The Book of the Prophet Isaiah
Isaiah 46
Chapter XLVI · Vol. III, pp. 1202–1203
1 The idols of Babylon could not save themselves from captivity. 3 God saveth his people to the end. 5 Idols are not comparable to God for power. 12 His salvation is near at hand.
1 Bel bowetha 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.
a ch.21.9; 40.19,20; 41.6,7; 44.9-20. Je.50.2,38; 51.17,18,44,47; 10.3-5,14,15; 48.1,7; 49.3; 16.19,20. Ps.115.4-8; 135.15-18. 1 Sa.5.3,4, with Zec.13.2. ch.2.18.
2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but 1themselves are gone into captivity.2
1 Heb. their soul.
2 These verses refer directly to Babylon. In the preceding chapters the prophet had shown what Cyrus would do for the Jews; he now turns to those who had so long held the Jews in captivity, and pronounces judgment upon them. Bel, or Belus, was the supreme deity of the Babylonians. His fall is a symbol of the overthrow of the royal power in Babylon. Nebo was the tutelary deity of the Chaldeans, and corresponded to the Greek Mercury. His fall was symbolic of the complete subjection of the inhabitants of Babylonia to the great Persian conqueror Cyrus.—P.
3 Hearkenb unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are cborne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:
b ch.43.1; 44.1; 10.22; 11.11,15; 28.5; 48.20.
c Ps.22.9,10; 71.6,18. Eze.16.4-14. ch.49.1. De.1.31; 32.11,12. Ex.19.4.
4 And deven 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.
d Ps.92.14. He.13.5,8. Mal.3.6. Ps.102.27,28; 48.14; 71.18. ch.45.17; 63.9. Ex.19.4-6. De.1.31; 32.11. 2 Co.1.10,20. 1 Pe.1.5. Jn.10.28,29. Ps.73.24,26.
5 Toe whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
e ch.40.18,25. Je.10.3-16.
6 Theyg lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they hfall down; yea, they worship.
A.M. cir. 3298. B.C. cir. 706.
g ch.40.19,20; 41.7, &c.; 44.9-20; 45.20. Je.10.3-15; 16.19,20. ver.1,2. Ps.115.4-8; 135.15-18. Ac.17.28. 1 Co.8.4.
7 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, ione shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.
i Je.2.28. Ju.10.13,14. 1 Ki.18.26-29. ch.44.9,10,20; 45.20.
8 Rememberj this, and show yourselves men:3 bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.
j De.32.29. ch.44.21. 1 Co.16.13; 14.20; 15.30.
3 Show yourselves men endowed with reason, and turn to the living God from those dead and worthless idols!—C.
9 Rememberk the former things of old: for Il am God, and there is none else: I am God, and there is none like me,
10 Declaringn the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, oMy counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
11 Callingp a ravenous bird4 from the east, the man that executeth my counsel5 from a far country: yea, qI have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
12 Hearken unto me, ye rstout-hearted, that are far from righteousness:
r ch.43.24; 48.2,4. Job 5.4. Ps.73.27; 119.155. Zec.7.11,12. Mal.3.13-15. Ac.7.51. Mat.9.13. Ps.68.18.
Notes
Ver. 1. The idols were carried away, either on account of their value as precious metals, or works of art, or trophies of victory—or with the superstitious view of transferring their tutelary favour and protection from Babylon to Persia. C.
Ver. 7. They bear him upon the shoulder. Alluding to the manner in which in heathen—and, alas! that it must be told, to the manner in which, in countries called Christian—images are borne upon men's shoulders in public processions. C.
Ver. 11. Calling a ravenous beast from the east. A golden eagle was the emblematic standard of Cyrus, under which name he is called from Persia, which lay eastward of Jerusalem where the prophecy was delivered. C.
Ver. 13. I bring near my righteousness—not by the deliverance granted by Cyrus, but as 'declaring the end from the beginning,' by the final deliverance to be effected by Messiah. C.
Reflections.—Desolating strokes clearly manifest the vanity of idols. In every period of the Jewish church and nation God was their protector, supporter, and deliverer: in every period of life he is such to every particular saint; and his former kindness ought to make us hope for further favours. It is only necessary to make use of our reason to observe the absurdity of idol worship; and it becomes us to ponder how wickedly we have acted, if we have joined in it. It is absurd to doubt of God's existence, or to neglect revering his almighty power and Godhead, which are so manifest. Firmly fixed are his purposes, and exactly fulfilled in every dispensation of providence; the tumultuous capture of cities and overthrow of nations not excepted. But infinitely great is the mercy, that not the worst of plagues or wickedness can debar us from Jesus Christ and his offered salvation!