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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 14:4-23

The kings of Babylon, successively, were the great enemies and oppressors of God's people, and therefore the destruction of Babylon, the fall of the king, and the ruin of his family, are here particularly taken notice of and triumphed in. In the day that God has given Israel rest they shall take up this proverb against the king of Babylon. We must not rejoice when our enemy falls, as ours; but when Babylon, the common enemy of God and his Israel, sinks, then rejoice over her, thou heaven, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 14:18

All the kings of the nations ,.... Of other nations, besides those he governed, and even of those whom he had subdued, at least their ancestors, the greatest part of them however; for the word "all" does not always signify every individual, though by the repetition of it, it here bids fair for such a sense, there being but very few, or scarce any exceptions to this observation; for, on some account or another, both good and bad kings are interred in great state: even all of them lie in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 14:19

But thou art cast out of thy grave ,.... Or rather "from" it F4 מקברך "a sepulchro tuo", Gataker. ; that is, he was not suffered to be put into it, or to have a burial, as the following words show, at least not to be laid in the grave designed for him; though the Jews F5 Seder Olam Rabba c. 28. fol. 81. , who apply this to Nebuchadnezzar, have a fabulous story that he was taken out of his grave by his son, to confirm this prophecy; and which their commentators, Aben Ezra,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 14:20

Thou shall not be joined with them in burial ,.... The kings before mentioned; not that the sense is that he should not be interred in the same place they were, or lie in the same stately monuments they did, for that was never designed by him or others; but that he should not be buried in like manner, be embalmed as they, or have odours burned for him, or lie in such state and pomp, or have a "pyramid" or "mausoleum", or any rich monument, erected over him; unless this can be understood of... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 14:1-23

THE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL , AND HER SONG OF TRIUMPH OVER BABYLON . The destruction of Babylon is to be followed by the restoration of Israel, with the good will of the nations, and by their exercising rule over their late oppressors ( Isaiah 14:1 , Isaiah 14:2 ). In this time of rest and refreshment they will sing a song of triumph over Babylon. The song extends from Isaiah 14:4 to Isaiah 14:23 . It consists of five stanzas, or strophes, each comprising seven... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 14:1-23

Song of redeemed Israel I. THE OCCASION OF THE SONG . ( Isaiah 14:1-3 .) The immediate purpose of that awful convulsion of the nations described in the preceding chapter was judgment; but beyond this lies the purpose of mercy. The inspired song of Israel is ever of "mercy and judgment." One loving purpose works, whether through the hiding of the cloud and the storm, or in the manifest brightness of the calm summer day. Whether he makes himself known to us amidst terror and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 14:4-23

Triumph over enemies. The "taunt-song" of Israel, as it has been called (Cheyne), like the "song of Deborah" in the Book of Judges (5.), raises the question how far triumph over a national enemy is a feeling that can be indulged with propriety. There can be no doubt that it is— I. A NATURAL FEELING . "The song of Deborah and Barak" expresses the feelings which have usually animated the victors in national contests from the beginning of the world to the present day. The poems of Homer... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 14:4-23

Sin and its humiliations. This strong, poetical utterance of Isaiah, though primarily directed against one particular city and, probably, one individual king, may convey to us all some serviceable lessons respecting sin generally, and more especially the humiliations which are in its train. We gather therefrom— I. THAT THE OPPRESSIVENESS OF SIN , THOUGH LONG CONTINUED , WILL CERTAINLY BE BROKEN DOWN . (Verses 4-7.) Sin is constantly, naturally, oppressive. It... read more

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