This is to anticipate an objection; for many might have said, "How can it be, that Babylon should thus fall, on whose monarchy so many and so wide countries are dependent?" As, then, such an event appearing so unreasonable, might occur to them, the Prophet meets the objection, and answers by way of anticipation, that though the earth shook, yet this would surely take place. He shows, at the same time, how great the calamity would be, for it would, by its noise, make the whole world to tremble: it would be thus better known how grievous was to be God's vengeance on the Babylonians; for it was not to be without the shaking of the whole earth. Now follows, --