At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.
The capture of Babylon was to cause so immense an upheaval that the earth itself is pictured as moved and shaken by the noise of its taking. That shaking marks a convulsion whose force extends far beyond the city walls. At the same time the news of its capture was to go out as a cry heard among the nations, making its fall known abroad.
The verse thus portrays widespread shock and alarm spreading outward from Babylon's overthrow. Its fall became the subject of outcry and report among the peoples round about. This was fulfilled when the Medes and Persians took the city.
The capture of Babylon was to cause so immense an upheaval that the earth itself is pictured as moved and shaken by the noise of its taking. That shaking marks a convulsion whose force extends far beyond the city walls. At the same time the news of its capture was to go out as a cry heard among the nations, making its fall known abroad.
The verse thus portrays widespread shock and alarm spreading outward from Babylon's overthrow. Its fall became the subject of outcry and report among the peoples round about. This was fulfilled when the Medes and Persians took the city.