Isaiah 21:5

Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, [and] anoint the shield.

Prepare {H6186} the table {H7979}, watch {H6822} in the watchtower {H6844}, eat {H398}, drink {H8354}: arise {H6965}, ye princes {H8269}, and anoint {H4886} the shield {H4043}.

They set the table, light the lamps, eat and drink - "Get going, princes! Oil the shields!"

They prepare a table, they lay out a carpet, they eat, they drink! Rise up, O princes, oil the shields!

They prepare the table, they set the watch, they eat, they drink: rise up, ye princes, anoint the shield.

Isaiah 21:5 captures a dramatic moment in prophetic history, illustrating the suddenness of divine judgment against a powerful nation. The verse paints a vivid picture of a people caught off guard, transitioning abruptly from feasting to frantic military preparation.

Context

This verse is part of the "Burden of the Desert of the Sea" (Isaiah 21:1), a prophetic oracle primarily directed at ancient Babylon. The preceding verses describe the prophet's anguish over a "grievous vision" (Isaiah 21:2) foretelling the city's impending destruction by the Medes and Persians. Verse 5 sets the scene for this surprise attack, highlighting the complacency and revelry that immediately precedes the catastrophic downfall. Historically, Babylon was known for its immense wealth and lavish feasts, which contributed to a false sense of security and a lack of preparedness.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Sudden Judgment: The abrupt shift from "prepare the table, eat, drink" to "arise... anoint the shield" powerfully conveys the unexpected and swift nature of God's judgment against those who are complacent in their sin or pride.
  • Divine Sovereignty: Even in moments of human revelry and perceived strength, God's plan is at work, orchestrating the rise and fall of nations according to His divine will.
  • Warning Against Complacency: The scene serves as a timeless warning against spiritual or physical unpreparedness, especially when facing impending danger or divine reckoning. It highlights the peril of being engrossed in worldly pleasures while ignoring impending doom.
  • Call to Action: The imperative "arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield" is an urgent, desperate call to arms, symbolizing a sudden, terrifying realization of immediate peril that demands a swift, decisive response.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "anoint the shield" (Hebrew: mashach magen) refers to the ancient practice of preparing a shield for battle. This involved rubbing it with oil, not only to preserve the leather or metal and make it gleam, but also to potentially make arrows or spears glance off more easily. It signifies an immediate, urgent preparation for combat, a stark contrast to the preceding activities of feasting and relaxation. This detail emphasizes the suddenness and desperation of the situation.

Related Scriptures

  • The theme of Babylon's dramatic fall and God's judgment upon it is extensively detailed in other prophetic books, such as Jeremiah 50-51, which describes the instruments of God's wrath against the proud city.
  • The concept of sudden destruction coming upon those who are unaware or complacent is echoed in the New Testament concerning the day of the Lord, where it states, "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them."
  • The call to spiritual watchfulness and readiness is a recurring biblical theme, as seen in Matthew 24:42, "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."

Practical Application

Isaiah 21:5 serves as a profound reminder for believers today. It urges us to avoid spiritual complacency and to be always vigilant and prepared. Just as the ancient princes were called to "anoint the shield" for physical battle, we are called to put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11) for spiritual warfare. This verse encourages us to examine our own lives: Are we living in a state of spiritual readiness, or are we distracted by worldly pleasures and a false sense of security? It underscores the importance of being alert to both the spiritual challenges around us and the prophetic fulfillment of God's word, living with a sense of urgency and preparedness for His return.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 51:57

    And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise [men], her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name [is] the LORD of hosts.

  • Jeremiah 51:39

    In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 51:11

    Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device [is] against Babylon, to destroy it; because it [is] the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:32

    If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

  • Daniel 5:1

    ¶ Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.

  • Daniel 5:5

    In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

  • Isaiah 13:2

    Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.

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