Isaiah 14: A Prophecy Against Babylon (2) + Philistia

• v.1-2 Israel will be returned from exile to their own land
• v.3-11 The nations who came against Israel [implied] will be brought down
• v.12-17 How Babylon’s pride will be brought down
• v.18-20 Your ruler will be swept away without a proper funeral
• v.21-23 Generations will be swept away
• v.24-27 This is God’s decreed plan that cannot be held back
• v.28-31 A prophecy against the Philistines for the benefit of Jerusalem

[Preliminary Comment: Most of this chapter is a continuation of the word [started in the previous chapter] against Babylon, with only the last few verses being given over to the word against the Philistines. The prophecy against Babylon is now put in the context of Israel being returned to their own land after the Exile [v.1,2] which of course only happened after the fall of Babylon at the hands of Cyrus. Once Israel are returned [v.3] they can rejoice at Babylon’s downfall [v.4-11]. Babylon’s pride is confronted [v.12-17], the cause of her fall, and its ruler will be swept away [v.18-20], the land cleared of people so future generations will be gone [v.21-23], all because God has decreed it [v.24], a prophecy to act as a warning to the Assyrians in the present [v.25], a plan that all the world will observe [v.26,27]. The remaining verses, 28-32, warn the Philistines that they are not immune from God’s judgment which will come on them for the benefit of Israel.]

v.1-2 Israel will be returned from exile to their own land

v.1  The Lord will have compassion on Jacob;
    once again he will choose Israel
    and will settle them in their own land.
Foreigners will join them
    and unite with the descendants of Jacob.

v.2  Nations will take them
    and bring them to their own place.

And Israel will take possession of the nations
    and make them male and female servants in the Lord’s land.
They will make captives of their captors
    and rule over their oppressors.

[Notes: Remember the context, this is a continuing word in respect of Babylon, as we’ll see in a moment. But first, the declaration that the Lord will eventually bring Israel home and, so to speak, the tables will be turned.]

v.3-11 The nations who came against Israel [implied] will be brought down

v.3  On the day the Lord gives you relief from your suffering and turmoil and from the harsh labor forced on you,

v.4 you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon:

How the oppressor has come to an end!
    How his fury has ended!
v.5  The Lord has broken the rod of the wicked,
    the sceptre of the rulers,

v.6 which in anger struck down peoples
    with unceasing blows,
and in fury subdued nations
    with relentless aggression.

v.7 All the lands are at rest and at peace;
    they break into singing.

v.8 Even the junipers and the cedars of Lebanon
    gloat over you and say,
‘Now that you have been laid low,
    no one comes to cut us down.’

v.9  The realm of the dead below is all astir
    to meet you at your coming;
it rouses the spirits of the departed to greet you –
    all those who were leaders in the world;
it makes them rise from their thrones –
    all those who were kings over the nations.

v.10  They will all respond,
    they will say to you,
‘You also have become weak, as we are;
    you have become like us.’

v.11 All your pomp has been brought down to the grave,
    along with the noise of your harps;
maggots are spread out beneath you
    and worms cover you.

[Notes: Israel’s suffering will be ended and Babylon brought down and God will deal with the nations so peace will prevail but the underworld will get ready to receive these nations as they fall and across the world there will be a recognition of these nations being brought down by God.]

v.12-17 How Babylon’s pride will be brought down

[Note: Some suggest these verses apply to Satan’s fall]

v.12 How you have fallen from heaven,
    morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
    you who once laid low the nations!

v.13 You said in your heart,
    ‘I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
    above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
    on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.

v.14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
    I will make myself like the Most High.’

v.15 But you are brought down to the realm of the dead,
    to the depths of the pit.

v.16 Those who see you stare at you,
    they ponder your fate:
‘Is this the man who shook the earth
    and made kingdoms tremble,

v.17 the man who made the world a wilderness,
    who overthrew its cities
    and would not let his captives go home?’

[Notes: You who looked so good and were so high, will be brought down. Is this a reference to Babylon’s leader or is it a picture, as some suggest, of Satan’s fall? Whichever their pride made them feel equal to God – but that won’t last, for now they will be destroyed and the world will see and marvel.]

v.18-20 Your ruler will be swept away without a proper funeral

v.18 All the kings of the nations lie in state,
    each in his own tomb.

v.19 But you are cast out of your tomb
    like a rejected branch;
you are covered with the slain,
    with those pierced by the sword,
    those who descend to the stones of the pit.
Like a corpse trampled underfoot,

v.20 you will not join them in burial,
for you have destroyed your land
    and killed your people.

Let the offspring of the wicked
    never be mentioned again.

[Notes: Continuing to refer to this fallen one, whereas dead kings have their tombs, this one will be denied a grave (and the honor of burial – implied.]

v.21-23 Generations will be swept away

v.21 Prepare a place to slaughter his children
    for the sins of their ancestors;
they are not to rise to inherit the land
    and cover the earth with their cities.

v.22 ‘I will rise up against them,’
    declares the Lord Almighty.
‘I will wipe out Babylon’s name and survivors,
    her offspring and descendants,’
declares the Lord.

v.23 ‘I will turn her into a place for owls
    and into swampland;
I will sweep her with the broom of destruction,’
    declares the Lord Almighty.

[Notes: Still referring to this one, even your children (following generations) will be wiped away for they will have no survivors, their land will be swept clean.]

v.24-27 This is God’s decreed plan that cannot be held back

v.24 The Lord Almighty has sworn,

‘Surely, as I have planned, so it will be,
    and as I have purposed, so it will happen.

v.25 I will crush the Assyrian in my land;
    on my mountains I will trample him down.
His yoke will be taken from my people,
    and his burden removed from their shoulders.’

v.26 This is the plan determined for the whole world;  this is the hand stretched out over all nations.

v.27 For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him?
    His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?

[Notes: This is God’s will decreed. In the present Assyria will be brought down [as an example for future Babylon. God’s plans cover the whole world and no one can thwart His plans.]

v.28-31 A prophecy against the Philistines for the benefit of Jerusalem

v.28 This prophecy came in the year King Ahaz died:

v.29 Do not rejoice, all you Philistines,
    that the rod that struck you is broken;
from the root of that snake will spring up a viper,
    its fruit will be a darting, venomous serpent.

v.30 The poorest of the poor will find pasture,
    and the needy will lie down in safety.
But your root I will destroy by famine;
    it will slay your survivors.

v.31 Wail, you gate! Howl, you city!
    Melt away, all you Philistines!
A cloud of smoke comes from the north,
    and there is not a straggler in its ranks.

v.32 What answer shall be given
    to the envoys of that nation?
‘The Lord has established Zion,
    and in her his afflicted people will find refuge.’

[Notes: This word comes in 715 BC and Philistia are told, don’t get excited that your oppressor has fallen, for God is coming to bring destruction to you. You will be attacked from the north and it will happen for the benefit of Jerusalem.]

For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: