Ésaïe 14

1 Car l'Éternel aura compassion de Jacob; il choisira encore Israël; il les rétablira dans leur terre; les étrangers se joindront à eux, et s'attacheront à la maison de Jacob.

2 Les peuples les prendront et les ramèneront dans leur pays; et la maison d'Israël les possédera, sur la terre de l'Éternel, comme serviteurs et comme servantes. Ils mèneront captifs ceux qui les menaient captifs, et ils domineront sur leurs exacteurs.

3 Et le jour où l'Éternel t'aura fait reposer de ton travail et de ton tourment, et de la dure servitude sous laquelle on t'avait asservi,

4 Tu commenceras ce chant sur le roi de Babylone, et tu diras: Comment a fini le tyran, comment a fini l'oppression?

5 L'Éternel a brisé le bâton des méchants, la verge des dominateurs!

6 Celui qui frappait les peuples avec fureur, de coups incessants, qui gouvernait les peuples avec colère, est poursuivi sans ménagement!

7 Toute la terre est en repos, elle est tranquille; on éclate en cris de joie.

8 Les cyprès aussi, les cèdres du Liban, se réjouissent à ton sujet. Depuis que tu es gisant, disent-ils, personne ne monte plus pour nous abattre.

9 Le Sépulcre profond s'émeut devant toi, pour venir à ta rencontre. Il réveille devant toi les trépassés, tous les puissants de la terre; il fait lever de leurs trônes tous les rois des nations.

10 Tous ils prennent la parole, et te disent: Toi aussi, te voilà sans force comme nous! Tu es devenu semblable à nous!

11 Ta magnificence est descendue au Sépulcre, avec le son de tes lyres. Tu es couché sur une couche de vers, et la corruption est ta couverture!

12 Comment es-tu tombé du ciel, astre brillant (Lucifer), fils de l'aurore? Comment as-tu été abattu à terre, toi qui foulais les nations?

13 Tu disais en ton cœur: Je monterai aux cieux, j'élèverai mon trône par-dessus les étoiles de Dieu; je siégerai sur la montagne de l'assemblée, aux régions lointaines de l'Aquilon.

14 Je monterai sur les hauteurs des nues, je serai semblable au Très-Haut.

15 Mais tu es descendu dans le Sépulcre, dans les profondeurs du tombeau!

16 Ceux qui te voient fixent leurs yeux sur toi; ils te considèrent: Est-ce là cet homme qui faisait trembler la terre, qui ébranlait les royaumes,

17 Qui changeait le monde en désert, qui détruisait les villes et ne relâchait pas ses prisonniers?

18 Tous les rois des nations, oui tous, reposent avec gloire, chacun dans sa demeure.

19 Mais toi, tu es jeté loin de ta sépulture, comme un rejeton de rebut; tu es recouvert des corps morts, percés par l'épée, qu'on jette sous les pierres d'une fosse; tu es comme un cadavre foulé aux pieds!

20 Tu ne seras pas réuni à eux dans la tombe; car tu as ravagé ta terre, tu as tué ton peuple. La race des méchants ne sera plus nommée à jamais!

21 Préparez le massacre pour les fils, à cause de l'iniquité de leurs pères. Qu'ils ne se lèvent plus pour posséder la terre, et couvrir de villes la face du monde!

22 Je m'élèverai contre eux, dit l'Éternel des armées; et je retrancherai de Babylone son nom et son reste, le fils et le petit-fils, dit l'Éternel.

23 J'en ferai la tanière du hérisson; j'en ferai un marécage; je la balaierai avec le balai de la destruction, dit l'Éternel des armées.

24 L'Éternel des armées l'a juré, disant: Certainement, la chose arrivera comme je l'ai projetée, et ce que j'ai résolu, s'accomplira:

25 De briser Assur dans ma terre, et de le fouler aux pieds sur mes montagnes; son joug sera ôté de dessus mon peuple, et son fardeau de dessus leurs épaules.

26 C'est là le dessein arrêté contre toute la terre, c'est là la main étendue sur toutes les nations.

27 Car l'Éternel des armées a formé ce dessein: qui l'empêchera? C'est sa main qui est étendue: qui la détournera

28 L'année de la mort du roi Achaz, cet oracle fut prononcé:

29 Ne te réjouis point, terre des Philistins, de ce que la verge qui te frappait a été brisée; car de la race du serpent naîtra un basilic, et le fruit en sera un dragon volant.

30 Alors les plus pauvres seront repus, et les misérables reposeront en sécurité; mais je ferai mourir de faim ta postérité, et on tuera ce qui sera resté de toi.

31 Porte, gémis! Ville, lamente-toi! Terre des Philistins, sois toute dans l'épouvante! Car du nord vient une fumée, une troupe où nul combattant ne quitte son rang.

32 Et que répondre aux envoyés de cette nation? Que l'Éternel a fondé Sion, et qu'en elle les affligés de son peuple auront leur refuge.

