Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 14:21
Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.
21. slaughter ] a place of slaughter (R.V. marg.).
that they do not rise land ] R.V. that they rise not up, and possess the earth.
full the face of the world with cities ] This could hardly be reckoned a crime, for it would be undoing the wrong that their father had wrought ( Isa 14:17). Some render “enemies” or gain that sense by an emendation. Others change the word ‘rm (cities) into ‘iyym (ruined heaps). The easiest correction is simply to omit the word, the sense being complete without it.
The elegy ends here. The passage just considered ( Isa 14:9-20) bears a close resemblance to Ezekiel’s dirge over the fall of Pharaoh and his host (Eze 32:19 ff.). Many questions of great interest and importance are suggested by both. The most important is how far such representations are to be taken as expressing the fixed belief of the writers or their age with regard to the state after death. Their affinities with Babylonian speculation on that subject, taken in connexion with the fact that such elaborate descriptions of the underworld do not occur before the Exile, may indicate that the imagination of the writers had been influenced by their contact with the religion of their conquerors. In that case it may be reasonable to suppose that they freely availed themselves of the material thus laid to their hand merely as poetic imagery, without meaning to attribute strict objective reality to all the conceptions. At the same time there was a common basis of belief underlying the Hebrew and Babylonian ideas regarding the future state, and all that is essential to the understanding of this passage was probably familiar to the minds of the Israelites before the Exile. In the conception as here presented the following points are to be noted. (1) Sheol, which is figured as a vast subterranean region, is the common gathering-place of all the dead. They exist there as shades, rph ’m ( Isa 14:9), a word which is usually explained to mean “feeble ones,” weak, pithless adumbrations of the living form. These are represented as capable of being roused to a transient interest in human affairs by the arrival amongst them of so distinguished a personage as the king of Babylon; but their ordinary condition is one of utter inactivity, a sort of conscious death rather than life. It is true that the writer speaks only of kings and potentates, and throws little light on the state of the common man after death. Still the Old Testament as a whole knows nothing of separate spheres of existence for the righteous and for the wicked, and that idea is certainly not to be imported into the present passage. (2) We seem to find a clear trace of the antique notion that the lot of the shade in Sheol depends on the fate of the body on earth. The kings who have received due interment sit each on his throne retaining the semblance of their former greatness, while he who was “cast forth away from his sepulchre” is relegated to the “recesses of the pit.” This, however, is connected with the conviction that the fate of the body is not accidental; a dishonoured death expresses the final judgment of God on a career of exceptional wickedness. And it is this judgment of God, executed on earth, which is regarded as reflected and perpetuated in the condition of the disembodied spirit. (3) In this way the idea of retribution is extended to the other world. There is indeed an essential difference between the application of the principle here given and that to which a fuller revelation has led us. As we have seen, the retribution here spoken of is only the counterpart of a retribution already manifest on earth, whereas we have learned to look to the future life to redress the inequalities of the present, and to bring about a perfect correspondence between character and destiny, never realised in this world.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Prepare slaughter for his children – That is, cut them off not only from inheriting the honor of their father, but from life. This command seems to be directed to the Medes and Persians, and denotes that they would thus cut off his children.
For the iniquity of their fathers – On account of the crimes of their ancestors – the pride, haughtiness, and oppression of the kings of Babylon. This is the statement of a general principle of the divine administration, that the consequences of crime often pass over from the perpetrator, and impinge on his descendants (see Exo 20:5).
That they do not rise – That they do not rise to occupy the places of their fathers; that they be degraded and reduced from their elevation and honored.
Nor fill the face of the world with cities – The Septuagint renders this, And fill the land with wars. The Chaldee, And fill the face of the world with enemies. The Syriac, And fill the face of the earth with war. These versions evidently took the word arym to mean enemies or wars – a sense which the word sometimes may have. But the common interpretation is to be preferred. The apprehension was, that they would fill the land, if they lived, with such cities of pride, magnificence, and wickedness, as Babylon was, and that thus crimes would be multiplied and prolonged; and hence, the purpose of God was not only to cut off Babylon – the model of all cities of arrogance and pride – but also to cut off those who would be disposed to rear similar cities, and to fill the land again with crime.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Prepare slaughter for his children; O ye Medes and Persians, cut off all the branches of the royal family of Babylon.
