Bible Commentary

Isaiah 21

Isaiah 21 — Overview

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible · Matthew Henry (1662–1714) · Public Domain

In this chapter we have a prophecy of sad times coming, and heavy burdens, I. Upon Babylon, here called "the desert of the sea," that it should be destroyed by the Medes and Persians with a terrible destruction, which yet God's people should have advantage by, ver. 1-10. II. Upon Dumah, or Idumea, ver. 11, 12. III. Upon Arabia, or Kedar, the desolation of which country was very near, ver. 13-17. These and other nations which the princes and people of Israel had so much to do with the prophets of Israel could not but have something to say to. Foreign affairs must be taken notice of as well as domestic ones, and news from abroad enquired after as well as news at home.

The Doom of Babylon. (b. c. 714.)

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Isaiah 21 — OverviewIsaiah 21 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeIsaiah 21:1, The prophet, bewailing the captivity of his people, sees in a vision the fall of Babylon by the Medes and Persians; Isaiah 21:11, Edom, scorning the prophet, is moved to repentance; Isaiah 21:13, The set…Isaiah 21 — OverviewIsaiah 21 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThis 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…Isaiah 21:1-10Isaiah 21:1-10 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleWe had one burden of Babylon before (ch. xiii.); here we have another prediction of its fall. God saw fit thus to possess his people with the belief of this event by line upon line, because Babylon sometimes…Isaiah 21:1Isaiah 21:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe desert of the sea. The Isaianic authorship of this title is doubtful, since "the desert of the sea" is an expression elsewhere wholly unknown to biblical writers. Some regard "the sea" as the Euphrates, in which…Isaiah 21:1-9Isaiah 21:1-9 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe effect of God's judgments on the good and on the guilty. We gather, preliminarily: 1. That God uses not only elemental forces but human agents for the accomplishment of his righteous purposes. The winds and the…Isaiah 21:1-10Isaiah 21:1-10 · The Pulpit CommentaryTHE BURDEN OF THE DESERT OF THE SEA. This is a short and somewhat vague, but highly poetic, "burden of Babylon" It is probably an earlier prophecy than Isaiah 13:1-22. and 14; and perhaps the first revelation made to…