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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 14:24-32

The destruction of Babylon and the Chaldean empire was a thing at a great distance; the empire had not risen to any considerable height when its fall was here foretold: it was almost 200 years from this prediction of Babylon's fall to the accomplishment of it. Now the people to whom Isaiah prophesied might ask, ?What is this to us, or what shall we be the better for it, and what assurance shall we have of it?? To both questions he answers in these verses, by a prediction of the ruin both of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 14:30

And the firstborn of the poor shall feed ,.... That is, the Jews, who were brought very low in the times of Ahaz, reduced to the greatest straits and difficulties; for so the word "firstborn" may signify the chief, or those who were of all the poorest, and in the greatest distress; these, in the times of Hezekiah, shall enjoy abundance of good things, and under his gentle government shall feed like a flock of sheep in good pastures; this signifying, that though he should be like a serpent,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:30

And the first-born of the poor, etc. - The Targum goes on applying all to the Messiah. "And the poor of the people shall he feed, and the humble shall dwell securely in his days: and he shall kill thy children with famine, and the remnant of thy people shall he slay." I will kill "He will slay" - The Septuagint reads המית hemith , to the third person, ανελει ; and so the Chaldee. The Vulgate remedies the confusion of persons in the present text, by reading both the verbs in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 14:28-32

THE BURDEN OF PHILISTIA . The Philistines had suffered grievously at the hands of Judah in the reign of Uzziah ( 2 Chronicles 26:6 ), and had retaliated in the reign of Ahaz ( 2 Chronicles 28:18 ). It would seem that after this they were invaded by Tiglath-Pileser, who penetrated as far as Gaza, which lie took and made tributary, as he also did Ascalon. Tiglath-Pileser died shortly before Ahaz, and the present "burden" seems to have been uttered in connection with his death. Isaiah... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 14:28-32

Oracle concerning Philistia. I. THE HISTORICAL OCCASION . It dates from about the time of the death of Ahaz, and was on his death incorporated with the book. The Edomites and the Philistines, who had given way before the powers of David, had taken advantage of the weakness of Ahaz's government to invade Judah They had taken possession of several towns in the south of the land ( 2 Chronicles 28:17 , 2 Chronicles 28:18 ). The Syrians in the front and the Philistines in the rear... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 14:29-32

A truth, a test, and a solution. We have here— I. A TRUTH RESPECTING AN INDIVIDUAL DEATH ; viz. that we may hope or may fear too much from the death of one man. Philistia was evidently inclined to hope too much from the death of a Jewish king; another was arising (Hezekiah) who would be to his predecessor what a cockatrice was to a serpent—a still more formidable enemy. ( 2 Kings 18:8 ). The wicked nation, or the unprincipled party, or the unscrupulous man that indulges a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 14:30

The firstborn of the poor shall feed . The "firstborn of the poor" are the very poor (Jarchi, Rosenmüller). The refer-once is to the poor Israelites , who will "feed" and "lie down in safety" when Philistia is held in subjection. I will kill thy root with famine, and he shall slay thy remnant . God kills with famine, man with the sword (see 2 Samuel 24:13 , 2 Samuel 24:14 ). When the Philistines had resisted behind their strong walls till hunger had done its work by thinning their... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 14:30

And the first-born of the poor shall feed - That is, there shall be safety to those parts of Judah which have long been exposed to the invasions of the Philistines. Philistia bordered on Judea, and was constantly making wars upon it, so that there was no safety felt. Isaiah now says, that Hezekiah would so effectually and completely subdue them that there should be no danger from their invasion. The phrase ‘the first-born of the poor’ is an Hebraism, a strong, emphatic expression, denoting... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 14:30

Isaiah 14:30. And the firstborn of the poor Those who are most remarkably poor; shall feed Shall have plenty of provisions, in spite of all thy attempts against them. The same Hezekiah, who shall be such a scourge to thee, Palestina, shall be a mild and gracious governor to his own subjects; he shall take care of them as a shepherd does of his flock, and relieve those who were oppressed in his father’s time. It is probable, that the inhabitants of the southern parts of Judea, who were... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 14:24-32

Click image for full-size versionConcerning Assyria and Philistia (14:24-32)In Isaiah’s day the immediate threat came not from Babylon but from Assyria. But Assyria will suffer the same fate as Babylon. It may invade the land of Judah, but in that same land it will be defeated and its power over Judah broken (24-25). The almighty God has determined this, and therefore no one will be able to prevent it (26-27).Ahaz had always tried to follow a pro-Assyrian policy, in spite of objections from... read more

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