Isaiah 13:4

“The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people, &c.] That is, like the noise of a very numerous people; this noise was heard either on the mountains of Media, where they flocked in vast numbers to the standard set; or on the mountains upon the borders of Chaldea, when the army under Cyrus was marching towards Babylon: a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together; for Cyrus’s army consisted of several kingdoms and nations; for besides the thirty thousand Persians he brought with him into Media, where he was made general of the Medes also, and was sent with the joint forces of both nations against Babylon, the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz,…”

“the mountains--namely, which separate Media and Assyria, and on one of which the banner to rally the hosts is supposed to be reared. tumultuous noise--The Babylonians are vividly depicted as hearing some unwonted sound like the din of a host; they try to distinguish the sounds, but can only perceive a tumultuous noise. nations--Medes, Persians, and Armenians composed Cyrus' army.”

“The noise of a multitude in the mountains - The prophet here represents himself as hearing the confused tumult of the nations assembling to the standard reared on the mountains Isaiah 13:2. This is a highly beautiful figure - a graphic and vivid representation of the scene before him. Nations are seen to hasten to the elevated banner, and to engage in active preparations for the mighty war. The sound is that of a tumult, an excited multitude hastening to the encampment, and preparing for the conquest of Babylon. Like as of a great people - Hebrew, ‘The likeness of a great people.’ That is, such a confused and tumultuous sound as attends a great multitude when they collect together. A…”

“Nations - The Medes and Persians and other nations, which served under them in this war. Isaiah 13:5”

“noise: Isa 22:1-9; Jer 50:2, Jer 50:3, 21-46, Jer 51:11, Jer 51:27, Jer 51:28; Ezek. 38:3-23; Joe 3:14; Zac 14:1-3, Zac 14:13, Zac 14:14; Rev 19:11-21 like as: Heb. the likeness of, Joe 2:4-11; Rev 9:7-19 the Lord: Isa 10:5, Isa 10:6, Isa 45:1, Isa 45:2; Jer 50:14, Jer 50:15, 51:6-25; Joe 2:1-11, Joe 2:25; Rev 18:8 Isaiah 13:5”

“The command of Jehovah is quickly executed. The great army is already coming down from the mountains. "Hark, a rumbling on the mountains after the manner of a great people; hark, a rumbling of kingdoms of nations met together! Jehovah of hosts musters an army, those that have come out of a distant land, from the end of the heaven: Jehovah and His instruments of wrath, to destroy the whole earth." Kōl commences an interjectional sentence, and thus becomes almost an interjection itself (compare Isa 52:8; Isa 66:6, and on Gen 4:10). There is rumbling on the mountains ( Isa 17:12-13), for there are the peoples of Eran, and in front the Medes inhabiting the mountainous north-western portion of…”