rd

Isaiah 46

1 The destruction of Babylon and of their idols. 3 He calleth the Jewes to the consideration of his works.
1.Bel is bowed down: aNebó is fallen: their idols were upon the bbeasts, and upon the cattle: they which did bear you, were laden with a weary burden.
2.cThey are bowed down, and fallen together: for they could not rid them of the burden, and their d soul is gone into captivity.
3.Hear ye me, ô house of Jaakób, and all that remain of the house of Israél, which are eborn of me from the womb, and brought up of me from the birth.
4.Therefore unto old age, I the same, even I will bear you until the hoar hairs: I have made you · I will also bear you, and I will carry you fand I will deliver you.
5.¶ To whom will ye make me like, or make me equal, or gcompare me, that I should be like him?
6.They draw gold out of the bag and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith to make a god of it, and they bow down, and worship it.
7.They bear it upon the shoulders, they carry him and set him in his place: so doeth he stand, and can not remove from his place. Though one cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor deliver him out of his tribulation.
8.Remember this, and be ashamed: bring it again hto mind, ô you transgressors.
9.Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none other God, and there is nothing like me,
10.Which declare the last thing from the beginning: and from of old, the things that were not done, saying, My counsel shal stand, and I will do whatsoever I will.
11.I call a ibird form the East, and the man of my kcounsel from far: as I have spoken, so will I bring it to pass: I have purposed it, and I will do it.
12.Hear me, ye stubborn hearted, that are far from ljustice.
13.I bring mnear my justice · it shal not be far off, & my salvation shal not tarry: for I will give salvation in Zión, and my glory unto Israél.

Notes

1-a.
These were the chief idols of Babylon.
1-b.
Because they were of gold and silver, the Medes and Persians carried them away.
2-c.
The beasts that carried the idols, fell down under their burden.
2-d.
He derides the idols, which had neither soul nor sense.
3-e.
He shows the difference between th idols and the true God for they must be carried of others, but God himself carries his, as Deut. 32.11.
4-f.
Seeing I have begotten you I will nourish and preserve you forever.
5-g.
The people of God, seeing their own calamity and the flourishing estate of the Babylonians, should be tempted to think that their God was not so mighty as the idols of their enemies therefore he describes the original of all the idols, to make them to be abhorred of all men showing that the most that can be spoken in their recommendation is to prove them vile, Bar. 6.25.
8-h.
Become wise, meaning that all idolaters are without wit or sense, like mad men.
11-i.
That is Cyrus, which shall come as swift as a bird and fight against Babylon.
11-k.
Him by whom I have appointed to execute that, which I have determined.
12-l.
Which by your incredulity would let the performance of my promise.
13-m.
He shows that man’s incredulity can not abolish the promise of God, Rom. 3.3.