20:45–48 This short prophecy against the South is explained in 21:1–5. Here and in 21:4 disaster comes “from south to north,” and the disaster cannot be stopped (v. 48; 21:5). The threat was issued in Babylon, and Israel is described as lying to the south. Disaster is usually portrayed as coming from the north (Is. 14:31; 41:25; Jer. 1:13–15; 4:6; 6:1; 10:22; 25:9; 47:2; 50:9; 51:48; Joel 2:20).