What does Isaiah 14:18 mean?
The prophet Isaiah described this defeated and deceased king of Babylon (Isaiah 14:1–16) as a ruler who refused to show mercy to those he defeated in battle. He kept the peoples he conquered in captivity for decades. He wanted to avoid any chance of them returning to their homes and resisting his rule over them (Isaiah 14:17).To emphasize the massive fall of this mighty king, Isaiah prepares to remark on burial. A typical king would be lain in a special tomb when he died. Or, he would have some sort of memorial. Now, the man who would not let them go home while he was alive is without a "home" now that he is dead and unburied. All the kings he had defeated were laid to rest with dignity and honor in their own tombs. He alone is left unburied (Isaiah 14:19–20).
