Isaiah 21:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The prophet then declared, 'Babylon has fallen, has fallen, and all its idols and crafted images have been crushed to dust.' As the prophet foretold the swift execution of the impending assault, the Lord ultimately responded, declaring, 'Babylon has fallen.' This proud and arrogant entity, known as the hammer of the whole earth, as Jeremiah described it, was like a ferocious beast that wreaked havoc upon all nations, raising its haughty neck and laying waste to countries and cities. Fallen signifies complete destruction; it has vanished, been trampled, and thoroughly overthrown, ultimately found lying beneath the feet of the victors; all of its idols and crafted images lie shattered. For this land, as another holy prophet notes, is filled with carved images, and it placed great trust in false gods, seeking salvation from their assistance, only to be subdued and crushed along with its deities.

From the arrival of our Lord until the present day, sin, akin to an intellectual Babylon, has continually been subdued and shattered by the faithful. And behold, the rider from the two-horsemen approached and declared, “Babylon has fallen, has fallen, and all its idols, and all its creations are crushed upon the earth, in accordance with the scarcity of the harvest, and according to the lack of grain from the threshing floor. The Babylonians and their gods have lost all strength, just as human vigor diminishes in times of famine.

He then expressed his anguish, akin to a woman in labor, revealing the source of his dread that overtook him. Upon being placed upon the lookout tower, he witnessed a chariot approaching with two horsemen, a coachman leading a donkey and a camel. The significance of Cyrus, the king of the Persians and Medes, became evident as he led both his minor and major realms. In times past, the Persians held little prominence among the nations, while the Medians were known for their might. This solitary charioteer, commanding the armies of both nations, advanced towards Babylon, prompting the watchman, akin to a lion, to call out in recognition.

Faced with uncertainty regarding the identity of the approaching figure, the prophet articulated his role with clarity, affirming his position as a watchman of the Lord, dutifully carrying out His commands incessantly. What did the lion proclaim? “Here he comes, a coachman upon the chariot of the two horsemen.” The voice of the watchman echoed, “Babylon is fallen, Babylon is fallen, and all the idols made by human hands are trampled into the dust.” The desolation brought by the rider of the chariot marked the permanent downfall of Babylon, along with its idols and the temple of Baal.

In addressing Jerusalem and the temple situated on Orna's threshing floor, he lamented, “My threshing floor and the son of my threshing floor.” He urged the people to take heed of the words spoken, assuring them that these were not his own but those of the Lord, delivered through his mouth. Some misconstrue this message as directed at Babylon, interpreting it as a statement of destruction against the city. Yet, the prophecy declares that the one who has caused my ruin shall face ruin, not by human decree but by the power of God that foretells its demise.

Though the Septuagint translators replaced the lion with Uriah—an interpretation that might suggest the light of the Lord—the name Uriah is distinct and not directly linked to the text. This interpretation connects the watchman described by the prophet to Christ, allowing us to perceive the future through His presence within us. The designation of lion, attributed to Christ by both Jacob and Balaam, reinforces this imagery of strength and vigilance.

“I stand at the Lord's watchtower day and night,” he continues, addressing the imminent arrival of the rider in the two-horse chariot, who affirms, “Babylon has fallen, fallen completely, and its idols are cast down.” He speaks directly to the remnants of His people, urging sorrow for the state of Jerusalem. The prophet insists that he conveys what he has faithfully heard from the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, declaring it to those lost in the turmoil of the world.

He perceives a future gathering of the purest grain, redeemed through trials, akin to a divine harvest. Thus, the echo of the lament resonates not merely as a warning of judgment but as a call to repentance and hope for restoration through the destiny pronounced by the Lord. These proclamations ultimately point toward the coming fulfillment of the divine promises and the victory of God’s truth over all opposition.

This arrangement illustrates the significance of the two messengers, highlighting the call extended to the nations, as the Apostle clarifies: Is God the God of the Jews only, and not also of the Gentiles? Indeed, He is also the God of the Gentiles (Romans 3:29). The prophecy of Isaiah is realized, as he testifies to witnessing the horsemen riding in pairs, after which he declared that Babylon and all its idols had fallen. Who among us doubts, dear brethren, that on this chariot of two horses, Christ is advancing in a salvific mission? He recognizes that the temple has been laid waste by the apostolic message, the idols have crumbled, the sounds of the sacrificial animals have ceased, and the altars, along with the incense, have vanished forever?