The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land.
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Isaiah 21
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A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.
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Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it.
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My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.
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Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.
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For thus hath the LORD said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.
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And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed:
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And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:
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And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.
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O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.
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The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
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The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.
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The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.
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The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.
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For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
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For thus hath the LORD said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:
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And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken it.
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Isaiah 21 Study & Commentary
Isaiah 21 - The Burden of the Desert: A series of grim visions regarding Babylon (the Desert of the Sea), Dumah (Edom), and Arabia. The watchman cries out that "Babylon is fallen," and the prophet expresses profound physical and emotional distress at the weight of the vision.
THEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
1. The Watchman’s Duty: The prophetic office as a sentinel who must report exactly what he sees, regardless of the darkness (v. 6-11).2. The Fall of Babylon: A prophetic certainty that foreshadows the final fall of all systems of rebellion against God.
3. Historical Sovereignty: God judges the specific regional powers (Edom/Arabia) based on their treatment of His people.
PRACTICAL LESSONS
1. Readiness: The question "Watchman, what of the night?" (v. 11) calls for spiritual alertness in dark times.2. The Weight of Ministry: True intercession often involves "pangs" and "trembling" over the judgment of others.
