Isaías 21:1-8

1 Mensaje acerca de Babilonia
Este es el mensaje que recibí acerca de Babilonia, el desierto junto al mar:
Desde el desierto se acerca el desastre y te caerá encima,
como un remolino que entra arrasando desde el Neguev.

2 Veo una visión aterradora:
veo al traidor traicionando,
al destructor destruyendo.
Adelante, ustedes, elamitas y medos:
ataquen y asedien.
Yo pondré fin a todos los gemidos
que provocó Babilonia.

3 El estómago me duele y me arde de dolor;
me dominan agudas punzadas de angustia,
como las de una mujer en parto.
Me desmayo cuando oigo lo que Dios se propone hacer:
tengo demasiado miedo para mirar.

4 La cabeza me da vueltas y se me acelera el corazón;
anhelaba que llegara la noche,
pero ahora la oscuridad me da terror.

5 ¡Miren! Están preparando un gran banquete;
están extendiendo alfombras para que la gente se siente.
Todos comen y beben.
Pero ¡rápido!, tomen los escudos y prepárense para la batalla.
¡Los están atacando!

6 Mientras tanto, el Señor me dijo:
«Pon un centinela sobre la muralla de la ciudad;
que advierta a gritos lo que ve.

7 Deberá estar atento por carros de guerra
tirados por un par de caballos,
y jinetes sobre burros y camellos.
Que el centinela esté bien alerta».

8 Luego el centinela
gritó:
«Día tras día me he mantenido de pie sobre la torre de vigilancia, mi señor;
noche tras noche he permanecido en mi puesto.

Isaías 21:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 21

This chapter contains prophecies against Babylon, Idumea, and Arabia. The prophecy against Babylon is called "the burden of the desert of the sea"; whose enemies are described by the fierce manner of their coming, and by the land from whence they came, Isa 21:1 which vision being declared to the prophet, is called a grievous one; what made it so was treachery among themselves; and the Medes and Persians are invited to besiege them, Isa 21:2 their terror and distress upon it are represented by the pains of a woman in travail, whom the prophet personates, Isa 21:3,4 and by the methods they took to defend themselves, to which they were alarmed, when in the greatest security and jollity, Isa 21:5 all which is illustrated by the vision of the watchman, who saw the Medes and Persians on the march, signified by a chariot and a couple of horsemen, who declares the fall of Babylon, and the destruction of its gods, Isa 21:6-9 which would issue in the good and comfort of the church and people of God, Isa 21:10 then follows the prophecy against Idumea, which consists of a question put to the watchman, and his answer to it; to which an exhortation is added, Isa 21:11,12 and the chapter concludes with another prophecy against Arabia: the calamities threatened are lodging in a forest, thirst, famine, and fleeing from the sword Isa 21:13-15, and the time is fixed when all this should be, by which their glory would fail, and the number of their archers and mighty men be lessened; for the confirmation of which the divine testimony is annexed, Isa 21:16,17.