Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 14:16
They that see thee - That is, after thou art dead. The scene here changes, and the prophet introduces those who would contemplate the body of the king of Babylon after he should be slain - the passers-by arrested with astonishment, that one so proud and haughty was at last slain, and cast out among the common dead Isaiah 14:19.Shall narrowly look upon thee - To be certain that they were not deceived. This denotes great astonishment, as if they could scarcely credit the testimony of their... read more
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 14:15
Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell - Hebrew, ‘To sheol’ (compare Isaiah 14:9).To the sides of the pit - The word ‘pit,’ here, is evidently synonymous with “hell” or “hades,” represented as a deep, dark region under ground. The dead were often buried in caves, and the descent was often dark and dreary, to the vaults where they reposed. Hence, it is always represented as going down; or, as the “inferior” regions. The ‘sides of the pit’ here stand opposed to the ‘sides of the north.’ He had... read more