John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 13:19

"And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans` pride, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah." — Isaiah 13:19 (ASV)

And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms. Here the Prophet intended to give a brief summary of his prophecy about the Babylonians, but he enlarges it with some additions tending to show more fully that it will be completely destroyed. In this manner, the prophets speak of the punishment of the wicked, so as to leave no room for compassion by which they may relieve their minds.

But the godly, though they may sometimes think that they are severely chastised, are yet supported by the confident hope that the Lord will have compassion on them and will not altogether destroy them. Therefore, we may conclude that we ought not always to judge from outward appearances, for we would often think that the children of God are ruined when their salvation is near, even in the midst of death.

Of Sodom and Gomorrah. This example is frequently used by the Prophets to inform us that, though the mode of punishment may not be the same, yet, since the judgment of God is impartial, that memorable display which He gave in Sodom (Genesis 19:24) refers to all the reprobate. It also shows that no less dreadful punishment awaits those who are hardened by similar obstinacy in their sins.

They distinguish between the punishment of the elect people and the punishment of the wicked by this fact: God reserves some seed for the Israelites, but none for the ungodly. This agrees with the words we encountered earlier:

Unless the Lord of hosts had left us a seed,
we should have been like Sodom. (Isaiah 1:9)

But He pursues the wicked with vengeance that cannot be appeased, and therefore He threatens them with the same destruction that was executed against the inhabitants of Sodom—that is, utter perdition without any hope of escape.

Shall be like God’s overthrowing. He says that it is God’s overthrowing, so that we may not think that it happens by chance or that it has proceeded from human will.

Just as it was not by chance that the thunderbolt fell from heaven on Sodom, so it was not by chance that Babylon fell. Instead, it was by the righteous vengeance of God, who, being always like Himself, executed righteous judgment on them. In the same way, He will execute the same judgment on all the reprobate until the end.

When Babylon is called the glory of kingdoms and splendid brightness, this is added for amplification, to inform us that no glory or splendor can hinder God from bringing the wicked to nothing. For that overturn, being incredible, provided a more remarkable proof of Divine power.