Isaiah 26:5

For he bringeth down them that dwell on high, the lofty city ,.... That dwell on high in the high city, so the accents require the words to be rendered; and accordingly the Targum is,

"for he will bring low the inhabitants of the high and strong city;'

such that dwell in a city built on high, and in the high towers and palaces of it; or that sit on high thrones, are spiritual wickednesses in high places, and are of proud and haughty dispositions and conduct; as the pope of Rome and his cardinals, &c.; for not the city of Jerusalem is here meant, as Jerom thinks, whose destruction he supposes is foretold, as both by the Babylonians and Romans; and therefore, he observes, the word is doubled in the next clause; nor the city of Nineveh; nor Babylon, literally taken; but mystical Babylon is here meant. Jarchi interprets them that dwell on high of Tyre and Greece; but Jerom says, the Jews understand by the lofty city the city of Rome; and this seems to be the true sense; a city built upon seven hills or mountains; a city that has ruled over the kings of the earth, and whose present inhabitants are proud and haughty:

he layeth it low: he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust ; all which expressions denote the utter destruction of it; see Isaiah 25:12 .