Isaiah 14

A promise concerning the deliverance of the people of God out of the Babylonish captivity, and likewise concerning the calling of the Gentiles, vers.1. Words wherewith the Babylonians are jeared or mocked, 4. God stirreth up the Persians and Medes for their destruction 21, and their ruine is again foretold, 22. A threatening against the Philistines, 29.

1. For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and he will yet choose Israel, and he will set them in their (own) land: [Here the Prophet giveth a reason wherefore God would destroy the Babylonians by the Medes and Persians, as is said, ch.13.to wit, that by such means he might deliver his people out of the Babylonish captivity. (For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob) that is, on the Jews that are in captivity in Babylon. (will have mercy) This is not onely to be understood of a temporal deliverance from the Babylonish captivity; but also of the spiritual deliverance of the people of God by Jesus Christ. (and he) to wit, the Lord. (will yet) or, further, henceforth. (choose Israel) that is, will yet further accept of Israel his chosen people, whom he even now called Jacob, making it really appear, that he made choice of Israel to be his own peculiar people. (and he will set them) to wit, Jacob and Israel, that is the Jews. (in their (own) land) [to wit, in the land of Juda, delivering them out of the Babylonish captivity] and the stranger shall join himself unto them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. [The stranger, etc. That is, some of the Heathen or Gentiles, yea, even of the Babylonians. This is a promise concerning the calling of the Gentiles unto Christ, by the Preaching of the Gospel. See Rom.ch.11.]

2. And the nations shall receive them, and bring them into their place, [Or, to their place; that is, into their own Country] and the house of Israel shall possess the hereditarily in the land of the LORD, [that is, in Juda, thus called, because God had given them that land for an inheritance, and taken up his rest in the temple at Jerusalem] for servants, and for handmaids: and they shall rule over their drivers (or oppressors) [This was first accomplished, when certain nations among the Heathen afforded all possible aid and service unto the Jews, when they returned out of captivity unto Jerusalem, Ezra.1.6. and afterward, when many heathen were by the believing Jews (by the Apostles, their fellow-helpers and followers) brought to the obedience of the Gospel, and to the fellowship of the Christian Church. See above, ch.11.v.14. and below, ch.66.v.20. (and the house of Israel shall possess them hereditarily, etc.) that is, the Israelites shall have the nations so under their authority and command, as if they were their servant and bondmen. But this to be meant of a voluntary or willing serviceableness, proceeding from thence, that the strangers should embrace the religion of the Jews, and afterward the Christian Religion. (In the land of the LORD,) that is, in Juda; which is so called, because the LORD had given the Jews that land for an inheritance, and because he had taken up his rest in the temple at Jerusalem. (and they shall keep those captives, or prisoners, that kept them Prisoners, etc.) This was accomplished, when the Gentiles by the Preaching of the Apostles were brought in subjection unto Christ. See 2 Cor.v.5,6.]

3. And it shall come to pass in the day, when the LORD shall give thee [Namely, O my people of Israel] rest from thy sorrow, and from thy commotion, and from the hard bondage, wherein thou wast made to serve: [See Deut.28.48.]

4. Then shalt thou take up [That is, use, take into thy mouth, as Psal.50.16.] This proverb against [or, of, or, concerning] the King of Babel, and say, how doth the Driver (or, Oppressor) [that is, that tyrant, that cruel ruler] cease? [As if they should say, how is it possible, that so mighty and so great a Kingdom should be ruined and destroyed in one night? From this place unto the 21th. Verse, are described the joyful words of the people of God, concerning the ruine and destruction of the Babylonians] how doth the Golden one cease? [understand here by the golden, the City of Babel, which was rich and stately, the garments and household-stuff of her inhabitants glistering of gold and silver. See Dan.chap.2. and chap.3. Oth. The gold-thristy, or the gold-exacting. It cometh from a Chaldee word, which signifieth gold. The Prophet mocketh at Babel, the Chief City of Chaldea, in a word taken from the Chaldee tongue.]

5. The LORD hath broken the stick [Or staff] of the wicked, the sceptre of the Rulers. [that is, the hath broken the hard and cruel dominion of the Babylonians. This is an answer to the question that is put forth, v.4. Intimating, that God would certainly destroy the Babylonians, how impossible soever it seemed to be in the eyes or judgement of men.]

