In the wake of the destruction of the wicked monarch, who inflicted unhealing wounds upon the nations and persecuted them without mercy, the earth found rest from prior rebellion and discord, leading the cypresses and the cedars of Lebanon to rejoice. It is expressed in the Psalms, “You brought forth vines from Egypt, you drove out nations and planted them. You covered the mountains with their shade; the branches were the cedars of God” (Psalm 79:9-11). These cedars of God, once sinful, were turned over to discipline at the Lord's command. Thus, another Psalm states, “The Lord breaks down the cedars of Lebanon” (Psalm 28:5). The cypress represents all the lofty and distinguished servants of the Lord who together proclaim, “Since you have entered into slumber.” It is important to note that death is referred to as sleep. No one will come to chop us down. For having triumphed over the strong one and plundered his possessions, the rest of his servants also fell. Consequently, the Lord states in the Gospel, “Depart into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). Countless individuals have been hewn down by these woodcutters. Sheol, which stirred when the true Nebuchadnezzar descended into it, represents a realm of punishment and suffering, where the rich man dressed in fine purple is witnessed; to this very place, the Lord descended to liberate captives (Zech. 9:11; 1 Pet. 3:19). Sheol may also indicate the angel who administers punishments in the netherworld, raising up all the giants—some translating them as Raphaimes or Titans. However, they are referred to as giants in the lore of the Gentiles, perceived to be born from the earth. Yet we can understand them, based on the Greek root of the term, as those absorbed in earthly matters. Following this, all the rulers of the world arose from their thrones as the one who once ruled them entered, so that he who had previously been revered for his might could be marveled at in punishment and say, “You too are afflicted like us, you have become like us.” This dialogue carries the implication that we believed our weakness prevented us from resisting the power of God, assuming you alone could maintain your status; but as circumstances reveal, you too are struck down, enslaved, and rendered like us, thereby uniting those who are divided on earth through punishment. Your arrogance is cast down to the underworld; your splendor has vanished, and your corpse lies fallen—or as the LXX translates, your numerous delights, in which you once rejoiced over the nations' subjugation to you. Beneath you lies decay, and worms shall be your covering. This is the resting place of the adversary, the bed of the tempter, whose pride led him to even challenge the Lord by proclaiming, “All these things will I give you if you will bow down to me” (Matthew 4:9). In the imagery of decay, moth, and worms, we see either eternal anguish stemming from one's own conscience or physical torment arising from personal sins. Just as worms emerge from decay while the substance remains and moisture exists, so too do punishments arise from the very essence of sins. Therefore, after conquering death, to which the prophetic words of Hosea were spoken, “I will be thy death, O death; I will be thy plague, O grave” (cf. Hosea 13:14), the Apostle Paul boldly addresses it: “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:55). For beyond death, there will be no one to sow us, no sin to sow, for the sting of death is sin.
The cypresses rejoiced on your behalf, and the cedars of Lebanon: since you fell asleep, no one comes to cut us down. The cypresses and the cedars of Lebanon symbolize the princes of nations who succumbed to the assaults of Nebuchadnezzar; they, in shouts of joy, declare, “Now that you have descended into Sheol, there is no one else who can sow the mighty.”
The depths of Sheol have stirred, preparing for your entrance by summoning giants. All the leaders of the earth have arisen from their thrones; all the leaders of the nations will respond to you. This should be perceived figuratively, akin to a dramatic performance—not as it truly was, but rather as it might have been—unless one considers that the souls of the kings slain by Babylon were thrown into joy at his arrival. In the face of adversity, it is a comfort to witness one's foes experience the same fate.
You are smitten as we are; you have become as we are! Your arrogance is lowered to Sheol, your body lies fallen, and underneath you will be moths, and beneath you shall be worms. This address from the mighty and noble, which the aforementioned cedars and cypresses direct at the king of Babylon, reflects on his descent into the underworld. We no longer mourn being hewn down when you too are subjected to the same fate. All your power and pride, which once soared to the heavens, have now been cast down to the earth. Hence, will not your body also be plagued by decay, and will not a multitude of worms cover you? You, who once envisioned possessing God's authority, now recognize your own human insignificance in death.
THEOSIS