Attributed commentary excerpt
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 21:8
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Notes on the Whole Bible
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · 19th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
And he cried, A lion - Margin, ‘As a lion.’ This is the correct rendering. The particle כ (k) - ‘as,’ is not unfrequently omitted (see Isaiah 62:5; Psalms 11:1). That is, ‘I see them approach with the fierceness, rapidity, and terror of a lion (compare Revelation 10:3). My lord, I stand continually upon the watch-tower - This is the speech of the watchman, and is addressed, not to Yahweh, but to him that appointed him. It is designed to show the “diligence” with which he had attended to the object for which he was appointed. He had been unceasing in his observation; and the result was, that now at length he saw the enemy approach like a lion, and it was certain that Babylon now must fall. The language used here has a striking resemblance to the opening of the “Agamemnon” of AEschylus; being the speech of the watchman, who had been very long upon his tower looking for the signal which should make known that Troy had fallen. It thus commences: ‘Forever thus! O keep me not, ye gods, Forever thus, fixed in the lonely tower Of Atreus’ palace, from whose height I gaze O’er watched and weary, like a night-dog, still Fixed to my post; meanwhile the rolling year Moves on, and I my wakeful vigils keep By the cold star-light sheen of spangled skies.’ Symmons, quoted in the “Pictorial Bible.” I am set in my ward - My place where one keeps watch. It does not mean that he was confined or imprisoned, but that he had kept his watch station (משׁמרת mishemeret from שׁמר shâmar “to watch, to keep, to attend to”). Whole nights - Margin, ‘Every night.’ It means that he had not left his post day or night. return to 'Top of Page'
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