The following commentary covers Chapters 13 and 14.
Judgment
of the Gentiles, the whole world, and Israel's full
blessing
With chapter 12 one
division of the whole book closes. That which commences
with chapter 13 continues to the end of chapter 27, which
describes the same millennial condition, but in a more
extended sphere, because the world—of which these
latter chapters speak—is brought in; while chapters
5-12 were in especial connection with Israel.
Present gap of
time from Messiah's rejection
The chapters we are now
considering connect events that were then at hand with
the end of the age. It is only by thoroughly apprehending
this that we can understand them. The reason of this is
simple: the nations are looked at in reference to Israel.
But time is not reckoned, with respect to Israel, from
the Babylonish captivity until the last days The
introduction of the Messiah as a stone of stumbling, with
which the special epoch of seventy weeks is noticed in
Daniel, has been already considered. But this passage in
the prophet of the times of the Gentiles shews only more
distinctly that time is not reckoned afterwards to the
close. Seventy weeks go to the full restoration of
Israel. The immense gap, which has now lasted more than
1800 years, is in no way taken into account. [1]
The destruction of
Babylon and Assyria in the last days
In the eyes of the
prophet, Babylon, or more correctly its head, besides the
idolatrous corruption, represents the imperial throne of
the world in contrast with the throne of God at
Jerusalem. [2]
Babylon will be overthrown, and God will again bless
Israel. This will be the judgment of this present
age—of the world. It is represented here in that
destruction of Babylon which was at hand. But this
judgment will not be completed until, the times of the
Gentiles being ended, Israel shall be delivered. The
character of the king of Babylon is described here in
very remarkable language (chap. 14: 12, 13). It is the
spirit of Babylon, and still more especially in its last
representative at the close, to which this prophecy in
its full accomplishment refers. It was so even in
Nebuchadnezzar himself—nay, even when they built the
tower of Babel. The destruction of the Assyrian then
takes place in the earth; [3] and, although the house of David had had
its sceptre broken, Philistia shall be judged and
subdued, and Jehovah will found Zion, and the poor of His
people will trust in Him. This destruction of Babylon,
and of the Assyrian after Babylon, necessary to the
understanding of the whole scene, is a kind of scene
apart, complete in chapters 13, 14.
But in Israel's territory,
or in connection with this people, some nations still
remain; and God must dispose of these in order that
Israel may enjoy the full blessing and the result of the
promises. Babylon, being an immense system, which takes
the place of the throne of David, is seen as a whole. The
nations, whose judgments are here related (although there
is allusion to events nearer the time of the prophecy),
are looked at as in the last days, when God resumes His
throne of judgment in order to re-establish His people.
Thus Nebuchadnezzar had taken Tyre and subdued Egypt. The
Assyrian had overthrown Damascus and led Ephraim captive.
And these were events comparatively near at hand. But, as
a whole, the events spoken of here are owned in the last
days. Even in the preceding chapter the destruction of
the Assyrian is placed after the fall of the king of
Babylon. Yet historically the Assyrian had been subdued
by Babylon; and the overthrow of Sennacherib had taken
place many years before that epoch. But prophecy always
looks to the accomplishment of God's purposes. Here there
are generally no details with respect to the instruments
employed by God. They are found elsewhere.
[1] The seventy weeks, or 490 years,
include the great gap which has already lasted more than
1800 years—these coming in between the end of the
483rd and the end of the 490th—only that Christians
know that half the 70th week was really fulfilled in
Christ's ministry; therefore we get a half week in Daniel
7 and in the Revelation.
[2] Besides the fact
of the captivity of God's people, Babylon has a very
important position with respect to God's dealings. Until
Nebuchadnezzar received power, the government of God,
while centred in Israel (with respect to whom He had set
the bounds of the peoples), took cognizance of the
nations as dispersed at Babel. He allowed them indeed to
follow their own ways; but before Him every nation had an
individual existence. The throne once taken from
Jerusalem, from whence God governed the world with a view
to His chosen people, the world is given up to the
dominion of a single throne, which stands therefore
before God as holding the sceptre of it. Three other
powers followed in succession, the last of which was in
existence when Christ came, but the tune of its judgment
was not yet come. These four empires form the times of
the Gentiles. God will resume His government, and again
judge the nations in view of Israel; and Babylon, or the
one universal empire, will be set aside in its rebel and
apostate condition. But, while it lasts, the empire has
its own peculiar and absolute position before God.
Jerusalem, punished for its idolatry by the Babylonish
captivity (subjection to idols) and the transfer of the
throne from Jerusalem to the Gentiles, is so far owned in
the remnant under the Gentiles that God in the prophetic
books takes account of it, though not as then His people,
till the second grand sin was perpetrated, the rejection
of Christ But this even was in the prophet when they were
in captivity. Still they were partially preserved to
present Christ the Lord to them, after that set aside
till sovereign grace comes on them in the last week, for
faith the latter half. Time begins to count again when
that is come.
[3] A proof that the prophecy relates
to the last days, for of old the Assyrian fell before
Babylon, being conquered by it. It is to be remarked that
the Assyrian, not the beast nor Antichrist, is the
subject of this prophecy. Under the Assyrian Judah was
not "Lo-ammi," nor is he in this prophecy. In
Babylon Judah was captive, and "Lo-ammi"
written on the people. Hence we must not look for the
beast. The Assyrian is the main enemy here.
