Charles Spurgeon Commentary Isaiah 14:31

"Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou art melted away, O Philistia, all of thee; for there cometh a smoke out of the north, and there is no straggler in his ranks." — Isaiah 14:31 (ASV)

That is the way the Babylonians would come running down from the north. No one would be able to hide himself from them; not a single person would find a shelter, or escape from their terrible adversaries.