Isa 21.1-17 is a prophecy about Babylon, Edom and Arabia. Remember, Isa 13 began prophecies from Yehovah about the nations. Eschatologically, the land of Babylon is the USA, and it also alludes to mystical, political Babylon. Deliverance is coming for the Jewish people in Babylon.
v 1…The oracle (prophecy, word) concerning the wilderness (midbar) of the sea (Babylon was in a low lying plain and the Euphrates used to flood the area, looking like a sea until dams were constructed). As windstorms in the Negev sweep on (disaster), it (Mede/Persian army) comes from the wilderness, from a terrifying land (Medo-Persia itself).
v 2…A harsh vision (grievous) has been shown to me; the treacherous one still deals treacherously (Babylon and its heartless robbery-Isa 13.17), and the destroyer still destroys. Go up Elam (Persia), lay siege, Media (to destroy Babylon by the Medes and the Persians), I have made an end of all the groaning she has caused.
v 3…For this reason my loins are full of anguish (extreme distress), pains have seized me like the pains of a woman in labor (an allusion to the birth-pains of the Messiah). I am so bewildered I cannot hear, so terrified I cannot see (he is showing Belshazzar’s reaction to the news that Cyrus and the Persians have entered the city).
v 4…My mind reels, horror overwhelms me; the twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling.
v 5…Set the table (this was done the night Babylon fell, while they feasted-Dan 5.10), spread out the cloth, they eat, they drink; rise up, captains, oil the shields (arise from the banquet, oil your shields to deflect arrows, and defend the city).
v 6…For thus Yehovah says to me (Isaiah), “Go, station the sentry, let him report what he sees (to verify this oracle and make it more vivid to him).
v 7…When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs (of the Persians), a train of donkeys, a train of camels (in a supply train), let him pay close attention, very close attention (to get more military information on the Persian army).”
v 8…Then the sentry called, “A lion (as a lion): O Lord (the king of Babylon), I stand continually by day on the watchtower, and I am stationed every night at my guard post (he has not deserted his post; nothing would get by him or his watchful eye).
v 9…”Now behold, here comes a troop of riders, horsemen in pairs (the army of the Medes and Persians).” And one answered and said, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon” (and this is a double statement to show that it is certain-Rev 14.8; Isa 13.19; 47.5-7, 48.14; Jer 51.8, 50.2, 46), and all the images of her gods are shattered on the ground (Yehovah is showing his power over all idols).”
v 10…O my threshed people, and my afflicted of the threshing floor (Jewish people caught up in all this)! What have I heard from the Lord of hosts (Yehovah Tzavaot or armies), the God of Israel, I make known to you (Yehovah is concerned with their welfare, so take comfort).
Now we have the prophecy concerning Edom in v 11-12.
v 11…The oracle (prophecy, word) concerning Edom (“Dumah” in Hebrew and this is geographically the Saudi Arabian area. In prophecy this will involve the Muslims-Jer 49; Ezek 25.12-14; Amos 1.11; Oba 1-21; Gen 25.14). One keeps calling to me from Seir (Gen 36.8), “Watchman, how far gone is the night (or what time is it, how much time is left in our affliction)?”
v 12…The watchman says, “Morning comes but also night. If you would inquire, inquire, come back again (if a period of rest comes, it will quickly be swallowed up by the night. Judgment came with the Assyrians, then the Babylonians, and then the Persians, then Greeks, Romans and eventually they would disappear into the night. If they really want to know, pray and study and turn to Yehovah, but also ask the watchman whose job it is to know the mind of the Lord).”
Isa 21.13-17 gives us a prophecy about Arabia.
v 13…The oracle about Arabia (about judgment): In the thickets of Arabia you must spend the night (in their tents), O caravans of Dedanites (“their love” and they were nomads).
v 14…Bring water for the thirsty, O inhabitants of the land of Tema, meet the fugitive with bread (to help those who were fleeing from the enemy).
v 15…For they have fled from the swords (of the enemy), from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the press of battle.
v 16…For thus says Yehovah to me, “In a year (from this prophecy), as a hired man would count it (a hired man kept time exactly), all the splendor of Kedar (the second son of Ishmael, meaning “black tents” or Beduins-Gen 25.13. It is a collective term for all the Arabians) will terminate (their freedom, military, wealth and people will be gone):
v 17…And the remainder of the number of bowmen, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, will be few (nothing but a small remnant would be left of Kedar and their bows. Sennacherib was actually called the “king of the Arabians and the Assyrians”-Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Chapter 10.1.4).
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