Isaiah 14:17

WEB

who made the world like a wilderness, and overthrew its cities; who did not release his prisoners to their home?"

KJV

That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

Commentary

That made the world as a wilderness,.... Both by destroying the inhabitants of it, and by laying waste cities, towns, villages, fields, vineyards, gardens, and all places improved an d cultivated, wherever he came, as it follows: and destroyed the cities thereof; as the Assyrian kings had done, some of which are mentioned in Isa 10:9 , that opened not the house of his prisoners; the prison house, in, which they were held; or, "the gate to his prisoners,'' as the Targum; or rather the words may be rendered, "that opened not to his prisoners", that they might go "home"; or as De Dieu, in short, yet fully, expresses it, "that did not dismiss his prisoners home"; he not only cruelly and inhumanly put many to the sword, but such as surrendered, and were taken captives, he detained them in prison, and would not loose their bonds, but let them die there; which was an instance of great cruelty and inhumanity.