Isaías 21:9-17

9 Y he aquí este carro de hombres viene, un par de caballeros. Después habló, y dijo: Cayó, cayó Babilonia; y todos los ídolos de sus dioses quebrantó en tierra.
10 Trilla mía, y paja de mi era: os he dicho lo que oí de Jehová de los ejércitos, Dios de Israel.
11 Carga de Duma.
12 El guarda respondió: La mañana viene, y después la noche: si preguntareis, preguntad; volved, venid.
13 Carga sobre Arabia.
14 Salid á encontrar al sediento; llevadle aguas, moradores de tierra de Tema, socorred con su pan al que huye.
15 Porque de la presencia de las espadas huyen, de la presencia de la espada desnuda, de la presencia del arco entesado, de la presencia del peso de la batalla.
16 Porque así me ha dicho Jehová: De aquí á un año, semejante á años de mozo de soldada, toda la gloria de Cedar será desecha;
17 Y las reliquias del número de los valientes flecheros, hijos de Cedar, serán apocadas: porque Jehová Dios de Israel lo ha dicho.

Isaías 21:9-17 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.

The Reina-Valera Antigua (1602) is in the public domain.