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Isaiah 23:11
He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD hath given a commandment against the merchantcity, to destroy the strong holds thereof.

Isaiah 44:27,28
That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers: …

Isaiah 45:4,5
For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me…

mighty ones

Jeremiah 51:20-24
Thouart my battle axeand weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; …

Joel 3:11
Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.

Revelation 17:12-18
And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast…

them that

Ezra 1:1
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, andput it also in writing, saying,

Ezra 6:1
Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.

Ezra 7:12-26
Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfectpeace, and at such a time…

I have even summoned My warriors
The "warriors" are those who will carry out God's judgment. Historically, this refers to the Medes and Persians, who conquered Babylon in 539 BC. The summoning of these warriors highlights God's control over historical events and His ability to orchestrate the rise and fall of empires. This aligns with the biblical narrative that God is the ultimate authority over all earthly powers, as seen inDaniel 2:21, where God changes times and seasons and deposes kings.

to execute My wrath
This phrase emphasizes the purpose of the warriors' summoning: to carry out divine judgment. The "wrath" of God is a recurring theme in the Bible, representing His righteous anger against sin and injustice. In the context ofIsaiah 13, Babylon's pride and idolatry warranted such judgment. This reflects the broader biblical principle that God is just and will not leave sin unpunished, as seen inRomans 1:18, where God's wrath is revealed against all ungodliness.

and exult in My triumph.
The final phrase speaks to the outcome of God's judgment: His ultimate victory. The "triumph" is not just the defeat of Babylon but the demonstration of God's power and justice. The exultation of the warriors can be seen as a reflection of God's glory being revealed through His acts of judgment. This anticipates the eschatological victory of God over all evil, as depicted inRevelation 19:1-2, where a great multitude in heaven praises God for His true and just judgments.

The Lord opens the verse by reminding us that He alone issues the orders. Isaiah has already shown God directing the rise and fall of empires (Isaiah 10:5-7; 45:12-13). Here the same sovereign voice that “spoke, and it came to be” (Psalm 33:9) now sends forth forces against Babylon.

• His command is decisive; no one can stay His hand (Daniel 4:35).

• When God speaks, history shifts course (Jeremiah 1:10).

• Even the timing is His: “At that time I, the Lord, will make My words in your mouth fire” (Jeremiah 5:14).

“Sanctified” doesn’t mean these warriors are spiritually pure; it means they are set apart for God’s purpose, just as Cyrus is later called “My shepherd” (Isaiah 44:28) and Nebuchadnezzar “My servant” (Jeremiah 25:9).

• God often uses unexpected instruments—pagan Medes and Persians in this context (Isaiah 13:17).

• Their consecration is functional: they carry out a holy assignment of judgment (Joel 3:9-11).

• By calling them “My” sanctified ones, God takes ownership of the mission.

The phrase stresses personal involvement: He hasn’t merely allowed history to unfold; He has actively “summoned” the agents of judgment. CompareIsaiah 46:11, where God “summons a bird of prey from the east” to fulfill His counsel.

• Summoning underscores urgency—there is an appointed hour (Habakkuk 2:3).

• It also shows intimacy; the Commander knows every soldier He calls (Isaiah 40:26).

These human armies are God’s “warriors,” much as David called the troops “the armies of the living God” (1 Samuel 17:26).

• They operate under divine commission, like angelic hosts inJoshua 5:13-14.

• Though fierce, they are instruments, not independent agents (Proverbs 21:1).

•Jeremiah 51:20 portrays Babylon’s conquerors as God’s “war club.”

The mission is judgment, not random violence. Babylon’s pride, idolatry, and cruelty have stored up wrath (Isaiah 14:12-17;Revelation 18:5-8).

• God’s wrath is righteous and measured (Nahum 1:2-3).

• The same Lord who uses the rod will later judge the rod if it exalts itself (Isaiah 10:12).

•Revelation 19:15 echoes this theme: He “treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God.”

The verse ends on victory. The warriors rejoice, but their joy mirrors God’s own triumph (Exodus 15:1-2;Psalm 98:1).

• Judgment and triumph are two sides of the same coin: justice satisfied, glory displayed.

•Habakkuk 3:18 models the right response—rejoicing in the God of salvation even amid upheaval.

• Ultimately every act of judgment points forward to Christ’s final victory (1 Corinthians 15:24-25).

Isaiah 13:3 reveals the Lord as Commander-in-Chief: He issues the order, sets apart the agents, summons them personally, equips them as His warriors, directs them to pour out just wrath, and guarantees the celebration of His triumph. The verse assures believers that history is not random; God orchestrates events to uphold His holiness, judge evil, and magnify His glory.

Even them that rejoice in my highness.--InZephaniah 3:11 the same phrase occurs in a bad sense. Here, apparently, it denotes the proud consciousness of the invaders that they are doing God's work. . . .