For the iniquity of their fathers; in the guilt whereof the children are justly involved, partly because of that community of nature and interest which is between parents and children, which makes them for the most part bear a share with them, as in their rewards and advantages, so also in their punishments and miseries; and partly because they justified their sins by their impenitency, and imitation of their wicked example.
Do not rise, i.e. not recover their former splendour and power.
With cities; erected by them, either as instruments of tyranny, to keep the country round about them in slavery, or as monuments of their power and riches, as Babylon was, Dan 4:30.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
21. Prepare, c.charge to theMedes and Persians, as if they were God’s consciousinstruments.
his childrenBelshazzar’s(Ex 20:5).
riseto occupy theplaces of their fathers.
fill . . . with citiesMAURERtranslates, “enemies,” as the Hebrew means in 1Sa 28:16Psa 139:20; namely, lest theyinundate the world with their armies. VITRINGAtranslates, “disturbers.” In English Version themeaning is, “lest they fill the land with such cities”of pride as Babylon was.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Prepare slaughter for his children,…. These words are directed to the Medes and Persians, to prepare instruments of slaughter, and make use of them; and prepare themselves for the slaughter of the whole royal family, Belshazzar and all his children. So it is threatened to Jezebel, or the Romish antichrist, that all her children should be killed with death, Re 2:23:
for the iniquity of their fathers; they imitating and following them in their sins, partaking of them, and filling up the measure of their iniquities:
that they do not rise, nor possess the land; stand up and succeed him in the government of the land, as their inheritance:
nor fill the face of the world with cities; as their ancestors had done, which were built by them to perpetuate their name and glory, and to keep the nations in awe subdued by them. The Targum renders it, “with enemies”; which is followed by Aben Ezra, Jarchi, and Kimchi; and so the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, “with wars”; to the great disturbance of the peace of the world, and to the disquietude of the inhabitants of it; which is a great plague to the world, and a judgment in it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
“Prepare a slaughter-house for his sons, because of the iniquity of their fathers! They shall not rise and conquer lands, and fill the face of the earth with cities.” They exhortation is addressed to the Medes, if the prophet had any particular persons in his mind at all. After the nocturnal storming of Babylon by the Medes, the new Babylonian kingdom and royal house which had been established by Nabopolassar vanished entirely from history. The last shoot of the royal family of Nabopolassar was slain as a child of conspirators. The second Nebuchadnezzar deceived the people (as Darius says in the great inscription of Behistan), declaring, “I am Nabukudrac ara the son of Nabunita.” (used poetically for , like in Isa 14:6 for ) expresses a negative wish (as pen does a negative intention): Let no Babylonian kingdom ever arise again! Hitzig corrects into (heaps of ruins), Ewald into (tyrants), Knobel into , and Meier into , which are said to signify conflicts, whilst Maurer will not take in the sense of cities, but of enemies. But there is no necessity for this at all. Nimrod, the first founder of a Babylonio-Assyrian kingdom, built cities to strengthen his monarchy. The king of Asshur built cities for the Medes, for the purpose of keeping them better in check. And it is to this building of cities, as a support to despotism, that the prophet here refers.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Verse 21-23
1. His dynasty will perish with him – his offspring slaughtered, (Verse 21-22).
2. And the Lord will sweep Babylon with “the broom of destruction” – making it the possession of porcupines, (Verse 23).
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
21. Prepare slaughter for his children. Here Isaiah prophesies more plainly than before against the king of Babylon. He speaks of the whole of his descendants, to whom he intimates that this destruction extends. We must keep in mind what we formerly said, that hitherto the Prophet has spoken not of a single man, but of a whole dynasty; and now he removes all doubt as to the metaphorical language. The rendering given by the old translation, Prepare his children for the slaughter, does not agree well; for the preposition ל, ( lamed,) which is prefixed, evidently shows that it ought to be translated to or for the children.
