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Isa_21:1 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.
Ver. 1. The burden of the desert of the sea,] i.e., Of Babylon, {Isa_21:9} which is here called a sea, because situated by many waters, {Jer_51:13; Jer_51:36} and the desert or plain of the sea, because it stood in a plain, {Gen_11:2} or was to be turned into a desert. See Isa_13:1-22; Isa_14:1-32 Jer_51:1-64. It is so often prophesied against; (1.) For the comfort of God’s people, who were to suffer hard and heavy things from this city; (2.) For a caution to them not to trust in such a tottering state. A Lapide saith, that about the time of this prophecy, Hezekiah was making a league and amity with Merodach, king of Babylon, to whose ambassadors he had showed all his treasures, and was well shent for it. {2Ki_20:12} To take him off which design, the ruin of Babylon is here before prophesied.
As whirlwinds in the south {a} pass through.] Patentibus campis, ac locis arenosis, vehementissimo impetu cuncta prosternentes, without stop or stay, bearing down all before them, covering whole armies with sand sometimes, and destroying theirs.
So it cometh.] Or, So he cometh, that is, Cyrus with his armies; Vastator Babyloniae, he cometh fiercely and furiously.
From the wilderness.] From Persia, which is desert in many places, especially toward Babylon.
From a terrible land.] From Media, the people whereof were barbarous and brutish, skilful to destroy. Nitocris, queen of Babylon, feared a hostile irruption from this land, did her utmost to prevent it, but that would not be. {b}
{a} Pliny saith the greatest tempests at sea come from the South.
{b} Herodot.