Isaiah 14

1 prope est ut veniat tempus eius et dies eius non elongabuntur miserebitur enim Dominus Iacob et eliget adhuc de Israhel et requiescere eos faciet super humum suam adiungetur advena ad eos et adherebit domui Iacob

2 et tenebunt eos populi et adducent eos in locum suum et possidebit eos domus Israhel super terram Domini in servos et ancillas et erunt capientes eos qui se ceperant et subicient exactores suos

3 et erit in die illa cum requiem dederit tibi Deus a labore tuo et a concussione tua et a servitute dura qua ante servisti

4 sumes parabolam istam contra regem Babylonis et dices quomodo cessavit exactor quievit tributum

5 contrivit Dominus baculum impiorum virgam dominantium

6 caedentem populos in indignatione plaga insanabili subicientem in furore gentes persequentem crudeliter

7 conquievit et siluit omnis terra gavisa est et exultavit

8 abietes quoque laetatae sunt super te et cedri Libani ex quo dormisti non ascendit qui succidat nos

9 infernus subter conturbatus est in occursum adventus tui suscitavit tibi gigantas omnes principes terrae surrexerunt de soliis suis omnes principes nationum

10 universi respondebunt et dicent tibi et tu vulneratus es sicut nos nostri similis effectus es

11 detracta est ad inferos superbia tua concidit cadaver tuum subter te sternetur tinea et operimentum tuum erunt vermes

12 quomodo cecidisti de caelo lucifer qui mane oriebaris corruisti in terram qui vulnerabas gentes

13 qui dicebas in corde tuo in caelum conscendam super astra Dei exaltabo solium meum sedebo in monte testamenti in lateribus aquilonis

14 ascendam super altitudinem nubium ero similis Altissimo

15 verumtamen ad infernum detraheris in profundum laci

16 qui te viderint ad te inclinabuntur teque prospicient numquid iste est vir qui conturbavit terram qui concussit regna

17 qui posuit orbem desertum et urbes eius destruxit vinctis eius non aperuit carcerem

18 omnes reges gentium universi dormierunt in gloria vir in domo sua

19 tu autem proiectus es de sepulchro tuo quasi stirps inutilis pollutus et obvolutus qui interfecti sunt gladio et descenderunt ad fundamenta laci quasi cadaver putridum

20 non habebis consortium neque cum eis in sepultura tu enim terram disperdisti tu populum occidisti non vocabitur in aeternum semen pessimorum

21 praeparate filios eius occisioni in iniquitate patrum eorum non consurgent nec hereditabunt terram neque implebunt faciem orbis civitatum

22 et consurgam super eos dicit Dominus exercituum et perdam Babylonis nomen et reliquias et germen et progeniem ait Dominus

23 et ponam eam in possessionem ericii et in paludes aquarum et scopabo eam in scopa terens dicit Dominus exercituum

24 iuravit Dominus exercituum dicens si non ut putavi ita erit et quomodo mente tractavi

25 sic eveniet ut conteram Assyrium in terra mea et in montibus meis conculcem eum et auferetur ab eis iugum eius et onus illius ab umero eorum tolletur

26 hoc consilium quod cogitavi super omnem terram et haec est manus extenta super universas gentes

27 Dominus enim exercituum decrevit et quis poterit infirmare et manus eius extenta et quis avertet eam

28 in anno quo mortuus est rex Ahaz factum est onus istud

29 ne laeteris Philisthea omnis tu quoniam comminuta est virga percussoris tui de radice enim colubri egredietur regulus et semen eius absorbens volucrem

30 et pascentur primogeniti pauperum et pauperes fiducialiter requiescent et interire faciam in fame radicem tuam et reliquias tuas interficiam

31 ulula porta clama civitas prostrata est Philisthea omnis ab aquilone enim fumus venit et non est qui effugiat agmen eius

32 et quid respondebitur nuntiis gentis quia Dominus fundavit Sion et in ipsa sperabunt pauperes populi eius

Isaiah 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.