We must see to whom this discourse relates. It must be understood that reference is made, though not directly expressed, to some servants as officers or executioners, whom the Lord orders to be in a state of preparation for executing his judgments. And who were they? Partly the Medes and Persians, and partly others by whom Babylon was completely overthrown; for, as we have formerly said, Babylon was not entirely destroyed when the Persians subdued it. He therefore addresses those whom the Lord, by his eternal decree, had appointed to destroy Babylon. This mode of expression is more energetic than if he had merely said that slaughter was prepared; for he shows that he not only disposes of wicked men according to his pleasure, but that he has servants at hand to punish their sins.
For the iniquity of their fathers. When he says that in this manner the iniquity of the fathers is punished, it may at first sight appear to be excessively harsh to include the children along with the fathers in what relates to the infliction of punishment on them, and still more harsh, that the punishment due to the fathers should be extended even to their children and grandchildren. This inconsistency may easily be avoided if the word עון ( gnavon) be translated misery; for it denotes the punishment of sin as well as sin itself. (Exo 20:5; Deu 5:9; Jer 32:18.) But as it is frequently stated in Scripture, that God recompenses the sins of the parents into the bosom of the children, there is no necessity for evading it in this manner.
Nor is this inconsistent with what is said by Ezekiel,
The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father. (Eze 18:20.)
God does not punish any innocent person; and this passage ought not to be understood as if the punishment due to ancestors were transferred by God to children who in other respects deserved no such punishment; for the guilt of the children is connected with the guilt of the fathers. Not to mention the universal curse of the human race, to which all are subject from the womb, let us take the example of some wicked man. When the Lord casts away that man and his posterity, we certainly have no right to remonstrate with him. If his blessing is free and undeserved, we have no right to constrain him, because he does not bestow it equally on all. His grace is free; and each of us ought to reflect, that anything good which we have, does not naturally belong to us, but, on the contrary, comes from another quarter, and has proceeded from the undeserved goodness of God. If, therefore, he cast off any one, must not that man’s seed also be accursed? When we are destitute of his grace, what remains but iniquity? And if they are liable to eternal death, much more to temporal punishments; for he who has been condemned to undergo capital punishment, deserves much more to endure imprisonment and scourging.
This ought to be carefully observed. I consider it to be a childish reply that is given by those who think that the Lord inflicts temporal punishments on the children of wicked men for the sins of their parents, and who do not look upon it as unworthy of God to inflict punishments of this nature even on innocent persons; for God never punishes those who do not deserve it, and he is by nature inclined to compassion; and how would he spare wicked men if he exercised his wrath against the innocent? We ought, therefore, to hold it as a settled point, that all who are destitute of the grace of God are involved in the sentence of eternal death. Hence it follows, that the children of the reprobate, whom the curse of God pursues, are liable to the same sentence. Isaiah, therefore, does not speak of innocent children, but of flagitious and unprincipled children, who perhaps even exceeded their parents in wickedness; in consequence of which they were justly associated with their parents, and subjected to the same punishment, seeing that they have followed the same manner of life.
It will be said, that in that case they suffer the punishment of their own sin and not of their parents. This, I acknowledge, is partly true; but it was with their parents that the rejection began, on account of which they also have been forsaken and rejected by God. Their own guilt is not set aside as if they had been innocent; but, having been involved in the same sins as to reprobation, they are also liable to the same punishments and miseries. I am aware that this solution does not satisfy those who never cease to quarrel with God; but I give myself little concern about them, provided that I satisfy godly persons and those who are not fond of disputing; and these, I hope and trust, will be well satisfied with this reply, which is true.
