Isaiah 14:29

whole Palestina R.V. Philistia, all of thee. On the history of the name "Palestine" see G. A. Smith, Historical Geography, p. 4. "AllPhilistia" is addressed because the country was broken up into a number of cantons, which might not always be united in political sentiment, as they are at this time.

the rod of him that smote thee Or simply the rod that smote thee, as in R.V. On the reference see introductory note above.

a cockatrice a basilisk (Heb. çepha-). See on Isaiah 11:8.

fiery flying serpent flying saraph. See on ch. Isaiah 6:2 and cf. Isaiah 30:6. It is probably a creation of the popular imagination, here used poetically. The sense of the metaphors is obvious: the power from which the Philistines had suffered seems at present to have received a fatal blow, but it will recover itself and assume a more deadly form than ever.