_GOD'S JUDGMENT UPON BABYLON AND CHALDEA, FOR THEIR UNMERCIFULNESS, PRIDE, AND AUDACIOUSNESS, SHALL BE IRRESISTIBLE._ _Before Christ 712._ THE _first part_ of the 4th section contains an apostrophe to Babylon, as the seat of a great empire; and herein _first_ are foretold the abolition of that emp... [ Continue Reading ]
COME DOWN, AND SIT IN THE DUST, &C.— The prophet here commands Babylon to assume the habit and forms of the most abject state, most opposite to that state of honour and glory in which she had long flourished. She is addressed as a _virgin,_ according to the usual modes of speaking, when cities or st... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL TAKE VENGEANCE— These are the words of the God of Israel, whose province it is to take vengeance. The phrase, _I will not meet thee as a man,_ is differently understood. Some suppose, that it signifies, "I will shew thee neither mercy nor pity." Vitringa renders it, _"Though I have not a man... [ Continue Reading ]
SIT THOU SILENT, &C.— See ch. Isaiah 13:19 Isaiah 14:4. Bishop Newton observes, that after this destruction Babylon never recovered its ancient splendor: From an imperial it became a tributary city; from being governed by its own kings, and governing strangers, it came itself to be governed by stran... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAS WROTH WITH MY PEOPLE— The metaphor in this verse is taken from a father, who being angry with his children delivers them up to chastisement; but his anger soon subsiding, and his affection reviving, he turns his indignation against those who had executed his commands, in such a manner as to pu... [ Continue Reading ]
I SHALL BE A LADY FOR EVER— If we consider that the city of Babylon had no less than a hundred gates made of solid brass; that its walls were 350 feet in height, and 87 in thickness; and that six chariots could go abreast upon them; that it was defended by the river Euphrates, and that it was suppli... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE TWO THINGS SHALL COME TO THEE— This prophesy was twice fulfilled; having been accomplished the very night that Babylon was taken, when the Persian slew the king himself, and a great number of the Babylonians: and it was fulfilled a second time, when besieged by Darius. Being determined to hold... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU ART WEARIED, &C.— _Thou art nauseated with the multitude of thy devices._... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THEY SHALL BE AS STUBBLE— The judgment to be inflicted upon the professors and encouragers of the vain arts above mentioned is here elegantly and metaphorically described. The prophet says, that all those mentioned in the 13th verse, like stubble, should be set on fire by the divine wrath, a... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SHALL THEY BE UNTO THEE, &C.— _Thus shall they serve thee, upon whom thou hast spent thy pains; thy negociators, with whom thou hast dealt from thy youth._ See Bishop Lowth's translation. See also Isaiah 47:12. _They shall wander every one to his quarter,_ means, "They shall wander, by whatever... [ Continue Reading ]