That they may not fill the face of the world with cities. Some render it, that they may not fill the face of the earth with enemies; as if the Prophet meant that all wicked men are enemies of the human race, or rather of the whole earth; and, therefore, that the Lord provides for the safety of all, when he takes them out of the midst; for the earth would otherwise be choked by them as by thorns and briers. But this signification appears to express something more; for the earth receives us into her bosom, if we do our duty; and if we be despisers of God, the earth, even against her will, nourishes and supports us as enemies.
But I would rather follow another signification, which is more commonly received. I think that the Prophet intimates that wicked men have a numerous progeny, and that they surpass others both in numbers and in display, which we also see taking place every day, and which has originated the proverb, that “a bad reed grows quickly.” The Prophet, therefore, insinuates, that wicked men would fill the whole earth not only with men, but also with towns, if the Lord did not beforehand perceive and guard against this evil, and diminish their number. When we everywhere see a vast multitude of wicked men, by whom the earth is almost overwhelmed, it is what we richly deserve; but the Lord never deals so harshly with us as not to leave some remnant of good seed, however small, and likewise to reserve some corners of the earth in which godly men shall have a little breathing. And if the Lord did not cut off a large proportion of wicked men, the earth would undoubtedly be soon overwhelmed by them.
This confirms what we have already said, that the children of the Babylonians who were slain were not innocent, for here the cause is assigned, that they may not fill the earth with cities. It follows, therefore, that they were wicked, and are taken away by a righteous judgment, that provision may be made for the salvation of men, and that the Lord cannot be accused of harshness and cruelty.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
c. DESTROYED
TEXT: Isa. 14:21-27
21
Prepare ye slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers, that they rise not up, and possess the earth, and fill the face of the world with cities.
22
And I will rise up against them, saith Jehovah of hosts, and cut off from Babylon name and remnant, and son and sons son, saith Jehovah.
23
I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, and pools, of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith Jehovah of hosts.
24
Jehovah of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely, as I have thought,. so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:
25
that I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulder.
26
This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.
27
For Jehovah of hosts hath purposed, and who shall annul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?
QUERIES
a.
Why such total eradication of Babylon?
b.
What is a besom?
c.
Why mention Assyria in the same context as Babylon?
PARAPHRASE
Let all the world prepare for the slaughter of the descendants of this wicked king and his empire. Let them be destroyed lest they rise up in rebellion against Gods intentions for mans redemption and try to possess the earth and man for the kingdom of darkness. I, Jehovah, will rise against Babylon and destroy his posterity and prevent them from ever taking over the whole human race. I will make the land of the Babylonians to be taken over and possessed by wild animals and I will make it become a territory of swamps and marshes. I will sweep the nation from the face of the earth with my broom of destruction. Jehovah has taken an oath to do all this! It is His immutable purpose to do it! When He purposes to do it, it is as good as done. He says, I will break the Assyrian army when it is in My land and I will crush them utterly; I will take the Assyrians yoke of servitude off My people. This is My plan for mankindto break the yoke of paganism and conquer the worldly powers so that man will no longer be a slave of darkness. The Lord God of hosts has declared this as His plan and who can thwart His plan? He has begun to extend His hand to accomplish His purpose and who will stop it?
COMMENTS
Isa. 14:21-23 BABYLON DECIMATION: These verses are Gods statement of the complete eradication of some of the most implacable enemies of His covenant people. Babylon was noted for its materialism, paganism and sheer wealth. It was dedicated to exploitation of weaker peoples for its own pleasure and wealth. Many weaker nations prostituted their own national sovereignty to Babylon for survivals sake as well as for indulgences sake. Israel and Judah were two such nations. Weaker nations adopted the ways of the Babylonians, signed military and trade treaties with her and finally ended up paying extortion in the form of tribute. Babylon was used some 800 years later by the apostle John in Revelation as a symbol of Romes materialism and spiritual harlotry. Babylon characterized all the most subtle and tempting dangers to the faithfulness of Gods people. She posed such a threat that God vowed to make a clean sweep of the whole nation. He would so thoroughly mop up on Babylon (the word besom means broom) no Babylonians would be left to rule the world ever again! When God finished with Babylon (see Daniel, chapters 4 and 5) there was none left to claim the throne. During the reign of Darius Hystaspis (a Persian emperor) pretenders rose claiming descent from Belshazzars grandfather Nabonidus. The pretenders were proven false and executed.
