Flee out of the midst of Babylon
This is said either to such as were there of other nations upon trade and business, as Kimchi, to get out of it as fast as they could, that they might not be consumed; or to the Israelites, as Jarchi, the Jews that were captives there. This is applied to the people of God in mystical Babylon, ( Revelation 18:4 ) ; and deliver every man his soul;
or "life"; from the destruction coming on the city, and the inhabitants of it; be not cut off in her iniquity;
or, "that he be not cut off" F6; with her, in the punishment inflicted upon her for her iniquities; which is the same as partaking of her plagues, ( Revelation 18:4 ) ; for this [is] the time, of the Lord's vengeance;
the time fixed by him to take vengeance on Babylon for her sins against him, and the wrongs done to his people: he will render unto her a recompence;
the just demerit of their sins; a recompence or reward by way of punishment for them; see ( Revelation 18:6 ) .