Isaiah 13:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And like a hunted gazelle, or like sheep with none to gather them, each will turn to his own people, and each will flee to his own land.

NIV: Like a hunted gazelle, like sheep without a shepherd, they will all return to their own people, they will flee to their native land.

NASB: And it will be that, like a hunted gazelle, Or like sheep with no one to gather them, Each of them will turn to his own people, And each of them will flee to his own land.

CSB: Like wandering gazelles and like sheep without a shepherd, each one will turn to his own people, each one will flee to his own land.

NLT: Everyone in Babylon will run about like a hunted gazelle, like sheep without a shepherd. They will try to find their own people and flee to their own land.

KJV: And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land.

NKJV: It shall be as the hunted gazelle, And as a sheep that no man takes up; Every man will turn to his own people, And everyone will flee to his own land.

Large, metropolitan cities attract new citizens from everywhere. They come from small towns and villages and even other nations. The big cities have more jobs, more excitement, and more opportunities. They draw the ambitious and the needy. In this passage, Isaiah is describing the destruction which would come on the impressive city-state of Babylon long after his prophecy was recorded. The Lord promises to gather a massive, multi-nation army to cut down Babylon with His fierce anger (Isaiah 13:3–4). When that army attacks the city, the people will scatter to the wind. Isaiah now writes that they will attempt to run back to their hometowns and their own people. They won't make it.

Those attacking Babylon will want to completely wipe it out to keep the nation from rising again. They do not want to leave the opportunity for Babylon to oppress the world once more. They will hunt down all who flee like hunters who track their prey or wolves who take down unprotected sheep. The refugees of smoldering Babylon will become easy targets for the armies of the world.

It's important to understand that the armies whom the Lord summoned to end Babylon are not acting as His mindless robots. Yet they do not understand they are there by God's will. They have come with the object of all warfare of the time: to wipe out an enemy. In this case, a powerful enemy. The Lord's judgment will be carried out by cruel and ruthless soldiers from many nations.

Isaiah 13:1–22 contains Isaiah's prophecy from the Lord. This is against the dominant power of Babylon, which would arise after the defeat of the Assyrians. The Lord will assemble and consecrate an international army to attack and obliterate the powerful city-state of Babylon. The people will tremble in fear as the Lord executes His judgment out of His great wrath toward the arrogant and ruthless Babylonians. The population will be slaughtered without mercy and the land left desolate. When it's over, only wild animals will walk the streets of the once-splendid city.

Chapter 13 begins a new section in the book of Isaiah, which focuses on prophecies against other nations besides Israel. It begins by describing the Lord's destruction of the city-state of Babylon. This will come after it has become a dominating power in the world. The Lord will assemble a multi-nation army to attack the city and leave the land completely desolate. All who flee will be hunted and killed. The Medes will slaughter even pregnant women and children without mercy. When it is all over, only wild animals will occupy the once luxurious center of human achievement and sophistication.

Isaiah has been discussing the eventual rescue and restoration of Israel (Isaiah 10–12). Chapter 13 introduces an entirely new section in Isaiah's book: prophecies from the Lord against Gentile nations. First is a prediction of the utter destruction of Babylon. That nation had been the dominant power in the world. The Lord will assemble a multi-nation army from near and far to destroy the luxurious and powerful city-state on the Euphrates. This is followed by reassurances and further details of God's vengeance on Israel's other oppressors.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).