Isa 21:6 | KingComments | STEP | What is described in these verses was fulfilled at the fall of Babylon on October 12, 539 BC and has been described in detail by historians. The Babylonians don’t think at all of the impending doom. They live a carefree life, feasting on an abundance of food on tables at which they recline on comfortable rugs ( ). While they are feasting, the enemy is attacking them unexpectedly. He has changed the course of a canal that flows through the city of Babylon and has crept into Babylon through the drained riverbed. This scene of carelessness and the invasion of the enemy is described in Daniel 5. See also Isaiah 13-14. Isaiah describes it as if he is present, while it will take another hundred and seventy-five years before it happens. He calls them to leave their laziness and to get ready for battle. Oil the shield is smearing it with oil to let the enemy’s blows slip away. Isaiah must station the lookout ( ). It seems that he himself is that lookout, as further on, in , he himself is a watchman (cf. ). A lookout is someone who is in the counsel of God, who knows what is going to happen and who looks forward to that event. It is the same for us. Whoever has learned from Scripture what God has foretold by comparing Scripture with Scripture, who knows His purpose and accepts what has become clear to him, is able to warn others. A lookout looks out and is in fellowship with God. God says what to look out for ( ). He has to “pay close attention, very close attention”. He confirms that he will do so on the watchtower at night ( ). He is very watchful. Sleeping is not for those who take God’s warnings and directions seriously. Then he sees how exactly that happens what God has foretold ( ). God’s instruments do their work and bring down Babylon. can also be translated as follows: “And he cried: A lion!” With his exclamation “a lion!” Isaiah refers to the army of the Medes and the Persians. That army is dangerous as a lion. The Dead Sea Scrolls mention ‘seer’ instead of ‘lion’ (these words are almost the same in Hebrew). The text should therefore rendered as “the seer exclaims: …”. Babylon will fall through “a troop of riders” and “horsemen” of the Medes and Persians ( ). The fact that the horsemen come “in pairs” may indicate the dual nationality, that of the Medes and Persians. The fall of Babylon is shown in the book of Revelation with the same words ( ). This shows the close connection between the prophecy of the Old Testament and that of the New Testament. Only in the end time, at the appearance of Christ – the Lion from the tribe of Judah ( ) – will this prophecy about the fall of Babylon be fully fulfilled. The sequence of events described by Isaiah makes it clear that the judgment on Babylon (Isaiah 21) will only take place after the destruction of Israel by the king of the North (Isaiah 17-18) and after this king has been advanced to also destroy Egypt, the king of the South, and his allies (Isaiah 19-20).

‏ Isaiah 21:6

Carelessness and Fall of Babylon

What is described in these verses was fulfilled at the fall of Babylon on October 12, 539 BC and has been described in detail by historians. The Babylonians don’t think at all of the impending doom. They live a carefree life, feasting on an abundance of food on tables at which they recline on comfortable rugs (Isa 21:5). While they are feasting, the enemy is attacking them unexpectedly. He has changed the course of a canal that flows through the city of Babylon and has crept into Babylon through the drained riverbed.

This scene of carelessness and the invasion of the enemy is described in Daniel 5. See also Isaiah 13-14. Isaiah describes it as if he is present, while it will take another hundred and seventy-five years before it happens. He calls them to leave their laziness and to get ready for battle. Oil the shield is smearing it with oil to let the enemy’s blows slip away.

Isaiah must station the lookout (Isa 21:6). It seems that he himself is that lookout, as further on, in Isa 21:11, he himself is a watchman (cf. Hab 2:1-2). A lookout is someone who is in the counsel of God, who knows what is going to happen and who looks forward to that event.

It is the same for us. Whoever has learned from Scripture what God has foretold by comparing Scripture with Scripture, who knows His purpose and accepts what has become clear to him, is able to warn others. A lookout looks out and is in fellowship with God.

God says what to look out for (Isa 21:7). He has to “pay close attention, very close attention”. He confirms that he will do so on the watchtower at night (Isa 21:8). He is very watchful. Sleeping is not for those who take God’s warnings and directions seriously. Then he sees how exactly that happens what God has foretold (Isa 21:9). God’s instruments do their work and bring down Babylon.

Isa 21:8 can also be translated as follows: “And he cried: A lion!” With his exclamation “a lion!” Isaiah refers to the army of the Medes and the Persians. That army is dangerous as a lion. The Dead Sea Scrolls mention ‘seer’ instead of ‘lion’ (these words are almost the same in Hebrew). The text should therefore rendered as “the seer exclaims: …”.

Babylon will fall through “a troop of riders” and “horsemen” of the Medes and Persians (Isa 21:9). The fact that the horsemen come “in pairs” may indicate the dual nationality, that of the Medes and Persians. The fall of Babylon is shown in the book of Revelation with the same words (Rev 14:8 ; Rev 18:2). This shows the close connection between the prophecy of the Old Testament and that of the New Testament. Only in the end time, at the appearance of Christ – the Lion from the tribe of Judah (Rev 5:5) – will this prophecy about the fall of Babylon be fully fulfilled.

The sequence of events described by Isaiah makes it clear that the judgment on Babylon (Isaiah 21) will only take place after the destruction of Israel by the king of the North (Isaiah 17-18) and after this king has been advanced to also destroy Egypt, the king of the South, and his allies (Isaiah 19-20).