Isa 14:8, 37:24 | JFB | e4.org | 8. the fir trees —now left undisturbed. Probably a kind of evergreen. rejoice at thee — ( ). At thy fall ( ). no feller —as formerly, when thou wast in power ( ). . THE SCENE CHANGES FROM EARTH TO HELL. Hades (the Amenthes of Egypt), the unseen abode of the departed; some of its tenants, once mighty monarchs, are represented by a bold personification as rising from their seats in astonishment at the descent among them of the humbled king of Babylon. This proves, in opposition to WARBURTON [ The Divine Legation ], that the belief existed among the Jews that there was a Sheol or Hades, in which the "Rephaim" or manes of the departed abode.

‏ Isaiah 14:8

8. the fir trees—now left undisturbed. Probably a kind of evergreen.

rejoice at thee— (Ps 96:12). At thy fall (Ps 35:19, 24).

no feller—as formerly, when thou wast in power (Isa 10:34; 37:24).

Isa 14:9-11. THE SCENE CHANGES FROM EARTH TO HELL.

Hades (the Amenthes of Egypt), the unseen abode of the departed; some of its tenants, once mighty monarchs, are represented by a bold personification as rising from their seats in astonishment at the descent among them of the humbled king of Babylon. This proves, in opposition to WARBURTON [The Divine Legation], that the belief existed among the Jews that there was a Sheol or Hades, in which the "Rephaim" or manes of the departed abode.

‏ Isaiah 37:24

24. said—virtually. Hast thou within thyself?

height—imagery from the Assyrian felling of trees in Lebanon (Isa 14:8; 33:9); figuratively for, "I have carried my victorious army through the regions most difficult of access, to the most remote lands."

sides—rather, "recesses" [G. V. SMITH].

fir trees—not cypresses, as some translate; pine foliage and cedars are still found on the northwest side of Lebanon [STANLEY].

height of . . . border—In 2Ki 19:23, "the lodgings of his borders." Perhaps on the ascent to the top there was a place of repose or caravansary, which bounded the usual attempts of persons to ascend [BARNES]. Here, simply, "its extreme height."

forest of . . . Carmel—rather, "its thickest forest." "Carmel" expresses thick luxuriance (see on Isa 10:18; Isa 29:17).