Isaiah 13:2

“Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, &c.] Or “upon the mountain Nishphah”; some high mountain in Media or Persia, proper to set a standard on, or erect a banner for the gathering men together, to enlist themselves as soldiers, and so form an army to march into the land of Chaldea. Vitringa thinks there may be an allusion to the mountain Zagrius, which divides Media and Persia from Assyria, mentioned by Strabof241. Or “upon a high mountain”; any high mountain fit for such a purpose; or “against the high mountain”, as somef242 read it; meaning Babylon, called a mountain, (<245125>Jeremiah 51:25) not because of its situation, for it was in a plain; but because of its eminence above other…”

“Lift . . . banner-- (Isa 5:26; Isa 11:10). the high mountain--rather, "a bare (literally, "bald," that is, without trees) mountain"; from it the banner could be seen afar off, so as to rally together the peoples against Babylon. unto them--unto the Medes (Isa 13:17), the assailants of Babylon. It is remarkable that Isaiah does not foretell here the Jews' captivity in Babylon, but presupposes that event, and throws himself beyond, predicting another event still more future, the overthrow of the city of Israel's oppressors. It was now one hundred seventy-four years before the event. shake . . . hand--beckon with the hand--wave the hand to direct the nations to march against Babylon.…”

“Lift ye up a banner - A military ensign or standard. The vision opens here; and the first thing which the prophet hears, is the solemn command of God addressed to the nations as subject to him, to rear the standard of war, and to gather around it the mighty armies which were to be employed in the destruction of the city. This command, ‘Lift ye up a banner,’ is addressed to the leaders of those armies to assemble them, and to prepare them for war. Upon the high mountain - It was customary for military leaders to plant a standard on a tower, a fortress, a city, a high mountain, or any elevated spot, in order that it might be seen afar, and be the rallying point for the people to collect…”

“A banner - To gather soldiers together. Mountain - Whence it may be discerned at a considerable distance. Withal he seems to intimate, that their enemies should come from the mountainous country of Media. Them - To the Medes. Shake - Beckon to them with your hand, that they may come to this service, that they may go and fight against Babylon, and take it, and so enter in to the palaces of the king, and his princes. Isaiah 13:3”

“13:2 A signal flag or banner that could be seen clearly from a great distance was often placed on a bare hilltop as a call to battle. • God stands against Babylon as the symbolic representative of all evil kingdoms.”

“Lift ye up: Isa 5:26, Isa 11:12, Isa 18:3; Jer 50:2, Jer 51:27, Jer 51:28 upon the high: Jer 51:25 shake: Isa 10:32, Isa 11:15 go into: Isa 45:1-3; Jer 51:58 Isaiah 13:3”

“The prophet hears a call to war. From whom it issues, and to whom or against whom it is directed, still remains a secret; but this only adds to the intensity."On woodless mountain lift ye up a banner, call to them with loud sounding voice, shake the hand, that they may enter into gates of princes!" The summons is urgent: hence a threefold signal, viz., the banner-staff planted on a mountain "made bald" (nishpeh, from which comes shephi, which only occurs in Isaiah and Jeremiah), the voice raised high, and the shaking of the hand, denoting a violent beckoning - all three being favourite signs with Isaiah. The destination of this army is to enter into a city of princes (nedı̄bı̄m, freemen,…”