Chapter XIV · Location 14 of 66
Chapter 14 · Open to readFrom Isaias · Douay–Rheims / Challoner (1749–1752)
What does Isaias Chapter 14 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?
Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary
Jacob’s restoration precedes the parable against Babylon’s king. The Lucifer interpretation is separately attributed to edition commentary. Assyria and Philistia retain their distinct warnings and final envoy answer.
Chapter breakdown
Isaias 14 begins with mercy for Jacob and restoration to their ground. Strangers join, people bring them home, and former captors become subject to Israel as servants and handmaids. Rest from hard bondage precedes a parable against Babylon's king: the oppressor's rule ends, earth rejoices, and firs and cedars no longer fear the feller.
Hell's disturbance, rising giants and princes, shared weakness, lowered pride, moth underneath and covering worms lead to the fallen Lucifer image. His heart's intended ascent and likeness to the Most High end in the pit. The edition separately explains the king as the literal subject and the prince of devils as a spiritual interpretation. Viewers recall ruined cities and unopened prisons. Unlike honored kings, he is cast out of his grave, defiled among the slain and excluded from their burial. His children face slaughter for their father's iniquity. Babylon loses name, remains, bud and offspring; ericius and pools accompany its sweeping destruction. No more specific animal identity is supplied.
The Lord's oath then concerns Assyria's destruction in his land and removal of burden and yoke. In Achaz's death year, Philistia is warned not to rejoice over a broken rod: serpent, basilisk and seed swallowing the bird continue the image. The poor feed while famine destroys the hostile root and remnant. Smoke comes from the north without escape from its troop. Envoys receive the answer that the Lord founded Sion and his people's poor hope in him.
The story inside
Opening: Jacob’s restoration precedes the parable against Babylon’s king. Development: The Lucifer interpretation is separately attributed to edition commentary. Conclusion: Assyria and Philistia retain their distinct warnings and final envoy answer.
Lessons worth keeping
- 1Jacob’s restoration precedes the parable against Babylon’s king.
- 2The Lucifer interpretation is separately attributed to edition commentary.
- 3Assyria and Philistia retain their distinct warnings and final envoy answer.
Test your recall
Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?
Source edition and notes
Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.
Lines 79650–79654
14:1. Her time is near at hand, and her days shall not be prolonged. For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose out of Israel, and will make them rest upon their own ground: and the stranger shall be joined with them, and shall adhere to the house of Jacob.
Lines 79690–79697
14:12. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, who didst rise in the morning? how art thou fallen to the earth, that didst wound the nations? O Lucifer.... O day star. All this, according to the letter, is spoken of the king of Babylon. It may also be applied, in a spiritual sense, to Lucifer the prince of devils, who was created a bright angel, but fell by pride and rebellion against God.
Lines 79738–79743
14:24. The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying: Surely as I have thought, so shall it be: and as I have purposed, 14:25. So shall it fall out: That I will destroy the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: and his yoke shall be taken away from them, and his burden shall be taken off their shoulder.
Lines 79765–79767
14:32. And what shall be answered to the messengers of the nations? That the Lord hath founded Sion, and the poor of his people shall hope in him.
