The destruction of Babylon by the Medes and Persians: a prophecy against the Edomites and the Arabians.

¹ The burden of the desert of the sea. Just as the whirlwinds approach from Africa, it approaches from the desert, from a terrible land.¹

1. 21:1The desert of the sea: So Babylon is here called, because from a city as full of people as the sea is with water, it was become a desert.(Challoner)

² A difficult vision has been announced to me: he who is unbelieving, he acts unfaithfully, and he who is a plunderer, he devastates. Ascend, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media! I have caused all its mourning to cease.¹

1. 21:2O Elam: That is, O Persia.(Challoner)

³ Because of this, my lower back has been filled with pain, and anguish has possessed me, like the anguish of a woman in labor. I fell down when I heard it. I was disturbed when I saw it.

⁴ My heart withered. The darkness stupefied me. Babylon, my beloved, has become a wonder to me.

⁵ Prepare the table. Contemplate, from a place of observation, those who eat and drink. Rise up, you leaders! Take up the shield!

⁶ For the Lord has said this to me: “Go and station a watchman. And let him announce whatever he will see.”

⁷ And he saw a chariot with two horsemen, and a rider on a donkey, and a rider on a camel. And he considered them diligently, with an intense gaze.¹

1. 21:7A rider upon an ass, etc: These two riders are the kings of the Persians and Medes.(Challoner)

⁸ And a lion cried out: “I am on the watchtower of the Lord, standing continually by day. And I am at my station, standing throughout the night.¹

1. 21:8And a lion cried out: That is, I Isaiah seeing the approaching ruin of Babylon, have cried out as a lion roaring.(Challoner)

⁹ Behold, a certain man approaches, a man riding on a two-horse chariot.” And he responded, and he said: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon! And all its graven gods have been crushed into the earth!

¹⁰ O my threshed grain! O sons of my threshing floor! What I have heard from the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I have announced to you.”

¹¹ The burden of Dumah, cried out to me from Seir: “Watchman, how goes the night? Watchman, how goes the night?”¹

1. 21:11Duma: That is, Idumea, or Edom.(Challoner)

¹² The watchman said: “Morning approaches with the night. If you are seeking: seek, and convert, and approach.”

¹³ The burden in Arabia. In the forest you shall sleep, in the evening on the paths of Dedanim.

¹⁴ You who inhabit the land of the south: upon meeting the thirsty, bring water; meet the fugitive with bread.

¹⁵ For they are fleeing before the face of swords, before the face of a sword hanging over them, before the face of a bent bow, before the face of a grievous battle.

¹⁶ For the Lord said this to me: “After one more year, just like one year for a hired hand, all the glory of Kedar will be taken away.¹

1. 21:16Cedar: Arabia.(Challoner)

¹⁷ And the remainder of the multitude of strong archers from the sons of Kedar will be few, for the Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken it.”