Israel's Eschatological Enemy

The Identity of the King of Babylon in Isaiah 14:4–21

Timothy Allen Little

• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781725256897, 9781725256903
• eBook ISBN: 9781725256910
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Studies

Who is the king of Babylon in Isaiah 14? The early church sometimes identified him as Nebuchadnezzar, but most also saw a deeper meaning in Isa 14:12-14, believing this section referred to Satan. Many current scholars reject both views and offer a variety of alternatives. Little argues that "shining one" (Lucifer) in Isa 14:12 is the king of Babylon. This book analyzes the mashal (proverb) genre and argues that the Isa 14 mashal must be a real person, not a symbolic, ideal, eclectic, or representative king. Scholars have presented nine historic kings as the king of Babylon. Little compiles a list of fifteen criteria from Isa 13-14, evaluates these nine kings, and demonstrates that no historic king comes close to fulfilling the fifteen criteria. Instead, Little argues that the king of Babylon is Israel's eschatological enemy. Through the use of catchwords and temporal particles, he first demonstrates that the oracle is a unit. Then he proves that this Babylonian judgment is eschatological. All foreign languages have been translated, allowing the student of prophecy and theology to benefit from this work. Those interested in the mashal genre, Hebrew poetry, and Isaianic exegesis will also find this book stimulating.

Chapter 1

Introduction

Isaiah 14:4b–21 describes a ruler who is only identified as the “king of Babylon.” Keown concludes, “No modern scholar is able to identify הילל בּן־שׁחר [shining one, son of the dawn].”1 This dissertation proposes that the king of Babylon referred to in Isaiah 14 is Israel’s eschatological enemy.2

History of Interpretation

Before the modern period, Nebuchadnezzar was usually identified as the king of Babylon, but Isaiah 14:12–14 referred to Satan. Since the Reformation, scholars have presented a broad smattering of views which have been fueled by higher criticism, archaeology, and history. This section details some of this history.

Jewish Interpretation

The Babylonian Talmud referred to Isaiah 14:12–14 four times. Nebuchadnezzar is explicitly described as the king of Babylon two times,3 and is the implied referent the other two times.4 The LXX translators also believed Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon as revealed in their translation of Isaiah 14:20.5

Church Fathers

Several early church fathers believed Isaiah 14:12–14 referred to Satan. Origen states, “And how could we possibly accept, as spoken of a man, what is related in many passages of Scripture, and especially in Isaiah, regarding Nebuchadnezzar? For he is not a man who is said to have ‘fallen from heaven,’ or who was ‘Lucifer,’ or who ‘arose in the morning.’”6 Thus, Origen claimed the shining one (הילל) was the devil, named Lucifer. Tertullian also believed Isaiah 14 referred to Satan.7 Augustine recognized a historical referent in Isaiah 14, but thought Isaiah 14:12–14 referred to Satan. He states, “For example, what is said in Isaiah, ‘How he is fallen from heaven, Lucifer, son of the morning!’ and the other statements of the context which, under the figure of the king of Babylon, are made about the same person, are of course to be understood of the devil.”8 This citation reveals that Augustine believed the shining one (הילל) was a proper name, Lucifer. Augustine refers to Satan as Lucifer as if it were an established theological truth. For example, in his commentary on John, Augustine states, “A certain one was named Lucifer, who fell; for he was an angel and became a devil; and concerning him the Scripture said, ‘Lucifer, who did arise in the morning, fell.’ And why was he Lucifer? Because being enlightened, he gave forth light.”9 Concerning Augustine, Keown remarks, “This is the accepted origin of the devil as far as Augustine is concerned.”10 By the time of Augustine, the church had predominantly accepted that Isaiah 14:12–14 referred to Satan. Not all of the church fathers, however, believed these verses referred to Satan. Aphrahat, Theodoret of Cyrus, and Chrysostom apply Isaiah 14:13–14 to Nebuchadn...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• List of Tables
• Acknowledgments
• Abbreviations
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: The Genre of Isaiah 14
• Chapter 3: The Massa’ against Babylon—Isaiah 13:2—14:2
• Chapter 4: The King of Babylon
• Chapter 5; Conclusion
• Appendix 1
• Bibliography