For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon,
&c.] The work was of the Lord; it was he that would give a commission and a command to the enemies of Babylon; that would incline them, and stir them up, to come against her; that would direct their motions and guide them thither, so that it would assuredly be; wherefore it behooves the people of God to make haste out of it: an assembly of great nations from the north country;
the Medes and Persians, with their allies and auxiliaries which came with them from the north; as also a collection of Christian nations from the north of Europe against antichrist: and they shall set themselves in array against her;
draw up their army in form of battle, or prepare and dispose their instruments of war for the siege of Babylon: from thence shall she be taken;
on the north side, from which quarter the enemy should come; or from the place where their army is drawn up in battle array; or suddenly, and at once: so Babylon was destroyed by Cyrus; and the destruction of Rome, or mystical Babylon, will be sudden and at an unawares, ( Revelation 18:8 ) ; their arrows [shall be] as of a mighty expert man;
or "that bereaves"