Catholic Commentary on Isaiah 21

“A dire vision has been shown to me: the traitor betrays, the looter takes loot.” (Isaiah 21:2)

The Fall of Babylon Announced

Isaiah describes a terrifying vision: like whirlwinds sweeping through the Negev, an invader comes from the desert. A dire vision has been shown to me: the traitor betrays, the looter takes loot. Elam, attack! Media, lay siege! Isaiah's vision devastates him; his body is racked with pain, pangs seize him like a woman in labor. A watchman is posted. He sees a chariot with a pair of horsemen coming on a horse. Then the watchman shouts: Babylon has fallen, has fallen. All the images of its gods lie shattered on the ground.

The Catechism draws from Isaiah's vision the principle of the prophetic burden: the genuine prophet does not delight in pronouncing destruction but is devastated by the vision they receive (CCC 702).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, Babylon has fallen, has fallen. This prophetic announcement runs from Isaiah 21 through Revelation 18: the city organised around its own power will fall. Every Babylon falls. The person who has built their life on the Babylon of their age should listen to the watchman's shout and make plans accordingly.

Prayer

Lord God, every Babylon falls. Let us not build our lives on what will be shattered. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

21
Babylon Is Fallen
(Revelation 18:1-8)
1 This is the burden against the Desert by the Sea:
 
Like whirlwinds sweeping through the Negev,
an invader comes from the desert,
from a land of terror.
2 A dire vision is declared to me:
“The traitor still betrays,
and the destroyer still destroys.
Go up, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media!
I will put an end to all her groaning.”
 
3 Therefore my body is filled with anguish.
Pain grips me, like the pains of a woman in labor.
I am bewildered to hear,
I am dismayed to see.
4 My heart falters;
fear makes me tremble.
The twilight of my desire
has turned to horror.
5 They prepare a table, they lay out a carpet,
they eat, they drink!
 
Rise up, O princes, oil the shields!
6 For this is what the Lord says to me:
 
“Go, post a lookout
and have him report what he sees.
7 When he sees chariots with teams of horsemen,
riders on donkeys, riders on camels,
he must be alert, fully alert.”
 
8 Then the lookout * 21:8 DSS and Syriac; MT lion shouted:
 
“Day after day, my lord,
I stand on the watchtower;
night after night
I stay at my post.
9 Look, here come the riders,
horsemen in pairs.”
 
And one answered, saying:
 
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon!† 21:9 See Revelation 14:8 and Revelation 18:2.
All the images of her gods
lie shattered on the ground!”
 
10 O my people, crushed on the threshing floor,
I tell you what I have heard
from the LORD of Hosts,
the God of Israel.
The Burden against Edom
(Isaiah 34:5-17)
 
11 This is the burden against Dumah:‡ 21:11 Dumah is a wordplay on Edom, meaning silence.
 
One calls to me from Seir,§ 21:11 Seir is another name for Edom.
“Watchman, what is left of the night?
Watchman, what is left of the night?”
 
12 The watchman replies,
“Morning has come, but also the night.
If you would inquire, then inquire.
Come back yet again.”
The Burden against Arabia
 
13 This is the burden against Arabia:
 
In the thickets of Arabia you must lodge,
O caravans of Dedanites.
14 Bring water for the thirsty,
O dwellers of Tema;
meet the refugees with food.
15 For they flee from the sword-
the sword that is drawn-
from the bow that is bent,
and from the stress of battle.
 
16 For this is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a hired worker would count it, all the glory of Kedar will be gone. 17 The remaining archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.”
 
For the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.

*21:8 21:8 DSS and Syriac; MT lion

†21:9 21:9 See Revelation 14:8 and Revelation 18:2.

‡21:11 21:11 Dumah is a wordplay on Edom, meaning silence.

§21:11 21:11 Seir is another name for Edom.

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