Ésaïe 21:5-15

5 On dresse la table, la garde veille, on mange, on boit... Debout, princes! oignez le bouclier!

6 Car ainsi m'a parlé le Seigneur: Va, place la sentinelle; Qu'elle annonce ce qu'elle verra. -

7 Elle vit de la cavalerie, des cavaliers deux à deux, Des cavaliers sur des ânes, des cavaliers sur des chameaux; Et elle était attentive, très attentive.

8 Puis elle s'écria, comme un lion: Seigneur, je me tiens sur la tour toute la journée, Et je suis à mon poste toutes les nuits;

9 Et voici, il vient de la cavalerie, des cavaliers deux à deux! Elle prit encore la parole, et dit: Elle est tombée, elle est tombée, Babylone, Et toutes les images de ses dieux sont brisées par terre! -

10 O mon peuple, qui as été battu comme du grain dans mon aire! Ce que j'ai appris de l'Eternel des armées, Dieu d'Israël, Je vous l'ai annoncé.

11 Oracle sur Duma. On me crie de Séir: Sentinelle, que dis-tu de la nuit? Sentinelle, que dis-tu de la nuit?

12 La sentinelle répond: Le matin vient, et la nuit aussi. Si vous voulez interroger, interrogez; Convertissez-vous, et revenez.

13 Oracle sur l'Arabie. Vous passerez la nuit dans les broussailles de l'Arabie, Caravanes de Dedan!

14 Portez de l'eau à ceux qui ont soif; Les habitants du pays de Théma Portent du pain aux fugitifs.

15 Car ils fuient devant les épées, Devant l'épée nue, devant l'arc tendu, Devant un combat acharné.

Ésaïe 21:5-15 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.