Isaiah 21
The Fall of Babylon
1 The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land.
2 A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.
3 Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it. Parallel theme: Isaiah 13:8, 16:11, 26:17, Psalms 48:6, Jeremiah 48:41, 1 Thessalonians 5:3
4 My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.
5 Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield. Resurrection: Jeremiah 51:11, 1 Corinthians 15:32. Parallel theme: Jeremiah 51:39, 51:57
6 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.
7 And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed:
8 And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:
9 And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.
10 O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you. References God: Jeremiah 51:33. References Lord: Micah 4:13. Parallel theme: 2 Kings 13:7, Matthew 3:12
Prophecy Against Edom
11 The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? Parallel theme: Isaiah 21:6, Genesis 25:14, 32:3, Numbers 24:18, Deuteronomy 2:5, 1 Chronicles 1:30, Psalms 137:7, Jeremiah 37:17, Joel 3:19, Amos 1:6 +5
12 The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.
Prophecy Against Arabia
13 The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.
14 The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled. Parallel theme: Genesis 25:15, Job 6:19, Proverbs 25:21, Romans 12:20
15 For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
16 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:
17 And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. God of Israel hath spoken it. References Lord: Isaiah 1:20, Zechariah 1:6. References God: Numbers 23:19