Ésaïe 14 Commentary

Chapter 14

The destruction of Babylon, and the death of its proud monarch. (1-23) Assurance of the destruction of Assyria. (24-27) The destruction of the Philistines. (28-32)

Verses 1-23 The whole plan of Divine Providence is arranged with a view to the good of the people of God. A settlement in the land of promise is of God's mercy. Let the church receive those whom God receives. God's people, wherever their lot is cast, should endeavour to recommend religion by a right and winning conversation. Those that would not be reconciled to them, should be humbled by them. This may be applied to the success of the gospel, when those were brought to obey it who had opposed it. God himself undertakes to work a blessed change. They shall have rest from their sorrow and fear, the sense of their present burdens, and the dread of worse. Babylon abounded in riches. The king of Babylon having the absolute command of so much wealth, by the help of it ruled the nations. This refers especially to the people of the Jews; and it filled up the measure of the king of Babylon's sins. Tyrants sacrifice their true interest to their lusts and passions. It is gracious ambition to covet to be like the Most Holy, for he has said, Be ye holy, for I am holy; but it is sinful ambition to aim to be like the Most High, for he has said, He who exalts himself shall be abased. The devil thus drew our first parents to sin. Utter ruin should be brought upon him. Those that will not cease to sin, God will make to cease. He should be slain, and go down to the grave; this is the common fate of tyrants. True glory, that is, true grace, will go up with the soul to heaven, but vain pomp will go down with the body to the grave; there is an end of it. To be denied burial, if for righteousness' sake, may be rejoiced in, ( Matthew 5:12 ) . But if the just punishment of sin, it denotes that impenitent sinners shall rise to everlasting shame and contempt. Many triumphs should be in his fall. God will reckon with those that disturb the peace of mankind. The receiving the king of Babylon into the regions of the dead, shows there is a world of spirits, to which the souls of men remove at death. And that souls have converse with each other, though we have none with them; and that death and hell will be death and hell indeed, to all who fall unholy, from the height of this world's pomps, and the fulness of its pleasures. Learn from all this, that the seed of evil-doers shall never be renowned. The royal city is to be ruined and forsaken. Thus the utter destruction of the New Testament Babylon is illustrated, ( Revelation 18:2 ) . When a people will not be made clean with the besom of reformation, what can they expect but to be swept off the face of the earth with the besom of destruction?

Verses 24-27 Let those that make themselves a yoke and a burden to God's people, see what they are to expect. Let those that are the called according to God's purpose, comfort themselves, that whatever God has purposed, it shall stand. The Lord of hosts has purposed to break the Assyrian's yoke; his hand is stretched out to execute this purpose; who has power to turn it back? By such dispensations of providence, the Almighty shows in the most convincing manner, that sin is hateful in his sight.

Verses 28-32 Assurance is given of the destruction of the Philistines and their power, by famine and war. Hezekiah would be more terrible to them than Uzziah had been. Instead of rejoicing, there would be lamentation, for the whole land would be ruined. Such destruction will come upon the proud and rebellious, but the Lord founded Zion for a refuge to poor sinners, who flee from the wrath to come, and trust in his mercy through Christ Jesus. Let us tell all around of our comforts and security, and exhort them to seek the same refuge and salvation.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 14

This chapter contains prophecies of the restoration of the Jews, of the fall of the king of Babylon, and the destruction of the Assyrian empire, and of the ruin of Palestine. The moving cause of the restoration of the Jews, and their settlement in their own land, is the distinguishing mercy of God towards them; the accomplishment of it, proselytes joined unto them; the means, people of other nations, who should bring them into it, and whom they should possess and rule over; and the consequence of it, rest from sorrow, fear, and hard bondage, Isa 14:1-3 upon which they are introduced as taking up a proverb, or a triumphant song, concerning the king of Babylon, wondering at his fall, and ascribing it to the Lord, Isa 14:4,5 representing the inhabitants of the earth, and great men of it, as at peace, and rest, and rejoicing, who before were continually disturbed, and smitten by him, Isa 14:6-8 introducing the dead, and those in hell, meeting him, and welcoming him into their regions, with taunts and jeers; upbraiding him with his weakness, shame, and disgrace he was come into; putting him in mind of his former pomp and splendour, pride, arrogance, and haughtiness, Isa 14:9-15 spectators are brought in, as amazed at the low, mean, and despicable condition he was brought into, considering what he had done in the world, in kingdoms and cities, but was now denied a burial, when other kings lay in their pompous sepulchres, Isa 14:16-20 and then it is foretold that that whole royal family should be cut off, and Babylon, the metropolis of his kingdom, should be utterly destroyed, Isa 14:21-23 all which was settled and fixed by the purpose of God, which could not be made void, Isa 14:24-27 and next follows a prophecy of the destruction of Palestine; the date of the prophecy is given Isa 14:28 the inhabitants of Palestine are bid not to rejoice at the death of one of the kings of Judah, since another should arise, who would be fatal to them, Isa 14:29 and while the Jews would be in safety, they would be destroyed by famine and war, Isa 14:30,31 from all which it would appear, and it might be told the messengers of the nations, or any inquiring persons, that Zion is of the Lord's founding, and under his care and protection, and that his people have great reason and encouragement to trust in him, Isa 14:32.