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The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 14:32

Zion a safety for the poor. Take Zion as a type of Christ's Church in all the ages. It should be a shelter for the poor in the following five senses which may be attached to the word. I. In the sense of the ignorant . II. In the sense of the meek . III. In the sense of the yoking . IV. In the sense of the persecuted . V. In the sense of the doubting . Every age is, in one form or another, a troublous age for all earnest souls. The Church is ever the abiding... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 14

This chapter Isaiah 14:0 is a continuation of the prophecy respecting Babylon, which was commenced in the previous chapter. The prophecy is concluded at Isaiah 14:27. A considerable portion of the chapter is a poem of unequalled beauty and sublimity. It is to be remembered that this prophecy was uttered at least 174 years before they were carried into captivity; and the design of the prophet is, to declare the certainty of their release after they should be subjected to this bondage. He,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 14:1

For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob - That is, he will pity the captive Jews in Babylon. He will not abandon them, but will remember them, and restore them to their own land.And will yet choose Israel - Will show that he regards them as still his chosen people; or will again “choose” them by recovering them from their bondage, and by restoring them to their country as his people. The names ‘Jacob’ and ‘Israel’ here simply denote the Jews. They do not imply that all of those who were to be... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 14:2

And the people shall take them - That is, the people in Babylon.And bring them to their place - That is, they shall attend them to the land of Judea, and aid in restoring them to their own country. There is reference here, doubtless, to the fact that Cyrus would assist them (compare Ezra 1:1-11), and that many of the inhabitants of Chaldea who would become proselytes, would be willing to accompany them to their own land.And the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the Lord - Not in... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 14:3

And it shall come to pass - That is, then thou shalt take up a taunting song against the king of Babylon Isaiah 14:4.That the Lord shall give thee rest - (compare Isaiah 38:12). The nature of this predicted rest, is more fully described in Ezekiel 28:25-26.From thy sorrow - The long pain of thy captivity in Babylon.And from thy fear - Hebrew, ‘Trembling.’ That is, the apprehension of the ills to which they were continually exposed. Trembling is usually one effect of fear.And from thy hard... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 14:4

That thou shalt take up - Thou shalt utter, declare, or commence. The word ‘take up,’ is used in the sense of utter, speak, or declare, in Exodus 20:7; Exodus 23:1; Psalms 15:2.This proverb - (המשׁל hamâshâl). Vulgate, ‘Parable.’ Septuagint Τὸν ρῆνον ton thrēnon - ‘Lamentation.’ The Hebrew word משׁל mâshâl, usually rendered “proverb,” is also rendered “a parable,” or “a by-word.” It properly denotes “a metaphor, a comparison, a similitude;” and is applied usually to a brief and pungent... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 14:5

The Lord hath broken - Yahweh, by the hand of Cyrus.The staff of the wicked - That is, the scepter of the king of Babylon. The word rendered ‘staff’ (מטה maṭēh) may mean either a bough, stick, staff, rod, or a scepter. The scepter was the symbol of supreme power. It was in the form of a staff, and was made of wood, ivory, or gold. It here means that Yahweh had taken away the power from Babylon, and destroyed his dominion. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 14:6

He who smote - This may either refer to the king of Babylon, or to the rod or scepter which he had used, and which was now broken. Herder refers it to the scepter, ‘that which smote the nations.’ (On the meaning of the word “smote,” see the notes at Isaiah 10:20)The people - The nations that were subject to his authority.With a continual stroke - Margin, ‘A stroke without removing.’ Vulgate, Plaga insanabili - ‘With an incurable plague.’ - Septuagint the same - Πληγῇ ἀνιάτῳ Plēgē... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 14:7

The whole earth is at rest - The kingdom of Babylonia, or Chaldea, extended nearly over the whole pagan world. Now that Babylon was fallen, and that those oppressions would cease, the world is represented as in peace and quietness.They break forth into singing - That is, the inhabitants of all the nations that were subject to Babylon now rejoice that they are released from its galling and oppressive yoke. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 14:8

Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee - They join with the inhabitants of the nations in rejoicing at thy downfall - for they now, like those inhabitants, are suffered to remain undisturbed. (On the word rendered “fir trees,” see the notes at Isaiah 1:29.) It is evident that a species of evergreen is meant; and probably some species that grew in Syria or Palestine. The idea is plain. The very forest is represented as rejoicing. It would be safe from the king of Babylon. He could no longer cut it... read more

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