Isaías 14:23-32

23 Convertiré a Babilonia en un lugar desolado, tierra de búhos,
lleno de pantanos y de ciénagas;
barreré la tierra con la escoba de la destrucción.
¡Yo, el Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales, he hablado!».

24 Mensaje acerca de Asiria
El Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales hizo este juramento:
«Sucederá tal como yo lo tengo planeado.
Será tal como lo he decidido.

25 Quebrantaré a los asirios cuando estén en Israel;
los pisotearé en mis montañas.
Mi pueblo ya no será más esclavo de ellos
ni se doblará ante sus cargas pesadas.

26 Tengo un plan para toda la tierra,
una mano de juicio sobre todas las naciones.

27 El Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales ha hablado;
¿quién podrá cambiar sus planes?
Cuando levante su mano,
¿quién lo podrá detener?».

28 Mensaje acerca de Filistea
Recibí este mensaje en el año que murió el rey Acaz:

29 Ustedes, filisteos, no se alegren
de que la vara que los golpeaba se haya roto;
de que el rey que los atacaba esté muerto.
Pues de esa serpiente nacerá otra serpiente aún más venenosa,
¡una serpiente terrible que los destruirá!

30 Alimentaré a los pobres en mis pastos;
los necesitados se acostarán en paz.
En cuanto a ustedes, los aniquilaré con el hambre
y destruiré a los pocos que queden.

31 ¡Giman en las puertas! ¡Lloren en las ciudades!
¡Paralícense de miedo, filisteos!
Un poderoso ejército viene como humo desde el norte;
cada soldado avanza con prisa, ansioso por pelear.

32 ¿Qué les diremos a los mensajeros de los filisteos? Diles:
«El Señor
edificó a Jerusalén;
sus murallas brindarán refugio a su pueblo oprimido».

Isaías 14:23-32 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.