10 For the stars of the heavens and their constellations
will not give their light;
the sun will be dark at its rising,
and the moon will not shed its light.
11 I will punish the world for its evil,
and the wicked for their iniquity;
I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant,
and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.
Comment: Chapter 13 and part of ch 14 of Isaiah are an oracle against Babylon. The ruins of Babylon are about 70km from Bagdad but are an archeological dig site! It is no more as an inhabited city; it is a city of the past! But after its capture by Cyrus in October 539BC it was removed as a world power. It fumbled along for some hundreds of years. There is no record of sun and moon events when Cyrus conquered the city. Was this just a dramatic terminology for the historical bloody ‘battle of Opis’ before Cyrus entered the city as described in the book of Daniel Ch 5? Or does it refer to the future Revelation prophecy where the now (as of now and for centuries past) defunct ‘Babylon’ is used to describe the centre of world evil. Which evil will be punished and with which dramatic heavenly signs are to be associated? (Rev. chs 14-18.) That is, is the oracle double-barreled – with one barrel for the past and one for prophetic future events?
17 Behold, I am stirring up the Medes against them,
who have no regard for silver
and do not delight in gold. Comment:The Babylonian empire was historically overthrown by Cyrus, the Mede, and his army. Apparently there was a big battle outside Babylon and the Medes were by smart engineering and possibly with the help of traitors inside the city peacefully welcomed to take over the city. Does the man on the hill (yesterday’s passage) directing the Medes into the city represent inside traitors? Was the battle fought before they entered the city? There are many examples of armies being followed by wives and families, allowing the bloodbath described previously and here repeated, to have occurred before the takeover ceremony? Travel wasn’t rapid in those days with large planes or trucks carrying soldiers! So did the events described in the following verses occur in a nearby battle?
18 Their bows will slaughter the young men;
they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb;
their eyes will not pity children.
19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms,
the splendor and pomp of the Chaldeans,
will be like Sodom and Gomorrah
when God overthrew them.
20 It will never be inhabited
or lived in for all generations;
no Arab will pitch his tent there;
no shepherds will make their flocks lie down there.
21 But wild animals will lie down there,
and their houses will be full of howling creatures;
there ostriches will dwell,
and there wild goats will dance.
22 Hyenas will cry in its towers,
and jackals in the pleasant palaces;
its time is close at hand
and its days will not be prolonged. Comment: This is an apt description of Babylon today!
Jeremiah 29: 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Prayer: Thank You that whether or not this oracle refers to the future, You have a plan for the world’s future and mine.
As I read it! 