Isaiah 21:7

7 et vidit currum duorum equitum ascensorem asini et ascensorem cameli et contemplatus est diligenter multo intuitu

Isaiah 21:7 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 21:7

And he saw a chariot [with] a couple of horsemen
The drivers of it, or the riders in it; perhaps meaning Cyrus and Darius: a chariot of asses, [and] a chariot of camels;
by the former may be meant the Persians, who very much used mules or asses; and the Medes by the latter, who abounded in camels: the words are in the singular number, and may be rendered, "a rider of an ass, and a rider of a camel" F23; and so may describe the couple of riders along with the chariot, which may signify the whole army of the Medes and Persians, chariots being much used in war; and the rider of the ass or mule may design Cyrus, who was called a mule, because of his mixed descent, being a Persian by his father, and a Mede by his mother's side; so the oracle of Apollo told the Babylonians, that their city should stand, until a mule was king of the Medes; and the rider of the camel may point at Darius: and he hearkened diligently with much heed;
the watchman that was set to watch used the utmost attention to what he saw, and listened diligently to the noise of this chariot and horsemen, as they came nearer.


FOOTNOTES:

F23 (lmg bkr rwmx bkr) (anabathn onou, kai anabathn kamhlou) , Sept.; "ascensorem asini, et ascensorem cameli", V. L. "unum equitantium in asinis, alterum equitantium in camelis", Piscator.

Isaiah 21:7 In-Context

5 pone mensam contemplare in specula comedentes bibentes surgite principes arripite clypeum
6 haec enim dixit mihi Dominus vade et pone speculatorem et quodcumque viderit adnuntiet
7 et vidit currum duorum equitum ascensorem asini et ascensorem cameli et contemplatus est diligenter multo intuitu
8 et clamavit leo super specula Domini ego sum stans iugiter per diem et super custodiam meam ego sum stans totis noctibus
9 ecce iste venit ascensor vir bigae equitum et respondit et dixit cecidit cecidit Babylon et omnia sculptilia deorum eius contrita sunt in terram
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.