Isaiah 13:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: They come from a distant land, from the end of the heavens, the Lord and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.

NIV: They come from faraway lands, from the ends of the heavens— the Lord and the weapons of his wrath— to destroy the whole country.

NASB: They are coming from a distant country, From the farthest horizons, The Lord and the weapons of His indignation, To destroy the whole land.

CSB: They are coming from a distant land, from the farthest horizon— the Lord and the weapons of his wrath— to destroy the whole country.

NLT: They come from distant countries, from beyond the farthest horizons. They are the Lord’s weapons to carry out his anger. With them he will destroy the whole land.

KJV: They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.

NKJV: They come from a far country, From the end of heaven— The Lord and His weapons of indignation, To destroy the whole land.

The Lord is describing the vast army He has assembled to rain down the anger of His judgment against Babylon. This is an army that He has set aside for this attack. It is huge, it is loud, and it includes troops from many nations that have gathered (Isaiah 13:3–4).

Now the Lord adds that these are not local nations. Some have traveled great distances to participate in this attack. They have come from the "end of the heavens," This means they have come as far away as the sky reaches. They have all come because the Lord wants them there. They are the weapons of His indignation or anger. He will wield these nations to destroy the entire land of Babylon.

Nothing God has revealed so far means these armies have any concept they are fighting the Lord's holy battle against the arrogant king of Babylon. In their minds, they have come for other purposes. They will act according to their own choices—some of which will be atrocities that God will also punish as sin (Isaiah 13:16; Mark 4:22; Matthew 12:36). The greater message is that the God assembles armies and gives victories. There is nothing outside of His influence.

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).