6. He that plagued the nations in wrath , with a plague without ceasing: [Oth. With a plague which is not to be kept off, or hindered] he that ruled over the Heathen in anger, he is persecuted, and none is able to hinder it. [He is persecuted; to wit, by the Persians and Medes, and is not able to hinder it, yea, neither he himself, nor any man else. Oth. If any man was persecuted, or oppressed, he hindered it not. Understand withal, but he suffered every one to use violence and oppression, according to his pleasure.]

7. The whole earth [That is, the inhabitants of the earth; therefore is followeth, they make; etc. In the plural number] is at rest, it is quiet: [the meaning is, Now the robbing or plundering City, and the land of Babel are subdued and destroyed, all the world is at rest, and in peace] they make great sound with shouting.

8. Also the fir-trees rejoice at thee, (and) the Cedars of Libanon: [These are the words of the people unto the King of Babel, using Allegorical and poetical phrases, which may be first of all taken thus: to wit, that after the destruction of the Babylonian Monarch, the woods and trees should have cause to rejoice, because hence-forward they should not be so felled and cut down for all kind of building, and Engines of War, as was wont to be done, when that Kingdom yet flourished. By the fir-trees and cedars may be also understood the Kings and Princes, whom the King of Babel had subdued] (saying,) Since the time that thou liest down, [or, sleepest: that is, art dead] (there) cometh no man up against us, to hew us down. [Or, to destroy us.]

9. Hell [Or, the grave] from beneath was moved for thy sake, to go meet (there) when thou camest: [As they are wont to meet great LORDS and Princes at their coming, (when thou comest) to wit, when thou being dead camest to them into the grave, to into hell. As if he had said, seeing thou hast lost all thine honour and reputation among men upon the earth, the dead and those that are in hell, will shew some kind of honour and respect unto thee. See the like borrowed and poetical phrase, Ezek.31.16. and 32.18. and elsewhere besides] it [to wit, hell, or the grave] raiseth up all the dead, [Oth. The giants. See Gen.14.on v.5. and Job.26.on v.5.] for thy sake all the goats of the earth, [that is, Princes, Nobles, Rulers, who are called goats, because as the four-footed goats or rams, go before the flock, and are strong, so do also Princes, &c. See Jer.50.8. Dan.8.5. Zach.10.3. And understand here the Princes that lie in their graves] it causeth all the Kings of the heathen to rise up from their thrones. [the graves or sepulchres are the thrones, beds, and seats of dead Kings.]

10. All they shall answer [That is, speak, see Judg.ch.18. the annotate.on v.14.] and say unto thee, thou art also become sick, as we, thou art become like unto us. [Oth. Art thou also become weak, or feeble? That is, deprived of thy great power, as we? That is, as well as we? Art thou become like unto us? It is an Ironical speech with admiration.]

11. Thy pride is poured down, [Come down, thrust down, crushed down] into hell, [Oth. Into the grave] (with) the sound of thy Lutes: [that is, with the pleasant music, pleasure, and delight, which thou wart wont to have on earth. See Dan.ch.3. v.5.10,15.] the maggots shall be strawed under thee, and the worms shall cover thee. [as if he had said, these shall be thy tapestries, costly blankets, and coverlets.]

12. How art thou fallen out heaven, [Or, from heaven. By heaven is meant here, the Royal glory, Lustre, and beauty] O Morning-star, [so the Prophet calleth the King of Babel, because his glory here on earth was as the Lustre and brightness of the Morning-star in heaven, or in the firmament, shining clearer and brighter then any other stars of heaven, insomuch that it alone giveth a shadow] thou son of day-break! (how) art thou hewen down to the ground, thou that didst weaken the heathen? [Oth. Thou art maimed above other nations. That is, God hath dealt harder with thee, then with some other Kings of the heathen.]

13. And saidest in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: [As if he had said, I will assume or take unto me the seat, honour, glory and power of God. (above the stars of God) that is, above the highest and fairest] and I will set me (down) upon the mount of the congregation, [so he calleth mount Zion, whereon the city of Jerusalem lay, and beside it the temple upon Mount Moria, where the people met together for the service of God. And by these words is discovered the bold presumption of the Kings of Babel, who imagined, that when they should have overcome Jerusalem, that they should then be seated in the throne of God, and that the same honour should be performed unto them, which was wont to be performed there unto the true God] at the sides of the North. [Here lay mount Moria, whereon the Temple was built, see Psal.48.3.]

14. I will ascend above the height of the clouds, I will be like the most high.

15. Yea, thou shalt be thrust down into hell at the sides of the pit. [Here the Prophet speaketh again in his own person. (thou shalt be thrust down) To wit, by the Persians and Medes. (into hell) or, into the grave.]

