Isaiah used these words to describe the oppressive Babylonian rule. Their deceiving and destroying ways caused the sighing mentioned at the end of Isaiah 21:2. The Lord would, however, bring an end to the anguish caused by the violence and oppression of Babylon.
2 A stern vision is told to me; the traitor betrays, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam; lay siege, O Media; all the sighing she has caused I bring to an end.