Isa. 14:24-27 ASSYRIAS DEMISE: Assyria and Babylon were world- engulfing empires. They were representatives of mankind in rebellion against Gods rule of the earth and man. Man, in sin and rebellion, is carrying out a war against Gods sovereignty. Man, by force or by persuasive falsehood, attempts to rule this terrestrial planet and its occupants. God has vowed that He will not permit this to happen. Man may rule in subservience to and in harmony with Gods sovereignty but man must conform to the revealed will of God and enter into covenant relationship with Him to receive this honor of ruling with God. Gods program for providing man with co-rulership would be to establish His kingdom here upon the earth (the church). When men willingly become members of His kingdom He assures them they have entered a kingdom that will be victorious over all rebellious kingdoms of man and will rule with Him. God demonstrated time after time that He has the power to deal with His enemies and did deal with them. So God defeating Babylon and Assyria (and numerous other pagan nations) literally and historically is a typical and symbolic message as well as a literal account. The typical message is that God will keep His word to defeat all His enemies and give rule to His kingdom. Actually, as Revelation portrays, the old dragon, Satan, is the leader of all of mankinds rebellion. Satans war against God is joined and executed on the earth by godless political forces, godless materialism and sensuality and by godless religion. Through the centuries God proves again and again He and His saints will be the ultimate victors. What His saints must do is believe Him! When has history ever proven God to fail? !
QUIZ
1.
For what was Babylon noted?
2.
Why did weak nations prostitute themselves to the harlot Babylon?
3.
How does the apostle John use Babylon?
4.
To what extent did God eliminate Babylon?
5.
What did Assyria and Babylon represent in relationship to Gods rule?
6.
How does their demise symbolize Gods purpose for the world?
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(21) Prepare slaughter for his children.Literally, as in Jer. 51:40, a slaughter house. The command may be addressed to the Medes of Isa. 13:17, or to any minister of the Divine vengeance. In the judgment of God, as seen in history, that judgment falls necessarily on the last members of an evil and cruel dynasty. In this sense the sins of the fathers are visited on the children, while, in the eternal judgment which lies behind the veil, each single soul stands, as in Eze. 18:4, on its own personal responsibility, and may win pardon for itself. Penitent or impenitent (and the latter seems here implied), the children of the evil-doers should cease to be conquerors and rulers.
Nor fill the face of the world with cities.The words describe the boast of the great monarchs, who, like Nimrod, built cities to perpetuate their fame. (Comp. Gen. 10:10-12; Dan. 4:30.) The Babylonian and Assyrian kings record their destructive and constructive work with equal exultation (Records of the Past, v., pp. 80, 119, 123). Various readings have been suggested, giving ruined heaps, or terrible ones, or enemies, or conflicts; but there seems no need for any change.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
21. Prepare slaughter for his children Such is the impulse of inexorable sentiment with the Oriental to this day; and such, too, the reasons for it as are here given. In this case the iniquity of their fathers was judicially visited upon their children. This is considered as prophetically addressed to the Medes, if to any people in particular.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Isa 14:21 Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.
Ver. 21. Prepare another slaughter for his children. ] For Belshazzar’s posterity. This is God’s charge to the Medes and Persians. See on Isa 14:20 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
slaughter = a slaughter-house, or, instruments of slaughter. Hebrew. matbeah. Occurs only here.
children = sons.
for the iniquity of their fathers. Reference to Pentateuch (Exo 20:5). App-92.
face = surface.
cities. The triumph-song which began in Isa 14:4 ends here.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Isa 14:21-23
Isa 14:21-23
“Prepare ye slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers, that they rise not up, and possess the earth, and fill the face of the world with cities. And I will rise up against them, saith Jehovah of hosts, and cut off from Babylon name and remnant, and son and son’s son, saith Jehovah. I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the bosom of destruction, saith Jehovah of hosts.”