16. They that shall see [To wit, the dead that are already buried] shall look upon thee, [to wit, with admiration. Oth. Shall narrowly look upon thee] they shall consider thee, (and) say, is this that man that did shake the earth? That made the Kingdoms to resemble? [As if he had said, they shall stand exceedingly amazed, doubting whether thou be that proud King of Babel, yea or no.]

17. That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the Cities thereof? That released not his prisoners (to go) home. [The meaning is, that was so cruel and unreconcileable, as that they never released those, whom he had once taken captive.]

18. All the Kings of the heathen, they all, [That is, as many as there are of them] lie down in honour, every one in his (own) house. [that is, they died in honour, and are buried in the sepulchres, which they, or their ancestors had caused to be made for themselves, and for their families.]

19. But thou art cast away from thy grave [That is, from the grave wherein thou intendest to have been buried. Or, thou art cast away, or put by, so that thou art not buried in a royal sepulchre, or with Kingly honour and solemnity] like an abominable sprout, [that is, like a filthy, rotten, contemptible stick, or piece of wood. Others take it thus: Thou art a degenerative evil sprout; that is, son or off spring, not worthy to be buried near his ancestors] (as) a garment of the slain ones, [which is rent, and full of holes, filthy and defiled with blood and mare, which is therefore of no value or esteem, but is cast with the dead body into the grave] that are thrust through with the sword. [Hebr. The pierced ones ones of the sword. Oth. The laden, or covered ones of the sword, that are laden, or covered with swords. We say likewise sometimes, that a man is well covered (that is, smitten or wounded) with swords and sticks] (as) those that go down into a stone-pit, [Heb. To the stones of the pit] as a dead body trodden under feet. [that is, thou shall not be honourably buried, (or according to the common custom) but they shall let thee lie above ground upon the earth, and cast onely an heap of Stones upon thee, as a dead carcase is covered with earth, stones and dung.]

20. Thou shalt be joined with them in burial: [To wit, with the other Kings of the Heathen, or Gentiles, as v.18. That is, thou shalt not be buried in such honour and pomp, as they were buried] for thou hast destroyed thy land, (and) slain thy people, [to wit, thine own land, and thine own people] the seed [that is, the children or family] of evil doers [Such as was Belsazar and other ancestors of this King. Or, of evil doers, that is, thy seed. Understand withal, but it shall be cut off] shall not be named, [that is, not be remembered; to wit, in honour, or with praise and renown, but with contempt, and with reproach, and dishonour] forever. [that is, not always.]

21. Make ready [Or, prepare] the slaughter for his children, [the meaning is, Ye Persians and Medes fit and prepare yourselves for it, to wit, to slay and kill his, to wit, the King of Babels children, or sons. For God speaketh here unto the Persians and Medes, as likewise unto all those, whom besides them he would use, for to kill and cut off the King and his] foes the iniquity of their fathers sake, that they do not rise and inherit [or, possess hereditarily] the earth, and fill the world with cities. [that is, that they do not so increase and multiply themselves, as to build cities, fill them with men, and to enlarge their jurisdiction, or dominion. Oth. Fill the world with enemies; to wit, with enemies and persecutors of Gods church, and of all godly and religious persons.]

22. For I will rise up against them, [To wit, against the children of the King Babel] saith the LORD of hosts, and I will cut off from Babel the name, and the remnant, [That is, those that were left] and the son, and the sons son, [Oth. Both the son and the nephew] saith the LORD.

23. And I will make it [To wit, the city of Babel] an inheritance [Oth. An hereditary possession] of owls, [Oth. Of urchins, or hedge-hogs. Oth. Of bitterns. Oth. Of bevers.Oth. of pool-eagles. The Prophet intimateth, that Babel shall lie so desolate, that non shall dwell in it but wild savage beasts] and pools of water, and I will sweep it with a besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts.

24. The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying: If it come not so to pass, as I have thought, and as I have consulted, [Or, have decreed in (my) counsel] it shall stand! [Oth. Sure it shall come to pass, &c. It is a kind of oath, see Psal.89.on v.36.]

