Isaiah 21


Isaiah 21 is the twenty-first chapter of the Book of Isaiah in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet Isaiah, and is one of the Books of the Prophets. This chapter contains prophecies against Babylon, Edom and Arabia.

Text

The original text was written in Hebrew language. This chapter is divided into 17 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Codex Cairensis, the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets, Aleppo Codex, Codex Leningradensis.
Fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls :
  • 1QIsaa: complete
  • 4QIsaa : extant: verses 1‑2, 4‑16
  • 4QIsab : extant: verses 11‑14
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus, Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Alexandrinus and Codex Marchalianus.

Parashot

The parashah sections listed here are based on the Aleppo Codex. Isaiah 21 is a part of the Prophecies about the Nations . : open parashah; : closed parashah.

Proclamation against Babylon (21:1–10)

This part of prophecy or oracle refers clearly to Babylon, although it is not indicated by name, as understood, among others, by Coggins and Rashi.

Verse 1

The Septuagint does not include the words "of the Sea":
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes the sub-heading in this verse as one of "a series of 'enigmatic' headings", along with Isaiah 21:11, 13, and Isaiah 22:1. Rabbi Jonathan is quoted by Rashi to render this verse: "A harsh prophecy concerning the armies that come from the desert, as numerous as the waters of the sea."

Verse 9

Cross reference: ;
  • "Babylon is fallen, is fallen": the event is prophesied in a vision.

Proclamation against Edom (21:11–12)

The Masoretic Text refers to Dumah, whereas the Septuagint refers to Edom, as do the NASB and NLT.

Proclamation against Arabia (21:13–17)

The phrase "the desert plain" may not point to an identifiable place, although the geographical area named is usually considered in Arabia. The oasis city Tema is located south of Elath and east of the Red Sea, known to be a caravan center. The Dedanites and Kedar were Arabian tribes.
It is recorded that Kedar paid tribute in 738 BCE to the Assyrians and in 715 BCE Sargon II battled the tribes between Tema and the Gulf of Aqaba, then in 703 BCE Sennacherib subdued the Arabian tribes joining the rebellion of Merodach-Baladan. Therefore, there is no need to consider a later date for this part of prophecy.
This passage is closely linked to the Book of Jeremiah.

Verse [|13]

Jewish

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Christian

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