Old Testament Commentary - Isaiah 13/2 Nephi 23

by Don R. Hender

The 'familiar' basis of Babylon is used by comparison to the latter-day 'wicked', which is called by the name of Babylon. Just as Babylon of old it the image of the wicked so it is used to represent the wicked in the last days and using that connection the fate of the wicked in the last days is set forth.

Scriptural Text [Isaiah 13] Scriptural Text [2 Nephi 23] Footnotes ~ References ~ JST

                 CHAPTER 13
Destruction of Babylon is a type of destruction at Second Coming—It shall be a day of wrath and vengeance—Babylon (the world) shall fall forever—Compare 2 Nephi 23.
             CHAPTER 23
Destruction of Babylon is a type of destruction at Second Coming—It shall be a day of wrath an vengeance—Babylon (the world) shall fall forever—Compare Isaiah 13. [Between 559 and 545 B.C.]
Babylon in actual physical terms is Modern Iraq. Some of the destruction of the 'wicked world' seems but a type of destroying wickedness, and some seems to be referencing actual temporal events in relationship to 'Babylon'. This is in the Book of Mormon as it is very much a part of the blessing of the covenant of Abraham going forth to the world and the destruction of wickedness within it.

1 ^aTHE ^bburden of ^cBabylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
2 Lift ye up a ^abanner upon the high ^bmountain, ^cexalt the voice unto them,
shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles^a.
2^a shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles The Lord had openned may doors to many nations and diplomacy has been the means by which the General Authorities have gained access to these nations, by a hand shake has access been obtained to noble peoples of the world who are called from the fields of harvest. Though but one perspective, it is a faithful account of the access of the Lord's army, his missionaries into the nations of the world.
1 ^aTHE burden of ^bBabylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
2 Lift ye up a banner upon the high
mountain, exalt the voice unto them, ^ashake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.

High On a Mountain Top High on the mountain top A banner is unfurled. Ye nations, now look up; It waves to all the world. In Deseret's sweet, peaceful land, On Zion's mount behold it stand! ~ Hymn 5 - Joel H. Johnson 1^a Isa. 13:1 (1-22)
   ^b TG Babylon;
1^a 2 Ne. 23:1 (1-22)
   ^b "Burden" as used in Isaiah is a
      message of doom "lifted up"
      against a people.; Isa. 14:28
   ^c The historic destuction of wicked
      Babylon prophesied in Isa. 13
      and 14, is made typical of the
      untimate destruction of the whole
      wicked world.;
      D&C 133:14 (5, 7, 14)
2^a IE wave the hand, give a signal
2^a Or ensign; TG Ensign;
   ^b Isa. 2:2
   ^c HEB raise

3 I have commanded my ^asanctified ones, I have also called my ^bmighty 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 ^akingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the ^bbattle.
5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to ^adestroy the whole land.
3 I have commanded my sanctified
ones, I have also called my ^amighty ones, for mine anger is not upon them that rejoice in my highness.
4 The noise of the multitude in the mountains like as of a great people, a tumultuous noise of the ^akingdoms of nations ^bgathered together, the Lord of Hosts mustereth the hosts of the battle.
5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, yea, the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.

3^a Joel 3:11
3^a "Sanctified ones" and "saints" are synonymously
      translated from either of two Hebrew words
      in the Old Testament
   ^b Joel 3:11
4^a Joel 3:14 (11, 14); Zeph. 3:8;
      Zech. 14:2 (2-3)
   ^b Zech. 12:3 (2-9)
4^a Zeph. 3:8
   ^b TG War
5^a Zech. 12:9 (4, 8-9)

6 ¶ ^aHowl ye; for the ^bday of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall ^amelt:
8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in ^apain as a woman that ^btravaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
6 Howl ye, for the ^aday of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, every man's heart shall ^amelt;
8 And they shall be afraid; pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
6^a TG Day of the Lord
6^a Isa. 14:31
   ^b TG Day of the Lord
7^a Jer. 9:7; D&C 133:41
7^a Moses 7:66
8^a TG Pain
   ^b Hosea 13:13

