Isaiah 14:4-23

4 that you shall take up this parable against the king of Bavel, and say, How has the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!

5 The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers;

6 who struck the peoples in wrath with a continual stroke, who ruled the nations in anger, with a persecution that none restrained.

7 The whole eretz is at rest, [and] is quiet: they break forth into singing.

8 Yes, the fir trees rejoice at you, [and] the cedars of Levanon, [saying], Since you are laid low, no lumberjack is come up against us.

9 She'ol from beneath is moved for you to meet you at your coming; it stirs up the dead for you, even all the chief ones of the eretz; it has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.

10 All they shall answer and tell you, Are you also become weak as we? are you become like us?

11 Your pomp is brought down to She'ol, [and] the noise of your viols: the worm is spread under you, and worms cover you.

12 How you are fallen from heaven, Heylel, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, who laid the nations low!

13 You said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; and I will sit on the mountain of congregation, in the uttermost parts of the north;

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like Ha`Elyon.

15 Yet you shall be brought down to She'ol, to the uttermost parts of the pit.

16 Those who see you shall gaze at you, they shall consider you, [saying], "Is this the man who made the eretz to tremble, who shook kingdoms;

17 who made the world as a wilderness, and overthrew the cities of it; who didn't let loose his prisoners to their home?"

18 All the kings of the nations, all of them, sleep in glory, everyone in his own house.

19 But you are cast forth away from your tomb like an abominable branch, clothed with the slain, who are thrust through with the sword, who go down to the stones of the pit; as a dead body trodden under foot.

20 You shall not be joined with them in burial, because you have destroyed your land, you have killed your people; the seed of evil-doers shall not be named forever.

21 Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers, that they not rise up, and possess the eretz, and fill the surface of the world with cities.

22 I will rise up against them, says the LORD of Hosts, and cut off from Bavel name and remnant, and son and son's son, says the LORD.

23 I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction, says the LORD of Hosts.

Isaiah 14:4-23 Meaning and Commentary

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.