Isaiah 47:5

‘Sit in silence’ means that the *Babylonians can never again give orders to other people. ‘Prison’ signals that the *Babylonians will also lose their liberty.

• The *Babylonian *empire was a collection of states that the *Babylonians had taken by force over many years.

• ‘*Mistress’ usually means a female ruler over domestic affairs. Or, as here, it is the female word for a leader over an *empire.

• Babylon is therefore like a gentle woman of beauty. But Babylon is also like a powerful political ruler with complete authority.