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Isaiah 13:4
ESV The sound of a tumult is on the mountains as of a great multitude! The sound of an uproar of kingdoms, of nations gathering together! The LORD of hosts is mustering a host for battle.
NIV Listen, a noise on the mountains, like that of a great multitude! Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations massing together! The LORD Almighty is mustering an army for war.
NASB A sound of a roar on the mountains, Like that of many people! A sound of an uproar of kingdoms, Of nations gathered together! The Lord of armies is mustering the army for battle.
CSB Listen, a commotion on the mountains, like that of a mighty people! Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations being gathered together! The Lord of Armies is mobilizing an army for war.
NLT Hear the noise on the mountains! Listen, as the vast armies march! It is the noise and shouting of many nations. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has called this army together.
KJV The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.

What does Isaiah 13:4 mean?

In Isaiah's prophecy against the city-state of Babylon, the Lord has set aside an army to carry out His anger against the Babylonians and their rulers. This army is unique because the Lord has assembled it. Of course, those gathered do not understand they are attacking the city under God's orders (Isaiah 13:3). Their own motives are not relevant; it is God who arranges their attack, and He does so for His own purposes.

Now Isaiah reveals that this army contains multitudes of fighters. They are loud, causing a great ruckus from the nearby mountains where they are staging for this battle. The army has troops from multiple nations. Many kingdoms amassed to do battle against Babylon, all of which were brought together by the Lord of Hosts.

The repeated point of these oracles is that God directs the events of human history, both in support of and against the nations of the world. They do not thrive or fall on their own. He controls everything. Israel is foolish to put their hope in powerful foreign nations instead of in the Lord.
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