Isaiah 13:2-16

Isaiah 13:2-16

[2] 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.  [3] I have commanded  my sanctified ones,  I have also called  my mighty ones  for mine anger,  even them that rejoice  in my highness.  [4] The noise  of a multitude  in the mountains,  like as  of a great  people;  a tumultuous  noise  of the kingdoms  of nations  gathered together:  the LORD  of hosts  mustereth  the host  of the battle.  [5] 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.  [6] Howl  ye; for the day  of the LORD  is at hand;  it shall come  as a destruction  from the Almighty.  [7] Therefore shall all hands  be faint,  and every man's  heart  shall melt:  [8] And they shall be afraid:  pangs  and sorrows  shall take hold  of them; they shall be in pain  as a woman that travaileth:  they shall be amazed  one  at another;  their faces  shall be as flames.  [9] Behold, the day  of the LORD  cometh,  cruel  both with wrath  and fierce  anger,  to lay  the land  desolate:  and he shall destroy  the sinners  [10] For the stars  of heaven  and the constellations  thereof shall not give  their light:  the sun  shall be darkened  in his going forth,  and the moon  shall not cause her light  to shine.  [11] And I will punish  the world  for their evil,  and the wicked  for their iniquity;  and I will cause the arrogancy  of the proud  to cease,  and will lay low  the haughtiness  of the terrible.  [12] more precious  than fine gold;  even a man  than the golden wedge  of Ophir.  [13] Therefore I will shake  the heavens,  and the earth  shall remove  out of her place,  in the wrath  of the LORD  of hosts,  and in the day  of his fierce  anger.  [14] And it shall be as the chased  roe,  and as a sheep  that no man taketh up:  they shall every man  turn  to his own people,  and flee  every one  into his own land.  [15] Every one that is found  shall be thrust through;  and every one that is joined  unto them shall fall  by the sword.  [16] Their children  also shall be dashed to pieces  before their eyes;  their houses  shall be spoiled,  and their wives 

What does Isaiah 13:2-16 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

This section is an introduction to all10 oracles that follow in chapters13-23 , as well as to the first oracle against Babylon. It explains why God will judge Gentile nations: they refuse to acknowledge Yahweh"s sovereignty and instead exalt and glorify themselves. The story of the building of the tower of Babel is the classic expression of this hubris (overweening pride; Genesis 11:1-9).
Isaiah related a message from God, summoning His warriors to assemble, so they could carry out His will in judging those with whom He was angry. Raising a flag on a hilltop and calling warriors to assemble pictures God doing this ( Isaiah 13:2-3; cf. Revelation 9:16). Many warriors from many kingdoms far away would respond to the Lord"s command, and gather together to do battle as His instruments ( Isaiah 13:4-5; cf. Daniel 11:40-45; Revelation 14:14-20; Revelation 16:12-16; Revelation 19:17-19). The day of the Lord, the day in which He will actively intervene in history, would be close by (Heb. qarob). The Hebrew word describes the total preparedness of that day to dawn whenever the Lord decides that its time has come. It does not necessarily mean that the day is imminent. Therefore everyone should wail (or howl; cf. Amos 5:16-17). It would be a day when the Almighty would send destruction ( Isaiah 13:6; cf. Isaiah 13:9; Isaiah 13:13).
"In the Hebrew Bible the title "Almighty" (Heb. "Shaddai") depicts God as the sovereign king and judge of the world who both gives and takes away life." [1]
The prospect of sudden, inevitable, inescapable destruction at the hand of the Almighty would make everyone tremble with fear. They would not know where to turn ( Isaiah 13:7-8; cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:3). The coming judgment would desolate the whole earth and exterminate sinners from it, specifically those who miss the mark of righteousness ( Isaiah 13:9). This judgment would involve the darkening of the sun, moon, and stars (cf. Isaiah 34:4; Revelation 6:15-170; Joel 2:10; Joel 2:30-31; Joel 3:15; Zechariah 14:6-7; Matthew 24:29; Revelation 8:12). Since the pagans worshipped these objects, this announcement signals the judging of them as idols as well ( Isaiah 13:10).
The reason for this wrathful judgment is the evil of wicked people, especially their pride and haughtiness ( Isaiah 13:11). Rather than human pride resulting in increasing good conditions for ever-expanding numbers of people, it will result in the cutting back of the human population ( Isaiah 13:12; cf. Revelation 6:8; Revelation 9:15). The heavens and the earth would shake at the fury of Yahweh of armies when His anger would burn against the wicked ( Isaiah 13:13; cf. Isaiah 24:18; Joel 2:10; Joel 3:16; Haggai 2:6-7; Haggai 2:21-22; Revelation 6:12; Revelation 8:5; Revelation 11:13; Revelation 11:19; Revelation 16:18). People will scatter like frightened gazelles and sheep in that day as they seek security (cf. 1715228988_59). God"s warriors will slay all the wicked that they can find. Children will be unmercifully slaughtered in the sight of their parents. Houses will be looted and women raped ( Isaiah 13:14-16).
"If we don"t have a just God to trust in, we will have no logical reason not to become violent ourselves. It is Isaiah"s vision of God"s final justice that moderates our anger and frustration right now." [1]1