Isa 13:1 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Isa 13:1: 13:1–23:18 This section contains prophecies of judgment against the nations. By including a prophecy against Judah and Jerusalem (22:1-25 ) in the midst of prophecies against the pagan nations, Isaiah emphasized that Israel’s identity as God’s people would not protect them from God’s punishment when they sinned as the other nations do. 13:1 At the time of this prophecy, Assyria was the major power. Isaiah anticipated the rise of Babylon as an even crueler kingdom that would destroy Judah and Jerusalem (39:6-7 ; chs 46–47 ). The universal language of 13:1–14:23 suggests that in this context, Babylon represents all wicked and arrogant nations in the same way that “Babylon the Great” does in the book of Revelation (Rev 18 ). Therefore, while this description of Babylon’s fall applies to the fall of historic Babylon in 539 BC , it also applies until the final judgment against the ultimate kingdom of evil (Rev 19 ).

a13:1–23:18►

b22:1-25►

c13:1►

d39:6-7►

e46–47►

f13:1–14:23►

gRev 18►

hRev 19►

‏ Isaiah 13:1

Summary for Isa 13:1: 13:1–23:18 ^a This section contains prophecies of judgment against the nations. By including a prophecy against Judah and Jerusalem (22:1-25 ^b) in the midst of prophecies against the pagan nations, Isaiah emphasized that Israel’s identity as God’s people would not protect them from God’s punishment when they sinned as the other nations do. 13:1 ^c At the time of this prophecy, Assyria was the major power. Isaiah anticipated the rise of Babylon as an even crueler kingdom that would destroy Judah and Jerusalem (39:6-7 ^d; chs 46–47 ^e). The universal language of 13:1–14:23 ^f suggests that in this context, Babylon represents all wicked and arrogant nations in the same way that “Babylon the Great” does in the book of Revelation (Rev 18 ^g). Therefore, while this description of Babylon’s fall applies to the fall of historic Babylon in 539 BC, it also applies until the final judgment against the ultimate kingdom of evil (Rev 19 ^h).