Isaiah 13:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Whoever is found will be thrust through, and whoever is caught will fall by the sword.

NIV: Whoever is captured will be thrust through; all who are caught will fall by the sword.

NASB: Anyone who is found will be thrust through, And anyone who is captured will fall by the sword.

CSB: Whoever is found will be stabbed, and whoever is caught will die by the sword.

NLT: Anyone who is captured will be cut down — run through with a sword.

KJV: Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword.

NKJV: Everyone who is found will be thrust through, And everyone who is captured will fall by the sword.

As Isaiah looks beyond his time to what were then future events, he sees the doomed city-state of Babylon producing a flood of refugees fleeing from its borders. These evacuees will run for their hometowns and native peoples, trying to escape the slaughter (Isaiah 13:14). This calls to mind images from more recent times, of waves of refugees making their way across empty country with what few possessions they can carry.

In the instance Isaiah predicted, the armies that have come to destroy Babylon will not allow refugees to survive. They will hunt down those who run. Any they find will be put to death. Some of this may be vengeance and blood lust. It is also intended to keep the conquered enemy beat down and unable to rebuild into a powerful nation. Babylon's judgment from the Lord will be severe, in keeping with the severity of the nation's sins (Isaiah 13:11).

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).

Accessed 11/23/2024 9:42:24 AM