Isaiah 13:4,5 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

The noise of a multitude in the mountains No sooner had the Almighty given the command, than the multitude assembles to his banners; like as a great people Not rude and barbarous; but well- disciplined, regular, and veteran troops, such as are wont to be furnished by a great and powerful people; of the kingdoms of nations Cyrus's army was made up of different nations besides the Medes and Persians. The Lord of hosts The God of armies; mustereth the host of the battle He raises the soldiers, brings them together, puts them in order, reviews them, keeps an exact account of them, sees that they be all in their respective posts, and gives them their necessary orders. The expressions are noble, and contain a lively description of that terror which the appearance of a hostile army strikes into the beholders. They come from a far country Many of Cyrus's auxiliary forces came from very distant countries: see Jeremiah 50:41; Jeremiah 51:27-28. The prophet adds this as an aggravation of the judgment. From the end of heaven This is not to be understood strictly and properly, but popularly and hyperbolically, as such expressions are commonly used, both in sacred and profane authors. Even the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation The Medes and Persians, who were but a rod in God's hand, and the instruments of his anger, as was said of the Assyrian, Isaiah 10:5. To destroy the whole land Namely, of Babylon, of which he is now speaking.