Why the Vision against Babylon Was Given

Tomos 2. “The vision which Isaiah son of Amoz saw against Babylon” (Isaiah 13:1).

The vision against Babylon, and the visions that follow it in order, against the Edomites and the Moabites, and against the Egyptians too, and besides these against the other nations, were composed to comfort Israel. They set out what they mean in a rather historical way. Yet the more discerning may, here as well, skilfully recast the things that befell the ancients, as from a coarse image, into a spiritual contemplation that is very clear. As the discourse goes on, it will set this out for those who read it, interpreting each thing written as far as it can.

But I think it necessary here too to go back to the beginning of the matter and first to relate the causes of the vision. Israel had been called through the all-wise Moses to the knowledge and worship of Him who is truly God, and had the Law to guide him straight toward everything worthy of admiration. Yet he neglected the commandment given to him and turned to teachings that are the commandments of men (Isaiah 29:13); or rather, giving himself over to things still worse, he slipped into the pits of idolatry.

So the God of all, through every prophet, accused those who chose to do such things, and raised a loud outcry against Israel for his impiety. He said, for example: “This people draws near to Me; with their lips they honour Me, but their heart is far from Me. In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:8-9). And again: “Why has the beloved done an abomination in My house?” (Jeremiah 11:15). By “abomination” he means the idol.

So when they had turned terribly aside into outlandish corruptions, pulling their neck out from service under God and raising up against Him a mind of their own, as if in pride, He handed them over from time to time. Sometimes He gave them to those who held the neighbouring land, I mean the Edomites, and the Moabites as well, the Egyptians and the Philistines. At other times He brought a heavier blow on them and let loose against them the cruellest of all who are on earth, I mean the Babylonians, who laid waste the whole land of the Jews without effort and carried off a multitude past counting as captives to their own land.

The blessed prophets foretold time after time that these things would happen to them as they provoked the God of all. Yet they, even though what had been foretold had already come to pass upon them, none the less…