Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages [were] heavy loaden; [they are] a burden to the weary [beast]. Ver. 1. _Bel is bowed down._] Jupiter Belus (as Pliny _a_ calleth him), Babel's chief God, is now become a prey to the Persians, and m... [ Continue Reading ]
They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity. Ver. 2. _They stoop._] The Babylonians, together with their idols; ridiculous gods, that could be thus plundered, carried captives, borne on the backs of asses. _ But themselves are gone... [ Continue Reading ]
Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne [by me] from the belly, which are carried from the womb: Ver. 3. _Which are borne by me from the belly._] _You_ do not bear _me,_ as they do their idols in procession and otherwise; but I bear you, and so... [ Continue Reading ]
And [even] to [your] old age I [am] he; and [even] to hoar hairs will I carry [you]: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver [you]. Ver. 4. _And even to your old age I am he._] The mother beateth not her child in her bosom, when grown to some size. The eagle beateth her yo... [ Continue Reading ]
To whom will ye liken me, and make [me] equal, and compare me, that we may be like? Ver. 5. To whom, _a_ then, will ye liken me? _b_ &c.,] _q.d., _ To which of your paramours? for here the Lord returneth to his discourse against idolaters and their idols, _earumque inanitatem et inopiam demonstrat,... [ Continue Reading ]
They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, [and] hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship. Ver. 6. _They lavish gold out of the bag._] They spare for no cost. Nebuchadnezzar did not in that vast Colossus. Dan 3:1 Canutus bestowed upon a cros... [ Continue Reading ]
They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, [one] shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble. Ver. 7. _They bear him upon their shoulders._] As the Papists' breaden god, _furfura... [ Continue Reading ]
Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring [it] again to mind, O ye transgressors. Ver. 8. _Remember this._] Suffer me not to press these things so oft upon you to no purpose. _ And show yourselves men._] _Roboramini,_ Fortify your hearts by the word of God and true reason, renewing your good r... [ Continue Reading ]
Remember the former things of old: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else; [I am] God, and [there is] none like me, Ver. 9. _Remember the former things of old._] Again he calleth upon them to remember who had so foully forgot themselves in the days of Ahaz and Manasseh, and would do so again in B... [ Continue Reading ]
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Ver. 10. _Declaring the end from the beginning._] This foretelling of things future is a precellency in God above idols that he much stan... [ Continue Reading ]
Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken [it], I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed [it], I will also do it. Ver. 11. _Calling a ravenous bird,_] _i.e., _ Cyrus, who was ‘hawk-nosed,' and came swiftly to seize upon Baby... [ Continue Reading ]
Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that [are] far from righteousness: Ver. 12. _Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted._] Ye cruel Chaldeans; and here some begin the next chapter. _ That are far from righteousness._] And therefore not far from ruin. Psa 119:155... [ Continue Reading ]
I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory. Ver. 13. _I will bring near my righteousness._] I will suddenly right my wronged people, by Cyrus my servant, but especially by Christ my Son. Therefore... [ Continue Reading ]