Isaiah 13 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
Judgment of the Gentiles, the whole world, and Israel's full blessing
With chapter 12 one division of the whole book closes. That which commences with chapter 13 continues to the end of chapter 27, which describes the same millennial condition, but in a more extended sphere, because the world—of which these latter chapters speak—is brought in; while chapters 5-12 were in especial connection with Israel.
Present gap of time from Messiah's rejection
The chapters we are now considering connect events that were then at hand with the end of the age. It is only by thoroughly apprehending this that we can understand them. The reason of this is simple: the nations are looked at in reference to Israel. But time is not reckoned, with respect to Israel, from the Babylonish captivity until the last days The introduction of the Messiah as a stone of stumbling, with which the special epoch of seventy weeks is noticed in Daniel, has been already considered. But this passage in the prophet of the times of the Gentiles shews only more distinctly that time is not reckoned afterwards to the close. Seventy weeks go to the full restoration of Israel. The immense gap, which has now lasted more than 1800 years, is in no way taken into account. [1]
The destruction of Babylon and Assyria in the last days
In the eyes of the prophet, Babylon, or more correctly its head, besides the idolatrous corruption, represents the imperial throne of the world in contrast with the throne of God at Jerusalem. [2] Babylon will be overthrown, and God will again bless Israel. This will be the judgment of this present age—of the world. It is represented here in that destruction of Babylon which was at hand. But this judgment will not be completed until, the times of the Gentiles being ended, Israel shall be delivered. The character of the king of Babylon is described here in very remarkable language (chap. 14: 12, 13). It is the spirit of Babylon, and still more especially in its last representative at the close, to which this prophecy in its full accomplishment refers. It was so even in Nebuchadnezzar himself—nay, even when they built the tower of Babel. The destruction of the Assyrian then takes place in the earth; [3] and, although the house of David had had its sceptre broken, Philistia shall be judged and subdued, and Jehovah will found Zion, and the poor of His people will trust in Him. This destruction of Babylon, and of the Assyrian after Babylon, necessary to the understanding of the whole scene, is a kind of scene apart, complete in chapters 13, 14.
But in Israel's territory, or in connection with this people, some nations still remain; and God must dispose of these in order that Israel may enjoy the full blessing and the result of the promises. Babylon, being an immense system, which takes the place of the throne of David, is seen as a whole. The nations, whose judgments are here related (although there is allusion to events nearer the time of the prophecy), are looked at as in the last days, when God resumes His throne of judgment in order to re-establish His people. Thus Nebuchadnezzar had taken Tyre and subdued Egypt. The Assyrian had overthrown Damascus and led Ephraim captive. And these were events comparatively near at hand. But, as a whole, the events spoken of here are owned in the last days. Even in the preceding chapter the destruction of the Assyrian is placed after the fall of the king of Babylon. Yet historically the Assyrian had been subdued by Babylon; and the overthrow of Sennacherib had taken place many years before that epoch. But prophecy always looks to the accomplishment of God's purposes. Here there are generally no details with respect to the instruments employed by God. They are found elsewhere.
[1] The seventy weeks, or 490 years, include the great gap which has already lasted more than 1800 years—these coming in between the end of the 483rd and the end of the 490th—only that Christians know that half the 70th week was really fulfilled in Christ's ministry; therefore we get a half week in Daniel 7 and in the Revelation.
[2] Besides the fact of the captivity of God's people, Babylon has a very important position with respect to God's dealings. Until Nebuchadnezzar received power, the government of God, while centred in Israel (with respect to whom He had set the bounds of the peoples), took cognizance of the nations as dispersed at Babel. He allowed them indeed to follow their own ways; but before Him every nation had an individual existence. The throne once taken from Jerusalem, from whence God governed the world with a view to His chosen people, the world is given up to the dominion of a single throne, which stands therefore before God as holding the sceptre of it. Three other powers followed in succession, the last of which was in existence when Christ came, but the tune of its judgment was not yet come. These four empires form the times of the Gentiles. God will resume His government, and again judge the nations in view of Israel; and Babylon, or the one universal empire, will be set aside in its rebel and apostate condition. But, while it lasts, the empire has its own peculiar and absolute position before God. Jerusalem, punished for its idolatry by the Babylonish captivity (subjection to idols) and the transfer of the throne from Jerusalem to the Gentiles, is so far owned in the remnant under the Gentiles that God in the prophetic books takes account of it, though not as then His people, till the second grand sin was perpetrated, the rejection of Christ But this even was in the prophet when they were in captivity. Still they were partially preserved to present Christ the Lord to them, after that set aside till sovereign grace comes on them in the last week, for faith the latter half. Time begins to count again when that is come.
[3] A proof that the prophecy relates to the last days, for of old the Assyrian fell before Babylon, being conquered by it. It is to be remarked that the Assyrian, not the beast nor Antichrist, is the subject of this prophecy. Under the Assyrian Judah was not "Lo-ammi," nor is he in this prophecy. In Babylon Judah was captive, and "Lo-ammi" written on the people. Hence we must not look for the beast. The Assyrian is the main enemy here.