The Destruction of Babylon
The attackers are told to go up against Merathaim and Pekod, utterly destroying as the LORD commanded. Battle noise fills the land, and Babylon the hammer of the whole earth is broken. The LORD Himself laid the trap Babylon did not perceive, has opened His armory, and calls the invaders to come from the farthest regions, open her granaries, heap her up like sheaves, and slaughter her young bulls in the day of reckoning. Refugees and fugitives then carry the news to Zion that the LORD is avenging His temple.
G21o up against the land of Merathaim, 22“The noise of battle is in the land — 23How the hammer of the whole earth 24I laid a snare for you, O Babylon, 25The LORD has opened His armory 26Come against her 27Kill all her young bulls; 28Listen to the fugitives and refugees
Archers are summoned from all around to encamp against Babylon and leave no escape, paying her back exactly for her work because she acted arrogantly against the Holy One of Israel. Her young men fall in the streets, her warriors are silenced, and the LORD declares Himself against the arrogant one. Babylon's pride stumbles, falls, and burns with no one to quench it.
29Summon the archers against Babylon, 30Therefore, her young men will fall in the streets, 31“Behold, I am against you, O arrogant one,” 32The arrogant one will stumble and fall
The oppressed children of Israel and Judah are held fast in exile, but their Redeemer is strong and will vigorously plead their case so that the land finds rest and Babylon's inhabitants are thrown into turmoil. Then a cascading series of sword-judgments falls on Chaldeans, officials, wise men, false prophets, warriors, horses, chariots, foreigners, treasures, and waters, because the land is filled with idols. Babylon becomes a habitation of desert creatures and owls, uninhabited like Sodom and Gomorrah after their overthrow.
33This is what the LORD of Hosts says: 34Their Redeemer is strong; 35A sword is against the Chaldeans, 36A sword is against her false prophets, 37A sword is against her horses and chariots 38A drought is upon her waters, 39So the desert creatures and hyenas will live there 40As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah
A great people and many kings come from the north armed with bow and spear, cruel and unmerciful, sounding like the sea. The king of Babylon hears the report and collapses in labor-like anguish. The invader is compared first to a lion rising from the Jordan thickets and then to an eagle swooping down, while the LORD urges hearers to attend to His settled plan against Babylon: even the least will drag her away, her capture will shake the earth, and the cry of her fall will be heard among the nations.
41Behold, an army is coming from the north; 42They grasp the bow and spear; 43The king of Babylon has heard the report, 44Behold, one will come up like a lion 45Therefore hear the plans 46At the sound of Babylon’s capture the earth will quake;