For they also shall go down with him to hell to them that are slain by the sword; and the arm of every one shall sit down under his shadow in the midst of the nations.
גַּם־הֵ֗ם אִתּ֛וֹ יָרְד֥וּ שְׁא֖וֹלָה אֶל־חַלְלֵי־חָ֑רֶב וּזְרֹע֛וֹ יָשְׁב֥וּ בְצִלּ֖וֹ בְּת֥וֹךְ גּוֹיִֽם׃
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
And his offspring, along with those who reside beneath his protection. Once the rule was stripped from the king of Assyria, the nations that had been under his dominion began to seek refuge in the shadow of other powers, specifically the Babylonians.
This principle applies to both situations. When the king of Babylon faced his demise, the news that circulated widely caused confusion among the nations that served him; similarly, when the devil was defeated, the nations were disturbed and transitioned from their previous sins into the light of redemptive truths. Blessed Paul refers to this upheaval as a shaking (Hebrews 12:26, 27). The sweet trees, the chosen and righteous ones of Lebanon, along with all those who thirst for truth, offered comfort to him in the final realm. Those who are afflicted by the sword will descend alongside him into the depths. The furthest reaches—symbolic of the grave in relation to Nebuchadnezzar and extreme humiliation in relation to the devil—indicate a profound state of death.
It is thus stated that those who shared dominion over both will also partake in their downfall. Following the collapse of the kingdom, those who held power must inevitably face transformation. They provided solace, as is customary for those in despair facing calamity to seek some measure of comfort. Yet, God proclaims that not only the rulers he appointed would be vanquished, but also their lineage and those sheltered under their reign would perish amidst their demise. Belshazzar, son of Nebuchadnezzar, due to his grave iniquity, was not permitted by God to reach old age; he was slain before he could even fully experience the appointed years of humanity. Regarding the devil, his seed refers to the doctrine of iniquity he has planted; this, along with those who strive to uphold it, will be completely annihilated. Then, God directs His words towards him:
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS