Year 3, Day 5: Isaiah 21

An Interesting Debate

Isaiah 21 is a passage that has brought about a fair amount of debate.  The debate isn’t about the passage and its meaning, however.  The passage is clearly about the future destruction of Babylon.  That much is easy to determine.

The question is: which destruction of Babylon?  You see, Babylon was brought to its knees twice.  The Babylonians were the big threat prior to the coming of the Assyrians.  The Assyrians tamed the Babylonians and became the big power.  However, the Assyrians did not keep the Babylonians down.  The Babylonians (often called Neo-Babylonians at this point in history so as to avoid confusion) rise up again and bring the Assyrians down.  They reign for a little while until the Medio-Persian Empire comes on the scene.  The Persians take down Neo-Babylon and eventually provide for the release of some Jews to return to Jerusalem to restore the city.

Since I’m on a roll, let’s just continue the history.  The Persians rule in the area for a while until the Greeks come on the scene.  The Greeks dominate the Persians and take over control of the region until the Romans come on the scene.  The Romans eventually conquer the region and hold it for quite some time.  In fact, the Roman Empire holds onto the land until the Muslim nations rise up and capture the land of Palestine during the decade beginning with 630 A.D.

Okay, back to the passage.  Since there are two separate destructions of the Babylon Empire as a world power, which one is Isaiah speaking about?  There are some who want to talk about the ultimate destruction of Babylon at the hands of the Persians.  That destruction happens in 539 B.C.  However, I don’t believe that this is the destruction to which Isaiah is speaking.  First, if we put this passage into context we hear this passage after just hearing about the other nations being dominated by Assyria.  Why would Isaiah switch topics and talk about the domination of Persia to come several centuries later?

I believe contextually speaking that this passage makes much more sense to read it in light of the Assyrian conquest of Babylon which ultimately happens in 702 B.C.  It is Assyria that is on Isaiah’s mind.  It is Assyria that is the main power on the scene.

Furthermore, when we hear about the destruction of the Babylonians at the hands of the Persians elsewhere in scripture, the Hebrew people are told that it will be a day of rejoicing.  The Babylonian destruction at the hands of the Persians is a high day for Hebrew people.  If we look at how Isaiah talks about the destruction of the Babylonians in this chapter we are told it is a terrible day.  It is a day of devastation.  Isaiah 21 is not about the Hebrew people finding relief because the Persians are coming for the Babylonians.  Isaiah 21 is about the fear that the Hebrew people should have because the ones who are coming for Babylon are also coming for them. 

Thematically, then, I feel it is more logical to read this passage as God’s warning the Hebrew people that the Babylonians will not be able to stand up and resist the Assyrians either.  They cannot even expect help to come from the mighty Babylonian empire.

Isaiah’s Response

Furthermore, let’s look a bit at Isaiah’s response to the oracle.  He is pained – in fact, he says that the oracle comes upon him as labor comes upon a pregnant woman.  Being a prophet is never easy.  Being a prophet implies bringing hard messages to people – messages that may not always bring about peace or joy.  Isaiah is troubled by the messages God asks him to bring; but Isaiah brings them anyway.

Dumah

As a part of this oracle we also have an oracle tied to Edom (Dumah).  Dumah may be a word play on the Hebrew word for Edom; but it is more likely a Hebrew translation for what the Assyrians called Edom: Udumu.  What will happen in Dumah?  What does the watcher in the watchtower see?  Nothing of note.  Edom will fall quietly and without note against the Assyrians.  In fact, by speaking of Edom according to the Assyrian name, Isaiah is sending a clear message that they are already lost.

Arabia

Then we have an oracle for Arabia.  The Arabian people were largely still tribal at this point.  They would be scattered and made into refugees by the Assyrians.  They will flee before the might of Assyria and will provide no source of help for the Hebrew people.

God has systematically given Isaiah an oracle about all the nations surrounding Jerusalem and the Hebrew lands.  None of them will be able to resist the Assyrian power.  There is no true help except the help that can come from the Lord.  That message is clear.  But will they listen?  Do we listen to the same message?

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