Yesaya 13:1

The Lord Will Judge Babylon

13:1 ¹ This is a message about Babylon that God revealed to Isaiah son of Amoz: ² 

Yesaya 47:1

Babylon Will Fall

47:1 “Fall down! Sit in the dirt,

O virgin ³  daughter Babylon!

Sit on the ground, not on a throne,

O daughter of the Babylonians!

Indeed, ⁴  you will no longer be called delicate and pampered.

Yesaya 47:5

47:5 “Sit silently! Go to a hiding place, ⁵ 

O daughter of the Babylonians!

Indeed, ⁶  you will no longer be called ‘Queen of kingdoms.’

Yesaya 14:8

14:8 The evergreens also rejoice over your demise, ⁷ 

as do the cedars of Lebanon, singing, ⁸ 

‘Since you fell asleep, ⁹ 

no woodsman comes up to chop us down!’ ¹⁰ 

[13:1]  ¹ sn Isa 13-23 contains a series of judgment oracles against various nations. It is likely that Israel, not the nations mentioned, actually heard these oracles. The oracles probably had a twofold purpose. For those leaders who insisted on getting embroiled in international politics, these oracles were a reminder that Judah need not fear foreign nations or seek international alliances for security reasons. For the righteous remnant within the nation, these oracles were a reminder that Israel’s God was indeed the sovereign ruler of the earth, worthy of his people’s trust.

[13:1]  ² tn Heb “The message [traditionally, “burden”] [about] Babylon which Isaiah son of Amoz saw.”

[47:1]  ³ tn בְּתוּלַה (bÿtulah) often refers to a virgin, but the phrase “virgin daughter” is apparently stylized (see also 23:12; 37:22). In the extended metaphor of this chapter, where Babylon is personified as a queen (vv. 5, 7), she is depicted as being both a wife and mother (vv. 8-9).

[47:1]  ⁴ tn Or “For” (NASB, NRSV).

[47:5]  ⁵ tn Heb “darkness,” which may indicate a place of hiding where a fugitive would seek shelter and protection.

[47:5]  ⁶ tn Or “For” (NASB, NRSV).

[14:8]  ⁷ tn Heb “concerning you.”

[14:8]  ⁸ tn The word “singing” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. Note that the personified trees speak in the second half of the verse.

[14:8]  ⁹ tn Heb “lay down” (in death); cf. NAB “laid to rest.”

[14:8]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “the [wood]cutter does not come up against us.”