Scriptures/The Bible/The Old Testament/Isaiah/13

Isaiah 13 at churchofjesuschrist.org

1 The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.

2 Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.

3 I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness.

4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.

5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.

6 ¶ Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.

7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt:

8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.

9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

constellations: Per Biblical commentary, the word "kěsîl", here translated in the plural, as "constellations", has particular reference to Orion. (or, less frequently, the star, Canopus) The more literal meaning of the word is "foolhardy", or "impious", and is connected to Orion as a figure of foolishness who defied the Gods and was struck down. The Persians associated the constellation we refer to as Orion with the Nimrod, a figure of similar mythological significance.

11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

Verse 15 seems to describe the means that will bring about this end. Though, this is the burden of Babylon, and as such it appears that what is being described here is an attack against Iraq from Iran, that devastates all, leaving a large portion of Iraq completely desolate. (Though only the men and children are directly described as being killed. My citations below may not connect to this burden in any direct sense.) If it is desolate and uninhabited, then how is a man precious?

Theme: Men Will Become Rare in the Last Days

13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

14 And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land.

15 Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword.

It seems that this is the means that will bring about the end mentioned in verse 12.

16 Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.

17 Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.

18 Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.

19 ¶ And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

20 It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.

21 But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.

doleful creatures: Literally, howlers. Often understood to mean either owls or jackals.

owls: Probably ostriches.

22 And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.

And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry: Perhaps better as, "And the wailers/howlers shall howl".

desolate houses: Literally, "windows", but probably citadels, or places.

dragons: Probably "jackals".