Help on a Question regarding Isaiah 13:16 and rape

Laurel J. Davis

Janaury 26, 2016

Could use your help with this one I was just assigned. I want to be able to address her concerns about Isaiah 13:16 in particular, while at the same time (and most importantly) sharing the truth of the Gospel with her. Thank you. Here’s the question:

I have seen your article describing how the bible condemns rape several times but I would like to know how you respond to Isaiah 13:15-16 I genuinely care to know, I respect any and all beliefs and have no intentions of offending you or anyone else but I, as a rape victim, do find this very disturbing. I also plan to study theology and want to be knowledgeable on all aspects and opinions and thoughts of religion. As an American citizen living in a predominately christian area I am especially interested in Christianity. The link to what I read is herehttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/? search=Isaiah%2013&version=KJV I do hope I haven’t offended and I would greatly appreciate your thoughts on this specific piece of scripture, thank you –

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Jason Finch When reading the Scripture, we must find the distinction between description and prescription. The raping of women in Isaiah 13:16 is not prescribed by God.

Isaiah 13 is speaking on the dispersion and slaughter of the population of Babylon. The prophecy from this point becomes more explicit in its main reference to Babylon.

That the capture of Babylon should be marked by the atrocities here spoken of was no doubt to be expected from the character of the Medes (Isa 13:17 f.), but no such crimes appear to have stained the actual victory of Cyrus. According to Babylonian records he took possession of the city peacefully. (Records of the Past, New SeR.V. 144 ff.) Cf. Psa 137:9; Nah 3:10; Hos 13:16; 2Ki 8:12. The last half of the verse is repeated in Zec 14:2.

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Christopher Dupre So tragic. The only thing I can think of other than a heart-felt acknowledgement of the horror she suffered is to relate this passage to Romans Ch 1 where God’s wrath take the shape of merely leaving human beings to their own devices. Moral depravity and the resulting consequences are the hallmark of a nation or people who have forgotten God. God just lifts the constraints that keep these types of atrocities in check. Perhaps this is what God was doing with the Assyrians. Just opening the gate to allow what they’ve been wanting to do for decades of conflict with Babylon.

Maybe also stress that God did not command the Assyrians to rape and kill children, but only acknowledged that that is what they do. Unfortunately, and somewhat ironically, that is what all nations did in war back then, and that fact could be one of the reasons of God releasing His wrath. I’m 100% certain Babylon was no different. It’s hard to get people to realize the wickedness of these civilizations. Maybe you would need to dig up some dirt on them to show why they were under God’s judgment in this particular instance.

Like · Reply · 1 · Yesterday at 2:06pm

Jessica Goforth This article might help: http://antievilbible.blogspot.com/…/a-prophecy-against…

A Rebuttal to EvilBible.com: A Prophecy Against Babylon (Isaiah 13-14)

This blog is a rebuttal of the claims of evilbible.com. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zonde…

ANTIEVILBIBLE.BLOGSPOT.COM|BY JESSICA

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