Isaiah 13:4

Listen to the noise on the mountains, which is the noise of a huge army marching! It is the noise made by people of many people-groups shouting. The Commander of the armies of angels has summoned this army to gather together.

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

3Yahweh says, “I have commanded those soldiers to do that; I have summoned the warriors whom I have chosen to punish the people of Babylon because of my being very angry with them, and those soldiers will be very proud when they do that.”

5They come from countries that are far away, from the most remote places [IDM] on the earth. They are like [SIM] weapons that Yahweh will use to punish the people with whom he is very angry, and to destroy the entire country of Babylonia.

Read all of Isaiah 13

Cross References

Isaiah 10:5Yahweh says, “Terrible things will happen to Assyria. It is true that their army is like a rod/club [DOU] with which I punish other nations because I am very angry with those nations [DOU].

Isaiah 45:1Cyrus is the one whom Yahweh has appointed to be the emperor of Persia and to whom he will give great power [IDM]; Yahweh will enable him to defeat other nations and to take away the power of their kings. He will cause gates of cities to be opened, and no one will ever be able to shut them.

Jeremiah 50:2This is what Yahweh says: “Proclaim [DOU] a message among the nations; do not withhold any of it; raise up a signal flag to announce that Babylon will be captured. Its chief god Marduk, whose other name is Bel, will be completely disgraced, and all the other statues and idols will be shattered.

Jeremiah 50:21“ So, I, Yahweh, say to the enemies of Babylonia,‘Attack the people who live in the Merathaim region and the people in the Pekod region of Babylonia. Pursue them, kill them, and completely get rid of them, as I have commanded you to do.

Jeremiah 51:27Tell the nations to lift up a battle flag! Tell them to shout the battle-cry! Gather all their armies to fight against Babylon! Prepare the nations to attack Babylon. Summon the armies of the kingdoms north of Babylonia—from Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a commander for them, and bring a great number of horses; there must be a huge number of horses; that huge number will resemble [SIM] a swarm of locusts.

Joel 2:1Blow trumpets on Zion Hill, God’s sacred hill in Jerusalem! Tell the people of Judah that they should tremble, because it will soon be the time for Yahweh to punish us further.

Matthew Henry on Isaiah 13:2-6

The Doom of Babylon. ( b. c. 739.) 1 The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see. 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… Read the whole commentary →

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