Isaiah 13:20

20 It will never be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation; a nomad will not pitch his tent there, and shepherds will not let [their flocks] rest there.

Isaiah 13:20 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 13:20

It shall never be inhabited
As it has not been since its utter destruction. Pausanias F16, who lived in the times of Adrian, says, Babylon, the greatest city that ever the sun saw, that then there was nothing left of it but a wall: what is now called Babylon is a new city, and built in another place: neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation;
which is the same thing repeated in other and stronger terms, for the confirmation of it: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there;
that sort of the Arabians called Scenitae, because they dwelt in tents, and moved from place to place with their flocks, for the sake of pasture; but here there should be none for them, and therefore would not pitch their tents at it: neither shall the shepherds make their folds there;
as they had used to do in the pastures adjoining to it, which were formerly exceeding good, but now would be barren and unfruitful; and as there would be no shepherds in the city, so neither would any neighbouring ones come hither, or any from distant parts; partly because of the unfruitfulness of the place, and partly through fear of wild beasts, which had their habitation there, as follows. Pliny F17 says it was reduced to a mere desert.


FOOTNOTES:

F16 Arcadica sive, l. 8. p. 509.
F17 Ut supra. (Nat. Hist. l. 6. c. 26.)

Isaiah 13:20 In-Context

18 [Their] bows will cut young men to pieces. They will have no compassion on little ones; they will not look with pity on children.
19 And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God overthrew them.
20 It will never be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation; a nomad will not pitch his tent there, and shepherds will not let [their flocks] rest there.
21 But wild animals will lie down there, and owls will fill the houses. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will leap about.
22 Hyenas will howl in the fortresses, and jackals, in the luxurious palaces. Babylon's time is almost up; her days are almost over.
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