"The Jews never hang any malefactor upon a tree that is growing in the earth, but upon a post fixed in the ground, that it might never be said, 'That is the tree on which such a one was hanged;' for custom required that the tree should be buried with the malefactor. In like manner the stone by which a criminal was stoned to death, or the sword by which he was beheaded, or the napkin or handkerchief by which he was strangled, should be buried with him in the same grave." "For as the hanged man was considered the greatest abomination, so the very post or wood on which he was hanged was deemed a most abominable thing, and therefore buried under the earth." Agreeably to which Theodouret, Hist. Ecclesiast. i. 17, 18, in his account of the finding of the cross by Helena, says, "That the three crosses were buried in the earth near the place of our Lord's sepulcher." And this circumstance seems to confirm the relation of the discovery of the cross of Christ. The crosses were found where the custom required they should be buried.

The raiment of those that are slain "Clothed with the slain"] Thirty-five MSS., (ten ancient,) and three editions, have the word fully written, wbl lebush. It is not a noun, but the participle passive; thrown out among the common slain and covered with the dead bodies. So ver. 11, the earth-worm is said to be his bedcovering. This reading is confirmed by two ancient MSS. in my own collection.

Is. 14:1-23 The whole plan of Divine Providence is arranged with a vie to the good of the people of God. A settlement in the land of promis is of God's mercy. Let the church receive those whom God receives God's people, wherever their lot is cast, should endeavour to recommen religion by a right and winning conversation. Those that would not be reconciled to them, should be humbled by them. This may be applied to the success of the gospel, when those were brought to obey it who ha opposed it. God himself undertakes to work a blessed change. They shal have rest from their sorrow and fear, the sense of their presen burdens, and the dread of worse. Babylon abounded in riches. The kin of Babylon having the absolute command of so much wealth, by the hel of it ruled the nations. This refers especially to the people of the Jews; and it filled up the measure of the king of Babylon's sins Tyrants sacrifice their true interest to their lusts and passions. It is gracious ambition to covet to be like the Most Holy, for he ha said, Be ye holy, for I am holy; but it is sinful ambition to aim to be like the Most High, for he has said, He who exalts himself shall be abased. The devil thus drew our first parents to sin. Utter ruin shoul be brought upon him. Those that will not cease to sin, God will make to cease. He should be slain, and go down to the grave; this is the commo fate of tyrants. True glory, that is, true grace, will go up with the soul to heaven, but vain pomp will go down with the body to the grave there is an end of it. To be denied burial, if for righteousness' sake may be rejoiced in, Matt. 5:12. But if the just punishment of sin, i denotes that impenitent sinners shall rise to everlasting shame an contempt. Many triumphs should be in his fall. God will reckon with those that disturb the peace of mankind. The receiving the king of Babylon into the regions of the dead, shows there is a world of spirits, to which the souls of men remove at death. And that souls have converse with each other, though we have none with them; and that deat and hell will be death and hell indeed, to all who fall unholy, from the height of this world's pomps, and the fulness of its pleasures Learn from all this, that the seed of evil-doers shall never be renowned. The royal city is to be ruined and forsaken. Thus the utte destruction of the New Testament Babylon is illustrated, Rev. 18:2 When a people will not be made clean with the besom of reformation what can they expect but to be swept off the face of the earth with the besom of destruction?

Is. 14:24-27 Let those that make themselves a yoke and a burden to God's people, see what they are to expect. Let those that are the called according to God's purpose, comfort themselves, that whateve God has purposed, it shall stand. The Lord of hosts has purposed to break the Assyrian's yoke; his hand is stretched out to execute thi purpose; who has power to turn it back? By such dispensations of providence, the Almighty shows in the most convincing manner, that sin is hateful in his sight.

Is. 14:28-32 Assurance is given of the destruction of the Philistine and their power, by famine and war. Hezekiah would be more terrible to them than Uzziah had been. Instead of rejoicing, there would be lamentation, for the whole land would be ruined. Such destruction wil come upon the proud and rebellious, but the Lord founded Zion for refuge to poor sinners, who flee from the wrath to come, and trust in his mercy through Christ Jesus. Let us tell all around of our comfort and security, and exhort them to seek the same refuge and salvation __________________________________________________________________

Original Hebrew