Isaiah 46

Isa 46:1-13.

BABYLON'S

IDOLS

COULD

NOT

SAVE

THEMSELVES,

MUCH

LESS

HER.

BUT

GOD

CAN AND

WILL

SAVE

ISRAEL:

CYRUS

IS

HIS

INSTRUMENT.

1. Bel--the same as the Phœnician Baal, that is, lord, the

chief god of Babylon; to it was dedicated the celebrated tower of

Babylon, in the center of one of the two parts into which the city was

divided, the palace being in the center of the other. Identical with

the sun, worshipped on turrets, housetops, and other high

places, so as to be nearer the heavenly hosts (Saba)

(Jer 19:13; 32:29;

Zep 1:5).

GESENIUS identifies Bel with the planet Jupiter,

which, with the planet Venus (under the name Astarte or Astaroth), was

worshipped in the East as the god of fortune, the most propitious star

to be born under (see on

Isa 65:11).

According to the Apocryphal book, Bel and the Dragon, Bel was

cast down by Cyrus.

boweth . . . stoopeth--falleth prostrate

(Isa 10:4;

1Sa 5:3, 4;

Ps 20:8).

Nebo--the planet Mercury or Hermes, in astrology. The scribe of

heaven, answering to the Egyptian Anubis. The extensive worship of it is

shown by the many proper names compounded of it: Nebuchadnezzar.

Nebuzar-adan, Nabonassar, &c.

were upon--that is, were a burden (supplied from the following

clause) upon. It was customary to transport the gods of the vanquished

to the land of the conquerors, who thought thereby the more effectually

to keep down the subject people

(1Sa 5:1,

&c.; Jer 48:7; 49:3;

Da 11:8).

carriages--in the Old English sense of

the things carried, the images borne by you: the lading

(Ac 21:15),

"carriages," not the vehicles, but the baggage. Or, the images which

used to be carried by you formerly in your solemn processions

[MAURER].

were heavy loaden--rather, are put as a load on the beasts of

burden [MAURER].

HORSLEY translates, "They who should have been your

carriers (as Jehovah is to His people,

Isa 46:3, 4)

are become burdens" (see on

Isa 46:4).

2. deliver--from the enemies' hands.

burden--their images laid on the beasts

(Isa 46:1).

themselves--the gods, here also distinguished from their images.

3. in contrast to what precedes: Babylon's idols, so far from

bearing its people safely are themselves borne off, a burden to

the laden beast; but Jehovah bears His people in safety even from

the womb to old age

(Isa 63:9;

De 32:11;

Ps 71:6, 18).

God compares Himself to a nurse tenderly carrying a child; contrast

Moses' language

(Nu 11:12).

4. old age--As "your"--"you"--"you," are not in the Hebrew, the

sentiment is more general than English Version, though of course it

includes the Jews from the infancy to the more advanced age of their

history

(Isa 47:6).

I am he--that is, the same

(Ps 102:27;

Joh 8:24;

Heb 13:8).

I will bear . . . carry--Not only do I not need to be borne and

carried Myself, as the idols

(Isa 46:1).

5.

(Isa 40:18, 25).

6.

(Isa 40:19, 20; 41:7.)

They lavish gold out of their purses and spare no expense for their

idol. Their profuseness shames the niggardliness of professors who

worship God with what cost them nothing. Sin is always a costly

service.

7. cry . . . can . . . not . . . save--

(Isa 45:20,

with which contrast

Isa 45:19).

8. show yourselves men--Renounce the childishness of idolatry as

shown in what precedes

(1Co 14:20; 16:13;

Eph 4:14).

In order to be manly we must be godly; for man was made

"in the image of God," and only rises to his true dignity when joined

to God; virtue is derived from the Latin vir, "a man."

bring . . . to mind--rather, "lay it to heart."

transgressors--addressed to the idolaters among the Jews.

9. former--namely, proofs of the sole Godship of Jehovah, from

predictions fulfilled, and interpositions of God in behalf of Israel

(Isa 45:5).

10.

(Isa 45:21; 41:22, 23; 44:26).

yet--not in the Hebrew. Translate, "What had not been done"

[HORSLEY].

do all my pleasure--

(Isa 53:10;

Ro 9:19).

11. ravenous bird--Cyrus so called on account of the rapidity of his

marches from the distant regions of Persia to pounce on his prey

(see on

Isa 41:2;

Isa 41:25;

Jer 49:22;

Eze 17:3).

The standard of Cyrus, too, was a golden eagle on a spear (see

the heathen historian, XENOPHON, 7, where almost

the same word is used, aetos, as here, ayit).

executeth my counsel--

(Isa 44:28; 45:13).

Babylon represents, mystically, the apostate faction: the destruction

of its idols symbolizes the future general extirpation of all idolatry

and unbelief.

purposed . . . also do it--

(Isa 43:13).

12. stout-hearted--stubborn in resisting God

(Ps 76:5;

Ac 7:51).

far from righteousness--

(Isa 59:9;

Hab 2:4).

13. near--antithetical to "far"

(Isa 46:12;

Isa 51:5; 56:1; 61:10, 11;

Ro 10:6-8).

righteousness--answering to "salvation" in the parallel clause;

therefore it means here, "my righteous deliverance"; righteous, because

proving the truth of God's promises, and so contrived as to not

compromise, but vindicate, His righteousness

(Isa 42:21;

Ro 3:26).

Zion . . . my glory--rather, "I will give salvation in Zion; to Israel

(I will give) my glory"

[HORSLEY].

(Isa 63:11;

Ps 14:7;

Lu 2:32).