Albert Barnes Commentary Isaiah 13:1

"The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see." — Isaiah 13:1 (ASV)

The burden of Babylon — Or, the burden “respecting,” or “concerning” Babylon. This prophecy is introduced in a different manner than those that have preceded. The terms Isaiah used in the beginning of his previous prophecies were vision (see the note at Isaiah 1:1), or word (Isaiah 2:1). There has been considerable diversity of opinion regarding the meaning of the word ‘burden,’ which is used here.

The Vulgate renders it, Onus — ‘Burden,’ in the sense of load. The Septuagint Ὅρασις Horasis — ‘Vision.’ The Chaldee, ‘The burden of the cup of malediction which draws near to Babylon.’ The Hebrew word משׂא (mas's'â') — from נשׂא (nâs'â'), meaning to lift, to raise up, to bear, to carry away, to suffer, to endure — properly means that which is carried; that which is heavy; that which becomes a burden. It is also applied to a gift or present, as that which is carried to a man (2 Chronicles 17:11).

It is also applied to a proverb or maxim, probably from the “weight” and “importance” of the sentiment condensed in it (Proverbs 30:1; Proverbs 31:1). It is applied to an oracle from God (2 Kings 4:25). It is often translated ‘burden’ (Isaiah 15:1–9; Isaiah 19:1; Isaiah 21:11, 13; Isaiah 22:1; Isaiah 23:1; Isaiah 30:6; Isaiah 46:1; Jeremiah 23:33–34, 38; Nehemiah 1:1; Zechariah 1:1; Zechariah 12:1; Malachi 1:1). By comparing these passages, it will be found that the term is applied to those oracles or prophetic declarations that contain especially weighty and solemn sentiments, that are primarily used in denouncing wrath and calamity, and that, therefore, are depicted as weighing down, or oppressing the mind and heart of the prophet.

A similar usage prevails in all languages. We are all familiar with expressions like this. We speak of news or tidings so melancholy in nature as to weigh down, to sink, or depress our spirits; so heavy that we can hardly bear up under it, or endure it. And so in this case, the view that the prophet had of the awful judgments of God and of the calamities that were coming upon guilty cities and nations was so oppressive that it weighed down the mind and heart as a heavy burden.

Others, however, suppose that it means merely a message or prophecy that is taken up, or carried, concerning a place, and that the word indicates nothing regarding the nature of the message. So Rosenmuller, Gesenius, and Cocceius understand it. But it seems that the former interpretation is to be preferred. Grotius renders it, ‘A mournful prediction concerning Babylon.’

Did see — He saw in a vision, or in a scenic representation. The various events were made to pass before his mind in a vision, and he was permitted to see the armies mustered, the consternation of the people, and the future condition of the proud city. This verse is properly the title to the prophecy.