Isaiah 13:15

15 Everyone who is captured will be killed; everyone who is caught will be killed with a sword.

Isaiah 13:15 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 13:15

Every one that is found shall be thrust through
With a sword, spear, or lance, and be slain; that is, everyone that is found in the city of Babylon; and so the Targum adds,

``and everyone that is found in it shall be slain;''

so Kimchi, in the midst of it, or without; in the street, as Jarchi. The orders of Cyrus ^F8 were, that those that were found without (in the streets) should be slain; and to proclaim in the Syriac language, that those that were within doors should continue there, but, if they were found without, they should be put to death; which orders were executed, and well agrees with this prophecy: and everyone that is joined [unto them] shall fall by the sword;
or "added" unto them; any of other nations that joined them as auxiliaries, see ( Revelation 18:4 ) or "that is gathered"; so the Septuagint, "they that are gathered"; that are gathered together in a body to resist the enemy, and defend themselves. Some render the word, "every one that is consumed", with age; neither old nor young, as follows, should be spared. The Targum is,

``everyone that enters into the fortified cities,''

flees there for safety and protection.

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 Xenophon. Cyropaedia, l. 7. sect. 23.

Isaiah 13:15 In-Context

13 I will make the sky shake, and the earth will be moved from its place by the anger of the Lord All-Powerful at the time of his burning anger.

14 "Then the people from Babylon will run away like hunted deer or like sheep who have no shepherd. Everyone will turn back to his own people; each will run back to his own land.

15 Everyone who is captured will be killed; everyone who is caught will be killed with a sword.

16 Their little children will be beaten to death in front of them. Their houses will be robbed and their wives raped.

17 "Look, I will cause the armies of Media to attack Babylon. They do not care about silver or delight in gold.