Isaiah 13:2

2 Lift up a banner on the top of a bare hill. Shout to the enemy soldiers. Wave for them to enter the gates that are used by the nobles of Babylon.

Isaiah 13:2 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 13:2

Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain
Or "upon the mountain Nishphah"; some high mountain in Media or Persia, proper to set a standard on, or erect a banner for the gathering men together, to enlist themselves as soldiers, and so form an army to march into the land of Chaldea. Vitringa thinks there may be an allusion to the mountain Zagrius, which divides Media and Persia from Assyria, mentioned by Strabo F24. Or "upon a high mountain"; any high mountain fit for such a purpose; or "against the high mountain", as some F25 read it; meaning Babylon, called a mountain, ( Jeremiah 51:25 ) not because of its situation, for it was in a plain; but because of its eminence above other cities and states. The Targum is,

``against the city that dwells securely, lift up a sign;''
a token of war, proclaim war against it, that lives at ease, and is in peace; and so the word is used in the Talmudic language, as Kimchi observes; and to this agrees Jarchi's note,
``to gather against the mountain that is quiet, and trusts in its tranquillity, lift up a banner to the nations.''
Exalt the voice unto them;
the Medes, mentioned by name in ( Isaiah 13:17 ) such as were within call, or were gathered together by the lifting up of the banner; such were to be urged with great vehemency to enlist themselves, and engage in a war against Babylon: shake the hand;
beckon with it to them that are afar off, that cannot hear the voice: that they may go into the gates of the nobles;
that dwell in the city of Babylon, where they might expect to find rich plunder; though some understand this of the nobles or princes of the Medes and Persians, as Kimchi observes, that should enter through the gates of Babylon into the city; and by others it is interpreted of the soldiers coming to the doors of the leaders or generals of the army, to give in their names, and enlist themselves in their service; which well agrees with what goes before.
FOOTNOTES:

F24 Geograph. l. 11. p. 359.
F25 (hpvn rh le) "contra montem excelsum", Forerius, Sanctius.

Isaiah 13:2 In-Context

1 Here is the vision about Babylonia that Isaiah, the son of Amoz, saw.
2 Lift up a banner on the top of a bare hill. Shout to the enemy soldiers. Wave for them to enter the gates that are used by the nobles of Babylon.
3 The LORD has set those soldiers apart to fight for him. He has sent for them to carry out his anger against Babylon. They will be happy when he wins the battle for them.
4 Listen! I hear a noise in the mountains. It sounds like a huge crowd. Listen! I hear a loud noise among the kingdoms. It sounds like nations gathering together. The LORD who rules over all is bringing an army together for war.
5 They come from lands far away. They come from the farthest places on earth. The LORD and those weapons of his anger are coming to destroy the whole country of Babylonia.
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