9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall ^adestroy the sinners thereof out of it.
10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be ^adarkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
11 And I will ^apunish the ^bworld for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the ^chaughtiness of the ^eterrible.
12 I will make a man more ^aprecious than fine gold; even a man than the ^bgolden wedge of Ophir.
9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and he shall ^adestroy the sinners thereof out of it.
10 For the ^astars of heaven and the ^bconstellations thereof shall not give their ^clight; the ^dsun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
11 And I will ^apunish the world for evil, and the ^bwicked for their iniquity; I will cause the arrogancy of the ^cproud to cease, and will lay down the haughtiness of the terrible.
12 I will make a ^aman more precious than fine gold^a; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
12^a I will make a man more precious than fine gold Because of the extent of the wars and destrution, the relative population of the men compared to the women will be such that men will become a rare commodity especially the young men. And several women will ' have to cling unto one man in order to be so ascribed unto the eternal commision and commandment of God.
   9^a TG Earth, Cleansing of
   9^a TG Earth, Cleansing of; TG World, End of
10^a Isa. 24:23; Ezek. 32:7-8; Rev. 6:13 (12-13)
     ^b TG Astronomy
     ^c Joel 3:15
     ^d TG World, End of
10^a Ezek. 32:7-8; Joel 2:10; Matt. 24:29
11^a Isa. 24:6; Mal. 4:1
     ^b Ex. 34:7; Prov. 21:12
     ^c Job 40:11; 2 Ne. 12:12; D&C 64:24
11^a TG Punishment
     ^b TG World
     ^c TG Haughtiness
     ^d HEB tyrants
12^a Isa. 4:1-4
12^a Isa. 24:6; TG Worth of Souls
     ^b Job 28:16

13 Therefore I will ^ashake the heavens, and the ^bearth shall ^cremove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce ^danger.
14 And it shall be as the ^achased roe, and as a sheep that ^bno man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own ^cpeople, and flee every one into his own ^dland.
15 Every one that is found shall be ^athrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword.
13 Therefore, I will ^ashake the heavens, and the earth shall ^bremove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of Hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
14 And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up; and they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own ^aland.
15 Every one that is proud shall be thrust through; yea, and every one that is ^ajoined to the wicked shall fall by the sword.
13^a Hag. 2:6-7; Heb. 12:26
     ^b TG Earth, Renewal of
13^a Hag. 2:6; 2 Ne. 8:6; 3 Ne. 26:3
     ^b Isa. 14:26 (22-26); Isa. 24:1; D&C 88:87-92
     ^c TG Earth, Renewal of
14^a TG Lands of Inheritance
14^a OR hunted deer
     ^b HEB none gathers in
     ^c Jer. 50:16
     ^d TG Lands of Inheritance
15^a Lam. 2:9; Alma 59:6 (5-6)
15^a OR pierced or stabbed

16 Their ^achildren also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their ^bhouses shall be ^cspoiled, and their wives ravished.
17 Behold, I will stir up the ^aMedes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.
18 Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.
16 Their ^achildren, also shall be ^bdashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled and their wives ravished.
17 Behold, I will stir up the ^aMedes against them, which shall not regard silver and gold, nor shall they delight in it.
18 Their bows shall also dash the young men to pieces, and they shall have no ^apity on the fruit of the womb; their eyes shall not spare children.
16^a Job 27:14 (13-15)
     ^b Ps. 137:9 (8-9)
16^a Nahum 3:10
     ^b Zech. 14:2 (1-2)
     ^c OR plundered
17^a Isa. 21:2
17^a Dan. 5:30-31
18^a Lam. 2:2, 17, 21

19 ¶ And ^aBabylon, the glory of kingdoms, the ^bbeauty of the ^cChaldees' excellency, shall be as when God ^doverthrew ^eSodom and Gomorrah.
20 It shall never be ^ainhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.
21 But ^awild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and ^bsatyrs shall dance there.
22 And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate ^ahouses, and ^bdragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged. 19 And ^aBabylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew ^bSodom and Gomorrah.
20 It shall never be ^ainhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.
21 But ^awild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.
22 And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces; and her time is near to come, and her day shall not be prolonged. For I will destroy her speedily; yea, for I will be merciful unto my people, but the wicked shall perish^a.
22^a I will be merciful unto my people but the wicked shall perish This is the 'bottomline' or the central theme of the message, that the Lord will destory the wicked who is named by the name of Babylon; while at the same time the Lord will be merciful and preserve his people, the righteous of the Lord. Both shall be in the world together, but they will be distinguished one from the other even as the members of the church are among all nations but are distinguished by the name which they take upon themselves which is the name of Jesus Christ.
19^a Isa. 14:15 (4-27)
     ^b Gen. 19:24-25; Deut. 29:23; Jer. 49:18;
       2 Ne. 13:9
19^a TG Babylon
     ^b HEB vain glorious grandeur of the Babylonians
     ^c Isa. 23:13
     ^d Jer. 20:16; Amos. 4:11
     ^e Gen. 19:24; Jer. 50:40
20^a Jer. 50:39; Jer. 51:29, 62
20^a Jer. 50:3
21^a Isa. 34:14 (11-15)
21^a Isa. 34:14 (11-15)
     ^b HEB he-goats, or demons
22^a HEB palaces
     ^b HEB (perhaps) jackals, or wild dogs

