Albert Barnes Commentary Isaiah 14:17

"that made the world as a wilderness, and overthrew the cities thereof; that let not loose his prisoners to their home?" — Isaiah 14:17 (ASV)

That made the world as a wilderness - That made cities and kingdoms desolate.

That opened not the house of his prisoners - This is a description of his oppression and cruelty. Of course, many prisoners would be taken in war. Instead of giving them liberty, he threw them into prison and kept them there.

This may be rendered, ‘his prisoners he did not release that they might return home’ (see the Margin). The Chaldee renders it, ‘To his prisoners he did not open the door.’ The sense is substantially the same.

The idea is, that he was cruel and oppressive. He threw his captives into dungeons and found pleasure in retaining them there.