The nations are used by God’s enemy to disturb God’s chosen people and to frustrate God from carrying out His economy. Thus, God is compelled to come in to judge them. All these judgments issue in one thing, that is, the ushering in of Christ.

The judgment of Jehovah upon the nations was to destroy Babylon by the Median army (vv. 3-4, 17-19; 14:22-23; 21:2, 9a; Dan. 5:30-31) because of its cruel destruction of many nations (Isa. 14:5-6, 16-17) and because of its idols (Isa. 21:9b). Although Assyria, not Babylon, was the first nation to trouble God in His economy (Jer. 50:17), in the sight of God all the nations, including Assyria, are a part of Babylon, which was considered by God to be the head of the great human image in Dan. 2:32, 37-38.

See note Joel 1:15^1a.

Jehovah’s judgment upon the nations shows His sovereign and just rule over the nations (v. 17; 14:22, 24-25; 19:1; cf. Dan. 4:17; Rev. 1:5).

Others translate, owls.

Or, goat demons.

According to the reading of some ancient versions; the Hebrew text reads, widows.