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Scriptural Text [Isaiah 13]	Scriptural Text [2 Nephi 23]	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 13 Destruction of Babylon is a type of destruction at Second Coming—It shall be a day of wrath and vengeance—Babylon (the world) shall fall forever—Compare 2 Nephi 23.	CHAPTER 23 Destruction of Babylon is a type of destruction at Second Coming—It shall be a day of wrath an vengeance—Babylon (the world) shall fall forever—Compare Isaiah 13. [Between 559 and 545 B.C.]	Babylon in actual physical terms is Modern Iraq. Some of the destruction of the 'wicked world' seems but a type of destroying wickedness, and some seems to be referencing actual temporal events in relationship to 'Babylon'. This is in the Book of Mormon as it is very much a part of the blessing of the covenant of Abraham going forth to the world and the destruction of wickedness within it.
1 ^aTHE ^bburden of ^cBabylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see. 2 Lift ye up a ^abanner upon the high ^bmountain, ^cexalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles^a. 2^a shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles The Lord had openned may doors to many nations and diplomacy has been the means by which the General Authorities have gained access to these nations, by a hand shake has access been obtained to noble peoples of the world who are called from the fields of harvest. Though but one perspective, it is a faithful account of the access of the Lord's army, his missionaries into the nations of the world.	1 ^aTHE burden of ^bBabylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see. 2 Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, ^ashake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles. High On a Mountain Top High on the mountain top A banner is unfurled. Ye nations, now look up; It waves to all the world. In Deseret's sweet, peaceful land, On Zion's mount behold it stand! ~ Hymn 5 - Joel H. Johnson	1^a Isa. 13:1 (1-22) ^b TG Babylon; 1^a 2 Ne. 23:1 (1-22) ^b "Burden" as used in Isaiah is a message of doom "lifted up" against a people.; Isa. 14:28 ^c The historic destuction of wicked Babylon prophesied in Isa. 13 and 14, is made typical of the untimate destruction of the whole wicked world.; D&C 133:14 (5, 7, 14) 2^a IE wave the hand, give a signal 2^a Or ensign; TG Ensign; ^b Isa. 2:2 ^c HEB raise
3 I have commanded my ^asanctified ones, I have also called my ^bmighty 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 ^akingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the ^bbattle. 5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to ^adestroy the whole land.	3 I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my ^amighty ones, for mine anger is not upon them that rejoice in my highness. 4 The noise of the multitude in the mountains like as of a great people, a tumultuous noise of the ^akingdoms of nations ^bgathered together, the Lord of Hosts mustereth the hosts of the battle. 5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, yea, the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.	3^a Joel 3:11 3^a "Sanctified ones" and "saints" are synonymously translated from either of two Hebrew words in the Old Testament ^b Joel 3:11 4^a Joel 3:14 (11, 14); Zeph. 3:8; Zech. 14:2 (2-3) ^b Zech. 12:3 (2-9) 4^a Zeph. 3:8 ^b TG War 5^a Zech. 12:9 (4, 8-9)
6 ¶ ^aHowl ye; for the ^bday of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall ^amelt: 8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in ^apain as a woman that ^btravaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.	6 Howl ye, for the ^aday of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, every man's heart shall ^amelt; 8 And they shall be afraid; pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.	6^a TG Day of the Lord 6^a Isa. 14:31 ^b TG Day of the Lord 7^a Jer. 9:7; D&C 133:41 7^a Moses 7:66 8^a TG Pain ^b Hosea 13:13
9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall ^adestroy the sinners thereof out of it. 10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be ^adarkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. 11 And I will ^apunish the ^bworld for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the ^chaughtiness of the ^eterrible. 12 I will make a man more ^aprecious than fine gold; even a man than the ^bgolden wedge of Ophir.	9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and he shall ^adestroy the sinners thereof out of it. 10 For the ^astars of heaven and the ^bconstellations thereof shall not give their ^clight; the ^dsun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. 11 And I will ^apunish the world for evil, and the ^bwicked for their iniquity; I will cause the arrogancy of the ^cproud to cease, and will lay down the haughtiness of the terrible. 