The Assyrian Laments Before the Battle

…and they will march on and pass through the desert. “As if a storm of winds should pass through the desert” (Isaiah 21:1), raising the dust and all but throwing everything into confusion.

He adds: “For the vision is fearful, and a harsh one was announced to me” (Isaiah 21:1–2). For the mere sight of the enemy alone, and a most valiant host of fighting men equipped for war, is quite enough to strike harsh fear into those who see it. Yet he does not say only that he saw it, but also, “It was announced to me”; for together with the sight he was taught the outcome of events, plainly by God.

“The one who deals faithlessly deals faithlessly, and the lawless one acts lawlessly” (Isaiah 21:2). The boldness of the attackers, he says, cannot be checked. For no human reasoning kindles them to gentleness; no one among them gives thought to what is right, but each acts lawlessly without restraint and deals faithlessly as he pleases, with no mercy in him. For they do not look to mercy; rather, he says, their whole eager work will be to act lawlessly and faithlessly.

He said something similar through the voice of the same prophet to the inhabitants of the Assyrians' land: “Behold, I am bringing the Medes against you, who do not value silver and have no need of gold. They will shatter the arrows of young men” (Isaiah 13:17–18). For when God brings wrath on those who sin, nothing will be able to help. Rather, a mind like a wild beast's takes up its dwelling in those who are bent on ravaging whomever they rush against.

“The Elamites are upon me, and the envoys of the Persians are coming against me. Now I will groan and comfort myself. Therefore my loins are filled with faintness, and pangs have seized me like a woman in labour. I did wrong so as not to hear; I hastened so as not to see. My heart wanders, and lawlessness plunges me under; my soul is set in fear” (Isaiah 21:2–4).

The words here have the force of a speech put in a character's mouth. For the Assyrian is brought on stage, fearing the assault, well aware of the enemy's ranks and of whom their war is aimed at. “Not against any others,” he says, “but against me the Elamites and the very best of the Persians have set out. So I will groan and comfort myself.”

For those who have fallen into the worst misfortune seem to find some kind of comfort in lamenting and wailing, since pain squeezes out tears. Yet it is a strange thing if the Assyrians lament, since they had always been harsh and arrogant, carried their brows very high against all the nations, and thought themselves hard to stand against.

But those who were so bold, swollen with thoughts beyond what is human, give way to womanish tears and compose a lament over themselves, broken down to weakness before they have even tasted battle. “For my loins are filled with faintness, and pangs have seized…” (Isaiah 21:3)