-22 Ex 14:1-6 Ac 2:37,38 17:19,20 17:30-32

13 The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.

Arabia 1Ki 10:15 Jer 25:23,24 49:28-33 Ga 4:25

o ye Isa 13:20 Ge 25:3 1Ch 1:9,32 Eze 27:15,20,21

14 The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.

Tema Ge 25:15 1Ch 1:30 Job 6:19

brought. or, bring ye Isa 16:3,4 Jud 8:4-8 Pr 25:21 Ro 12:20 1Pe 4:9

15 For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

from the swords. or, for fear of the swords. Heb. from the face of Job 6:19,20

16 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:

according Isa 16:14 Job 7:1

Kedar Isa 42:11 60:7 Ge 25:13 1Ch 1:29 Ps 120:5 So 1:5 Jer 49:28 Eze 27:21

17 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.

archers. Heb. bows
the mighty Isa 10:18,19 17:4,5 Ps 107:39

for Isa 1:20 Nu 23:19 Jer 44:29 Zec 1:6 Mt 24:35