What does Isaiah 14:5 mean?
Isaiah is relaying the song that will be sung by God's people after the king of Babylon is defeated and his kingdom destroyed. It's unknown if this song refers to a specific king, or which one that might be. Scholars suggest it could be about one of the Assyrian emperors during a time in which they also ruled over Babylon. Another possibility is it may be a reference to the evil rule of Babylon, in general (Isaiah 14:4).It is a long poem, or song, which begins with a joyful celebration over what the Lord has done. It is the Lord Himself who has defeated this king. After declaring that the oppression and fury of this ruler's reign has finally been destroyed, the people give all the credit to the Lord. He is the one who has broken the "staff of the wicked" and the "scepter of rulers." The staff and scepter were symbols of a king's authority and power. To break these objects, an enemy would need to advance an attack past every defense and all the way into the throne room of the king himself. At that point, the king would be thoroughly defeated.
Chapter 14:3–23 contains a mocking, sarcastic dirge for the fallen king of Babylon. The song imitates the respects otherwise paid to honor a fallen king. Instead, this song describes celebration of both people and trees at his death. The fallen kings in Sheol rise to mock the man for his weakness. The king is sarcastically referred to as the "Day Star"—leading to speculation that this is also a description of Satan's fall from heaven. The fallen one had ambition to become like the Most High among the gods, but instead was cut down to nothing in his death.
After the oracle against Babylon in the previous chapter, Isaiah briefly describes what will follow for Judah. In compassion, the Lord will choose His people once more. He will return them to their homeland. They will sing a mocking taunt-song against the fallen king of Babylon. Isaiah pronounces oracles from the Lord against Assyria and Philistia. The Lord will break the Assyrians in His land. With heavy symbolism, Isaiah seems to prophecy that the Assyrians will defeat the Philistines with a siege four years before it happens. God's people will find refuge in Zion.
