The Persian Aversion to Images
J. A. Alexander. Isaiah 21:1-10 The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it comes from the desert, from a terrible land.… The allusion to idols (ver. 9) is not intended merely to remind us that the conquest was a triumph of the true God over false ones, but to bring into view the well-known aversion of the Persians to all images. Herodotus says they not only thought it unlawful to use images, but imputed folly to those who did it. Here is another incidental but remarkable coincidence of prophecy even with profane history. (J. A. Alexander.) Parallel Verses KJV: The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land. WEB: The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it comes from the wilderness, from an awesome land.