The title of this oracle by Isaiah is mysterious in nature and really sets the tone for the oracle as a whole. It concerns a dire vision of an invader who would come like whirlwinds (vv. 1-2). This vision was so dreadful in its aspect that Isaiah was physically affected by it (vv. 3-4). It’s not until almost at the end in verse 9, that we discover as Isaiah himself apparently did at that point, that it concerns the fall of Babylon. The title introduces an atmosphere of mystery and dread which is maintained until the climax is reached. It’s Isaiah’s experience as well as his message which is being communicated to us here.

But why is there another oracle against Babylon at this point? The answer lies in the fact that, as the eighth century drew to a close, Judah’s attention began to swing away from Egypt and towards Babylon as a prospective ally against Assyria. But Isaiah sees in this vision that Babylon, like Egypt, is doomed and so, by implication, are those who align themselves with her. Hence the warning note on which the oracle ends (v. 10).There is no comfort for Judah in this oracle; only a premonition of her own eventual demise. Babylon was the only nation which seemed capable of offering effective resistance to Assyria at the eighth century B.C., and by looking to Babylon, Judah, potentially at least made Babylon’s fate her own fate.

Babylon was in more or less continuous rebellion against Assyria from 721 to 689 B.C. when it was decisively crushed by Sennasherib. He treated the city and its people with great ferocity, and destroyed the temple of Marduk (the national god) and carried his image away to Assyria. But Isaiah’s dire vision reaches beyond this. Babylon was to rise again and its fate would not be sealed finally until its fall to a coalition of Medes and Persians under Cyrus the Great in 539 B.C. It’s this more distant, final fall of Babylon which appears to be alluded to in verse 2a with its reference to Elam (or Persia) and Media as Babylon’s destroyers, and in verse 5a where the princes of Babylon eat and drink, unaware that the enemy is at the gate. However that may be, the general message of the vision is clear: Babylon is doomed. Judah would be foolish in the extreme to link her own fortunes to those of Babylon, no matter how attractive this course of action may appear in the short term.

The lookout of verses 6-9 appears to be a visionary figure rather than the prophet himself, since it is Isaiah who appoints him at the Lord’s command (v. 6). He is part of the total visionary experience Isaiah has and which he communicates, in turn, to his contemporaries in Judah (v. 10).

Isaiah 21:1-10 Reflection Questions:

Why do you think Judah is still considering an alliance with Babylon?

What are the similarities with verse 9 and Revelation 14:8?

Reflect on how often you turn to the world for answers verses turning and waiting for God to answer.