Isaia 14:17

17 che riduceva il mondo in un deserto, ne distruggeva le città, e non rimandava mai liberi a casa i suoi prigionieri?"

Isaia 14:17 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 14:17

[That] made the world as a wilderness
Both by destroying the inhabitants of it, and by laying waste cities, towns, villages, fields, vineyards, gardens, and all places improved and cultivated, wherever he came, as it follows: and destroyed the cities thereof;
as the Assyrian kings had done, some of which are mentioned in ( Isaiah 10:9 ) ( Isaiah 37:11-13 Isaiah 37:18 ) : [that] opened not the house of his prisoners;
the prison house, in, which they were held; or,

``the gate to his prisoners,''

as the Targum; or rather the words may be rendered, "that opened not to his prisoners", that they might go "home"; or as De Dieu, in short, yet fully, expresses it, "that did not dismiss his prisoners home"; he not only cruelly and inhumanly put many to the sword, but such as surrendered, and were taken captives, he detained them in prison, and would not loose their bonds, but let them die there; which was an instance of great cruelty and inhumanity.

Isaia 14:17 In-Context

15 Invece t’han fatto discendere nel soggiorno de’ morti, nelle profondità della fossa!

16 Quei che ti vedono fissano in te lo sguardo, ti considerano attentamente, e dicono: "E’ questo l’uomo che faceva tremare la terra, che scoteva i regni,

17 che riduceva il mondo in un deserto, ne distruggeva le città, e non rimandava mai liberi a casa i suoi prigionieri?"

18 Tutti i re delle nazioni, tutti quanti riposano in gloria ciascuno nella propria dimora;

19 ma tu sei stato gettato lungi dalla tua tomba come un rampollo abominevole coperto di uccisi trafitti colla spada, calati sotto i sassi della fossa, come un cadavere calpestato.