This little paragraph is a kind of final curse upon Babylon. Note that there are to be no inhabitants whatever. Wild creatures such as porcupines would live there. We have already noted that the absolute and final desolation of Babylon actually occurred centuries after the prophecy; but there were also portions of it that were fulfilled much earlier.
Note the reference to “pools of water.” … “The works of irrigation connected with the Euphrates being destroyed the land would become a morass. This in fact happened after the conquest of Babylon by Cyrus.
Isa 14:21-23 BABYLON DECIMATION: These verses are Gods statement of the complete eradication of some of the most implacable enemies of His covenant people. Babylon was noted for its materialism, paganism and sheer wealth. It was dedicated to exploitation of weaker peoples for its own pleasure and wealth. Many weaker nations prostituted their own national sovereignty to Babylon for survivals sake as well as for indulgences sake. Israel and Judah were two such nations. Weaker nations adopted the ways of the Babylonians, signed military and trade treaties with her and finally ended up paying extortion in the form of tribute. Babylon was used some 800 years later by the apostle John in Revelation as a symbol of Romes materialism and spiritual harlotry. Babylon characterized all the most subtle and tempting dangers to the faithfulness of Gods people. She posed such a threat that God vowed to make a clean sweep of the whole nation. He would so thoroughly mop up on Babylon (the word besom means broom) no Babylonians would be left to rule the world ever again! When God finished with Babylon (see Daniel, chapters 4 and 5) there was none left to claim the throne. During the reign of Darius Hystaspis (a Persian emperor) pretenders rose claiming descent from Belshazzars grandfather Nabonidus. The pretenders were proven false and executed.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
slaughter: Exo 20:5, Lev 26:39, Mat 23:35
do not: Isa 27:6, Hab 2:8-12
Reciprocal: 1Sa 15:3 – slay 2Ki 10:6 – your master’s sons 2Ki 10:11 – he left Job 18:19 – neither Job 21:19 – for his Psa 37:28 – but Isa 13:11 – I will punish Isa 40:24 – they shall not be planted Hos 13:15 – his spring Amo 5:2 – she shall Amo 6:9 – if
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Isa 14:21-23. Prepare slaughter for his children O ye Medes and Persians, cut off all the branches of the royal family. This, it is probable, was actually done, for Belshazzar being slain, and the monarchy translated to the people last mentioned, it is not likely that any related to the family of the former monarchs were suffered to survive. That they do not rise, nor possess the land Not recover their former power, nor fill the face of the world with cities It was the ambition of the great monarchs of those times, to build new cities, and call them by their own names, thereby to perpetuate their memory. Hence the cities took their rise, which were called by the names of Seleucia, Ptolemais, Alexandria, &c. Some render the latter part of the verse, Nor fill the face of the world with enemies, such as should continue a succession of war and bloodshed, and disturb the peace and quiet of mankind. Lowth. I will cut off from Babylon the name, &c. The remembrance of those that are dead, and the persons of those who yet survive. I will make it a possession for the bittern A great water-fowl, which delights in solitary places, as also in watery grounds, such as those were about Babylon. And pools of water The ground about Babylon was of itself very moist, because of the great river Euphrates running by it, which was kept from overflowing the country with charge and labour; this being neglected, when the city was destroyed, it was easily turned into pools of water. And I will sweep it with the besom of destruction I will make a clear riddance of all its wealth and substance: see similar expressions 2Ki 21:13. Bishop Lowth translates this clause nearly according to the version of the LXX. And I will plunge it in the miry gulf of destruction, saith Jehovah, God of hosts.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
14:21 {n} Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they may not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.
(n) He called to the Medes and Persians, and all those who would execute God’s vengeance.