Isaiah 13:4

13:4 ¹ There is a loud noise on the mountains –

it sounds like a large army! ² 

There is great commotion among the kingdoms ³  –

nations are being assembled!

The Lord who commands armies is mustering

forces for battle.

Isaiah 37:16

37:16 “O Lord who commands armies, O God of Israel, who is enthroned on the cherubim! ⁴  You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the sky ⁵  and the earth.

---

¹ sn In vv. 4-10 the prophet appears to be speaking, since the Lord is referred to in the third person. However, since the Lord refers to himself in the third person later in this chapter (see v. 13), it is possible that he speaks throughout the chapter.

² tn Heb “a sound, a roar [is] on the mountains, like many people.”

³ tn Heb “a sound, tumult of kingdoms.”

⁴ sn Cherubim (singular “cherub”) refers to the images of winged angelic creatures that were above the ark of the covenant.

⁵ tn Or “the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.