Text -- Isaiah 13:1-3 (NET)

The Lord Will Judge Babylon

13:1 This is a message about Babylon that God revealed to Isaiah son of Amoz: 13:2 On a bare hill raise a signal flag, shout to them, wave your hand, so they might enter the gates of the princes! 13:3 I have given orders to my chosen soldiers; I have summoned the warriors through whom I will vent my anger, my boasting, arrogant ones.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Isa 13:1

¹ sn Isa 13-23 contains a series of judgment oracles against various nations. It is likely that Israel, not the nations mentioned, actually heard these oracles. The oracles probably had a twofold purpose. For those leaders who insisted on getting embroiled in international politics, these oracles were a reminder that Judah need not fear foreign nations or seek international alliances for security reasons. For the righteous remnant within the nation, these oracles were a reminder that Israel’s God was indeed the sovereign ruler of the earth, worthy of his people’s trust.

² tn Heb “The message [traditionally, “burden”] [about] Babylon which Isaiah son of Amoz saw.”

NET Notes: Isa 13:2

¹ sn The Lord is speaking here (see v. 3).

NET Notes: Isa 13:3

¹ tn Heb “my consecrated ones,” i.e., those who have been set apart by God for the special task of carrying out his judgment.

² tn Heb “my warriors with respect to my anger.”

³ tn Heb “the boasting ones of my pride”; cf. ASV, NASB, NRSV “my proudly exulting ones.”