INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 46 This chapter contains a prophecy of the taking of Babylon by Cyrus, and of the deliverance of the Jews; who are encouraged to expect the divine protection, and a continuance of it; are dehorted from idolatry, and directed to look to the Lord alone for righteousness and sal... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 1 BEL BOWETH DOWN, NEBO STOOPETH,.... These are names of the idols of Babylon. Bel is by some thought to be the contraction of Baal, the god of the Phoenicians, called by them Beel; so "Beelsamin" h, in the Phoenician language, is Lord of heaven: but rather this is the Belus of the Babylonians,... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY STOOP, THEY BOW TOGETHER,.... Either the beasts under their burdens, or other idols besides those mentioned; or rather the Babylonians themselves, who were obliged to submit to the conquerors: THEY COULD NOT DELIVER THE BURDENS; the idols could not save themselves from being laid as burdens up... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARKEN UNTO ME, O HOUSE OF JACOB,.... The Jews, the descendants of Jacob: AND ALL THE REMNANT OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL; those that remained of the ten tribes that had been carried captive long ago. These may, in a spiritual sense, design those who are Israelites indeed; the household of the God of J... [ Continue Reading ]
AND EVEN TO YOUR OLD AGE I AM HE,.... The same he ever was, the eternal and unchangeable Jehovah; the same in his love and affections; in his sympathy and care; in his power and protection; in his promises, truth, and faithfulness to his people, in their last days, as at the first moment of their co... [ Continue Reading ]
TO WHOM WILL YE LIKEN ME?.... Was it lawful that any likeness might be made, which yet is forbidden, Exodus 20:4 what likeness could be thought of? is there any creature in heaven or earth, among all the angels or sons of men, to whom God can be likened, who has done such works of power, and acts of... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY LAVISH GOLD OUT OF THE BAG,.... As if it was of no value and account; that is, the Heathen idolaters, some of them, who are excessively devoted to idolatry; these, being rich, take out their bags of gold, and give it in a very profuse manner to a workman to make a golden image for them, not car... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY BEAR HIM UPON THE SHOULDER, THEY CARRY HIM,.... That is, the idol; men carry him upon their shoulders in procession, and expose him to the view and veneration of the people, just as the host is carried in procession by the Papists; or the idol being made, the workman or his men lift it up, for... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER THIS,.... Or "these things", as the Syriac version, concerning the matter of which, and the manner in which idols are made; their impotency to move themselves, and their inability to help their votaries, and the difference between them and the true God: AND SHOW YOURSELVES MEN; and not bru... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER THE FORMER THINGS OF OLD,.... The things that were from the beginning, or the ancient things done by the Lord, whether as the effects of power, wisdom, and goodness, or in wrath, or in mercy; such as the creation of the heavens, and the earth, and all things in them; the destruction of the... [ Continue Reading ]
DECLARING THE END FROM THE BEGINNING,.... The end of the Jewish state, both as a church, and a commonwealth, from the first settlement of it in the times of Moses, and by him, Deuteronomy 32:29. The end of the world, and all things in it, as early as the times of Enoch, the seventh from Adam, Judges... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLING A RAVENOUS BIRD FROM THE EAST,.... Or "a flying fowl", or "swift winged bird" u; for the word used does not so much denote rapaciousness as swiftness; which well agrees with Cyrus, who is here meant, and not Abraham, as Jarchi, nor Nebuchadnezzar, as others; and who was always swift in all h... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARKEN UNTO ME, YE STOUT HEARTED,.... This is not an address to the Chaldeans, as Kimchi and others think, who were merciless and cruel to the Jews, and far from doing that which was right unto them, but oppressed them, and would not let them go; but to the Jews themselves, at least to the wicked a... [ Continue Reading ]
I BRING NEAR MY RIGHTEOUSNESS, IT SHALL NOT BE FAR OFF,.... Meaning either the faithfulness of God, in fulfilling his promises; or the justice of God displayed, in redemption by Christ; or Christ himself, God's righteous One, and the Lord our righteousness; or rather the righteousness of Christ itse... [ Continue Reading ]