Isaiah 13:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: On a bare hill raise a signal; cry aloud to them; wave the hand for them to enter the gates of the nobles.

NIV: Raise a banner on a bare hilltop, shout to them; beckon to them to enter the gates of the nobles.

NASB: Lift up a flag on the bare hill, Raise your voice to them, Wave the hand that they may enter the doors of the nobles.

CSB: Lift up a banner on a barren mountain. Call out to them. Signal with your hand, and they will go through the gates of the nobles.

NLT: 'Raise a signal flag on a bare hilltop. Call up an army against Babylon. Wave your hand to encourage them as they march into the palaces of the high and mighty.

KJV: Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.

NKJV: “Lift up a banner on the high mountain, Raise your voice to them; Wave your hand, that they may enter the gates of the nobles.

Isaiah begins his oracle—a solemn judgment—against the city-state of Babylon. As Isaiah wrote this, the Assyrian Empire still stood strong and would soon decimate Israel and most of Judah. In the end, this powerful nation would fail to bring down Jerusalem itself because of the intervention of the Lord when faithful Hezekiah was king of Judah (2 Kings 19:35–37).

Babylon was, at that time, still under Assyria's rule. It was a rising power that occasionally challenged the Assyrians by attempts to form alliances with other nations and become independent. Babylon's true glory lay in the future from Isaiah's perspective. It would one day become a great power under King Nebuchadnezzar. In that era, it would fully conquer Jerusalem and carry off the people into exile (2 Kings 24:10–17).

This oracle describes God's judgment against Babylon for the current and future sins of its people and leaders. As will be shown, their defining sin is pride. Babylonian culture became famous throughout the world for its sophistication and elegance. The important people of Babylon became arrogant and haughty. They were elevating themselves in their own eyes. And the Lord hates human pride (Proverbs 16:5).

The prophet begins by calling for a banner to be raised on a bare hilltop. During this time, large banners that could be seen from great distances were raised as messages, including the signal to begin a battle. The call to raise the banner is followed by shouts and hand waving to indicate the time had come to attack. The order was to enter through the "gates of the nobles." This would be the important people of Babylonian society.

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).