Isaiah 14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:3

In the day "In that day" - ההוא ביום bayom hahu . The word ההוא hahu is added in two MSS. of Kennicott's, and was in the copies from which the Septuagint and Vulgate translated: εν τῃ ἡμερᾳ εκεινῃ , in die illa , ( ᾑ αναπαυσει , MS. Pachom. adding ה ), in that day. This is a matter of no great consequence: however, it restores the text to the common form, almost constantly used on such occasions; and is one among many instances of a word apparently lost out of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:4

This proverb "This parable" - משל mashal , I take this to be the general name for poetic style among the Hebrews, including every sort of it, as ranging under one or other, or all of the characters, of sententious, figurative, and sublime; which are all contained in the original notion, or in the use and application of the word mashal . Parables or proverbs, such as those of Solomon, are always expressed in short pointed sentences; frequently figurative, being formed on some... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:9

Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee - That is, Nebuchadnezzar. "It (hell) hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the earth; - the ghosts (rephaim) of all the mighty ones, or goats, ( עתודי attudey ), of the earth - all the oppressors of mankind." What a most terrible idea is here! Tyrannical kings who have oppressed and spoiled mankind, are here represented as enthroned in hell; and as taking a Satanic pleasure in seeing others of the same description enter those... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:11

Cover thee "Thy covering" - Twenty-eight MSS. (ten ancient) of Kennicott's, thirty-nine of De Rossi's, twelve editions, with the Septuagint and Vulgate, read ומכסך umechassecha , in the singular number. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:12

O Lucifer, son of the morning - The Versions in general agree in this translation, and render הילל heilel as signifying Lucifer, Φωσφωρος , the morning star, whether Jupiter or Venus; as these are both bringers of the morning light, or morning stars, annually in their turn. And although the context speaks explicitly concerning Nebuchadnezzar, yet this has been, I know not why, applied to the chief of the fallen angels, who is most incongruously denominated Lucifer, (the bringer of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:13

I will ascend into heaven - I will get the empire of the whole world. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God - above the Israelites, who are here termed the stars of God. So the Targum of Jonathan, and R. D. Kimchi. This chapter speaks not of the ambition and fall of Satan, but of the pride, arrogance, and fall of Nebuchadnezzar. The mount of the congregation "The mount of the Divine Presence" - It appears plainly from Exodus 25:22 , and Exodus 29:42 , Exodus 29:43 , where... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:19

Like an abominable branch "Like the tree abominated" - That is, as an object of abomination and detestation; such as the tree is on which a malefactor has been hanged. "It is written," saith St. Paul, Galatians 3:13 , "Cursed is every man that hangeth on a tree," from Deuteronomy 21:23 . The Jews therefore held also as accursed and polluted the tree itself on which a malefactor had been executed, or on which he had been hanged after having been put to death by stoning. " Non suspendunt... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:20

Because thou hast destroyed thy land, etc. "Because thou hast destroyed thy country; thou hast slain thy people" - Xenophon gives an instance of this king's wanton cruelty in killing the son of Gobrias, on no other provocation than that, in hunting, he struck a boar and a lion which the king had missed. Cyrop. 4:309. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:23

I will sweep it with the besom of destruction "I will plunge it in the miry gulf of destruction" - I have here very nearly followed the Version of the Septuagint; the reasons for which see in the last note on De Poesi Hebr. Praelect, xxviii. The besom of destruction, as our Version renders it. במטאטא bematate . This, says Kimchi, is a Chaldee word: and it is worthy of remark that the prophet, writing to the Chaldeans, uses several words peculiar to their own language to point out the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:25

I will break the Assyrian - upon my mountains "To crush the Assyrian - on my mountains" - The Assyrians and Babylonians are the same people, Herod. 1:199, 200. Babylon is reckoned the principal city in Assyria, ibid. 178. Strabo says the same thing, lib. 16 sub init . The circumstance of this judgment being to be executed on God's mountains is of importance; it may mean the destruction of Sennacherib's army near Jerusalem, and have a still farther view: compare Ezekiel 39:4 ; and see... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:25

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