Isa 13:4-22 | TNotes

13:5 ^a Just as Assyria was the rod of his anger (9:4 ^b; 10:5 ^c, 15 ^d), other nations serve as the Lord’s weapons and carry out his will. The Medes and Persians conquered Babylon in 539 BC.

• God’s wrath is an expression of his justice as well as his intent to restore order to the world by obliterating evildoers (10:25-26 ^e; see Lam 2:22 ^f; Ezek 7:19 ^g).
13:6 ^h When pronouncing judgment that is still in the future, the prophets sometimes spoke as though it had already arrived. This emphasized the urgency of turning back to God (Ezek 30:3 ⁱ; Joel 1:15 ^j; 3:14 ^k; Obad 1:15 ^l; Zeph 1:7 ^m).
13:8 ⁿ Pangs ... like those of a woman in labor: The day of the Lord brings sudden and overpowering pain and fear for the wicked (see also Jer 30:6 ^o; Hos 13:13 ^p; Mic 4:9 ^q, 10 ^r; 5:3 ^s).
13:10 ^t Cosmic upheaval and darkness are common images for the day of the Lord, a time of God’s judgment (see also Ezek 32:7-8 ^u; Joel 2:10 ^v, 31 ^w; 3:15 ^x; Matt 24:29 ^y; Mark 13:24 ^z; Rev 6:12-13 ^aa; 8:12 ^ab; cp. Isa 30:26 ^ac).
13:11 ^ad punish the world: See Rev 20:11 ^ae.
13:12 ^af Solomon’s imported gold came from Ophir (1 Kgs 9:28 ^ag).
13:13 ^ah God will shake the heavens. The earth will move: Cosmic upheaval will accompany God’s coming in judgment (see study note on 5:25; see also Hag 2:7 ^ai, 21 ^aj; Heb 12:26-27 ^ak; Rev 16:17-18 ^al; 18:21-22 ^am).
13:16 ^an These terrible acts of war would be perpetrated against Babylon, itself a cruel conquering power (see also Ps 137:8-9 ^ao; Jer 6:11-12 ^ap; Nah 3:10 ^aq).
13:17 ^ar The Lord is sovereign and controls history. He can stir up kingdoms to execute his will.

• The Medes from northwestern Iran joined Persian King Cyrus in fighting against Babylon in 539 BC.
Summary for Isa 13:19-22: 13:19-22 ^as This picture of Babylon as a perpetually haunted ruin contrasts with its magnificence at its peak (see Dan 4:29-30 ^at).
13:20 ^au Babylon will never be inhabited again: Babylon, often a symbol of idolatry, immorality, imperialism, and oppression in Scripture, will one day come completely to an end (see Rev 18:2 ^av; 19:2 ^aw).