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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 14:28

In the year that King Ahaz died was this burden. The following heavy prophecy, concerning the destruction of the Philistines; whether it was delivered out before or after his death is not certain. Here some begin the "fifteenth" chapter Isaiah 15:1 , and not improperly; henceforward prophecies are delivered out under another reign, as before under Uzziah, Jotham, and Ahaz, now under Hezekiah. This, according to Bishop Usher, was A. M. 3278 and before the Christian era 726. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 14:29

Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina ,.... The land of the Philistines; the inhabitants of Palestine are meant, who rejoiced at the death of Uzziah, who was too powerful for them, and during the reign of Ahaz, of whom they had the better; and, now he was dead, they hoped things would still be more favourable to them, since a young prince, Hezekiah, succeeded him; but they would find, by sad experience, that they had no occasion to rejoice in these changes: "whole Palestine" is mentioned,... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 14:31

Howl, O gate ,.... Or gates of the cities of Palestine; the magistrates that sat there to execute judgment, or the people that passed through there; or because now obliged to open to their enemies; wherefore, instead of rejoicing, they are called to howling: cry, O city ; or cities, the several cities of the land, as well as their chief, because of the destruction coming upon them. The Targum is, "howl over thy gates, and cry over thy cities;' or concerning them: thou, whole... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 14:32

What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation ?.... Or nations, of any of the nations. Not the messengers sent to Hezekiah, Isaiah 39:1 but rather such as were sent to him, to congratulate him upon his victory over the Philistines; or any others that were sent, and came from other nations, that inquired about these matters, and the answer returned is, That the Lord hath founded Zion ; and not Hezekiah; he had given his people victory over their enemies, and protected,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:28

In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden - Uzziah had subdued the Philistines, 2 Chronicles 26:6 , 2 Chronicles 26:7 ; but, taking advantage of the weak reign of Ahaz, they invaded Judea, and took, and held in possession, some cities in the southern part of the kingdom. On the death of Ahaz, Isaiah delivers this prophecy, threatening them with the destruction that Hezekiah, his son, and great-grandson of Uzziah, should bring upon them: which he effected; for "he smote the... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:31

There shall come from the north a smoke "From the north cometh a smoke" - That is, a cloud of dust raised by the march of Hezekiah's army against Philistia; which lay to the south-west from Jerusalem. A great dust raised has, at a distance, the appearance of smoke: Fumantes pulvere campi ; "The fields smoking with dust." - Virg. Aen. 11:908. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 14:32

The messengers of the nation "The ambassadors of the nations" - The Septuagint read גוים goyim , εθνων , plural; and so the Chaldee, and one MS. The ambassadors of the neighboring nations, that send to congratulate Hezekiah on his success, which in his answer he will ascribe to the protection of God. See 2 Chronicles 32:23 . Or, if גוי goi singular, the reading of the text, be preferred, the ambassadors sent by the Philistines to demand peace. - L. The Lord hath founded Zion -... read more

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