Isaiah 2:13 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And upon all the cedars of Lebanon— Lebanon is one of the images which is frequently made use of in the writings of the Hebrews. It was one of the remarkable mountains of Palestine, celebrated for its loftiness, and the tallness, largeness, and abundance of the cedars which shaded its top. Hence, agreeably to the symbolical hieroglyphics of the Egyptians, we find them making use of these images to denote any thing elate with pride, as well as whatever was august and sublime. In this place the cedars of Lebanon, and the oaks of Bashan, mean the kings, princes, and nobles, who carried themselves high, and behaved themselves insolently; and so, agreeably to the same metaphorical style, which is very usual with the prophets, the high mountains and hills, in the next verse, signify kingdoms, cities, and states: See Jeremiah 25:17; Jeremiah 25:38. The high towers and fenced walls, in the 15th verse, signify those who excelled in ingenuity, wisdom, and strength; and the ships of Tarshish, &c. in the 16th verse, signify the merchants, who confided in their wealth and splendour. Vitringa renders the last words of the 16th verse, all desirable fabrics; which is supposed to refer to the ornaments of their ships, in which the Tyrians were remarkably curious and superb. The 17th verse expresses, literally, what is delivered metaphorically in the preceding verse.