25. That I will break to pieces Assur, [That is, the Assyrians in the reign of Sanherib. Others understand here the Babylonians, who are here so called, because they did at that time possess that which the Assyrians had possessed in times past, having brought them under their obedience and subjection. See the like phrase, Ezra 6:22.] in my land, [to wit, in the land of Juda, before Libna, or in their march toward Jerusalem, 2 Kings 19:8,35.] and upon my mountains, [that is, upon the mountains that lie in the land of Juda, which was Gods land. See Psal.12.5.2.] treated him under foot: that his yoke [to wit, the yoke of the King of Assyria, that is, slavery or bandage, whereby he oppresseth the Jews, compelling them to pay tribute unto him] may depart from off them, [to wit, from off the Jews that dwelt in that country. Oth. Then shall his yoke depart from off them] and his brethren [to wit, from off my peoples shoulder.]

26. This is the counsel that is consulted [To wit, by the Lord] upon that whole land; [to wit, upon the land of Babylon, and the subjects or inhabitants thereof] and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. [to wit, upon all the nations that were under the Monarchy of the King of Babel, who reigned almost over all people, and nations.]

27. For the LORD of hosts hath determined it in his counsel, who then shall break [or disannul] it? [compare 2 Chron.20.6. Job 9:12. Prov.31.30.] and his hand is stretched out, who then shall turn it? [or, turn it away? Compare Daniel 4:32. Some do here put an end to the fourteeneth chapter, and they make a particular chapter of the five next following verses.]

28. In the years when King Achaz died, [See 2 Kings 16:20.] there happened [that is, was revealed, to wit, unto the prophet Isaiah in a divine vision] this burden. [that is, prediction or prophecy concerning the judgement that should come upon the philistines. See above, ch.13.1.]

29. Rejoice not, thou whole Palestina, that the rod that smote thee [Oth. Of him that smote thee] is broken; for out the serpents mouth shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying dragon. [Understand here by the rod or staff, King Uzia, 2 Chron.26.6. who like a serpent, stung and wounded the Philistines. The meaning is, Rejoice not in this, that thou thinkest to be at liberty, because of the death of King Uzia, for out of him shall come forth another King, (to wit, Hizkia) who shall plague thee yet harder. By the cockatrice, hurting them more then his grandfather Uzia had done. See 2 Kings 18:8. (and his) to wit, that serpenters (fruit) to wit, King Hizkia, that descended from Uzia. (shall be a fiery flying dragon.) Such king of snakes or serpents are found in Egypt. Lydia, and elsewhere. See the annotate. Numb.21.on v.6.]

30. And the first-born of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety: [To wit, as cattle do, when they have fed sufficiently, and eaten their bellies full. By the first-born of the poor is meant the chiefest among the meaner sort; that is, the poorest or meanest, namely, in the Kingdom of Juda. See Job chap.18.on vers.13. Or, understand here by the first-born of the poor, the Jews in general, who for some space of time were the most miserable among the miserable ones. These shall dwell in safety, and prosper in King Hizkia’s days: and which is here intimated by the word feeding, as above, chap.5.17.] on the contrary, I will kill thy root with famine, [the meaning is, O ye Philistines, I will destroy you with famine, to the very root, both old and young, citizens, and husband-men] and he [to wit, that Cockatrice, King Hizkia] shall slay thy remnant. [see the accomplishment of this Prophecy, 2 Kings 18:8.]

31. Howl, thou gate; [understand hereby the gate the rulers, and the chiefest of the philistines, that met together in the City-gate] cry, thou City, [that is, the Cities; to wit, that lie in the Philistines country] thou art melted [to wit, sore fear and terror] thou whole Palestina: for (there) cometh a smoak, [that is, an army, which shall bite through, an pierce through, like a smoak; to wit, Hizkia with his army or camp] from the north [that is, from Judea, which lay north-ward of the Philistines] and there is no solitary one, (or none alone) in his assemblies. [the meaning is, no man shall absent himself, but the Jews shall with one accord, and in great troops and companies set upon, and assault thee: they shall be ready to fall upon thee all at one. (in his assemblies, or congregations) that is, in his army. Oth. In his appointed times; that is, when that time shall be come, which the Lord hath appointed for to march forth.]

32. What shall one then answer the messengers [Or, Ambassadors] of the Nation? [understand here the Ambassadors of the Philistines, that should desire that Hizkia would cease from warring against them, or to dispute the right which they pretended o have unto the land of Juda: or whatsoever action Hizkia had (or might have) against them] That the LORD hath founded Zion, that the afflicted of his people might have refuge in it. [This is the answer to the question. (That the LORD hath founded Zion) see Psal.87.1,5. And Psal.102.17. (that the afflicted of his people might have refuge in it.) Intimating, that God gave the land of Juda for an inheritance unto his people, and that he will know how to defend and protect them in it by his mighty power.]