12 I will make a ^aman more precious than fine gold^a; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. 12^a I will make a man more precious than fine gold Because of the extent of the wars and destrution, the relative population of the men compared to the women will be such that men will become a rare commodity especially the young men. And several women will ' have to cling unto one man in order to be so ascribed unto the eternal commision and commandment of God.	9^a TG Earth, Cleansing of 9^a TG Earth, Cleansing of; TG World, End of 10^a Isa. 24:23; Ezek. 32:7-8; Rev. 6:13 (12-13) ^b TG Astronomy ^c Joel 3:15 ^d TG World, End of 10^a Ezek. 32:7-8; Joel 2:10; Matt. 24:29 11^a Isa. 24:6; Mal. 4:1 ^b Ex. 34:7; Prov. 21:12 ^c Job 40:11; 2 Ne. 12:12; D&C 64:24 11^a TG Punishment ^b TG World ^c TG Haughtiness ^d HEB tyrants 12^a Isa. 4:1-4 12^a Isa. 24:6; TG Worth of Souls ^b Job 28:16
13 Therefore I will ^ashake the heavens, and the ^bearth shall ^cremove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce ^danger. 14 And it shall be as the ^achased roe, and as a sheep that ^bno man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own ^cpeople, and flee every one into his own ^dland. 15 Every one that is found shall be ^athrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword.	13 Therefore, I will ^ashake the heavens, and the earth shall ^bremove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of Hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger. 14 And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up; and they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own ^aland. 15 Every one that is proud shall be thrust through; yea, and every one that is ^ajoined to the wicked shall fall by the sword.	13^a Hag. 2:6-7; Heb. 12:26 ^b TG Earth, Renewal of 13^a Hag. 2:6; 2 Ne. 8:6; 3 Ne. 26:3 ^b Isa. 14:26 (22-26); Isa. 24:1; D&C 88:87-92 ^c TG Earth, Renewal of 14^a TG Lands of Inheritance 14^a OR hunted deer ^b HEB none gathers in ^c Jer. 50:16 ^d TG Lands of Inheritance 15^a Lam. 2:9; Alma 59:6 (5-6) 15^a OR pierced or stabbed
16 Their ^achildren also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their ^bhouses shall be ^cspoiled, and their wives ravished. 17 Behold, I will stir up the ^aMedes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it. 18 Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.	16 Their ^achildren, also shall be ^bdashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled and their wives ravished. 17 Behold, I will stir up the ^aMedes against them, which shall not regard silver and gold, nor shall they delight in it. 18 Their bows shall also dash the young men to pieces, and they shall have no ^apity on the fruit of the womb; their eyes shall not spare children.	16^a Job 27:14 (13-15) ^b Ps. 137:9 (8-9) 16^a Nahum 3:10 ^b Zech. 14:2 (1-2) ^c OR plundered 17^a Isa. 21:2 17^a Dan. 5:30-31 18^a Lam. 2:2, 17, 21
19 ¶ And ^aBabylon, the glory of kingdoms, the ^bbeauty of the ^cChaldees' excellency, shall be as when God ^doverthrew ^eSodom and Gomorrah. 20 It shall never be ^ainhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. 21 But ^awild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and ^bsatyrs shall dance there. 22 And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate ^ahouses, and ^bdragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.	19 And ^aBabylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew ^bSodom and Gomorrah. 20 It shall never be ^ainhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. 21 But ^awild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there. 22 And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces; and her time is near to come, and her day shall not be prolonged. For I will destroy her speedily; yea, for I will be merciful unto my people, but the wicked shall perish^a. 22^a I will be merciful unto my people but the wicked shall perish This is the 'bottomline' or the central theme of the message, that the Lord will destory the wicked who is named by the name of Babylon; while at the same time the Lord will be merciful and preserve his people, the righteous of the Lord. Both shall be in the world together, but they will be distinguished one from the other even as the members of the church are among all nations but are distinguished by the name which they take upon themselves which is the name of Jesus Christ.	19^a Isa. 14:15 (4-27) ^b Gen. 19:24-25; Deut. 29:23; Jer. 49:18; 2 Ne. 13:9 19^a TG Babylon ^b HEB vain glorious grandeur of the Babylonians ^c Isa. 23:13 ^d Jer. 20:16; Amos. 4:11 ^e Gen. 19:24; Jer. 50:40 20^a Jer. 50:39; Jer. 51:29, 62 20^a Jer. 50:3 21^a Isa. 34:14 (11-15) 21^a Isa. 34:14 (11-15) ^b HEB he-goats, or demons 22^a HEB palaces ^b HEB (perhaps) jackals, or wild dogs