Isaiah 46

Chap. XLVI. Ver. 1—13. The idols of Babylon could neither save their worshippers, nor themselves.—The prophet here represents the gods of Babylon as so far from being able to save others, that they should themselves be carried into captivity by common beasts of burden, themselves “a burden to the weary beasts.” With this description he then contrasts the tender care of the God of Israel toward his people, whom, as a tender father, he had carried in his arms from their earliest days; delivering them from time to time from all their enemies, and from all their troubles. (See (Numbers 10:12).) The prophet then adverts to his favourite topic, and forcibly exposes the folly of idolatry, and the utter uselessness of those idols, who, instead of protecting their devotees, on every victory obtained over them, were usually carried captive with them.

(See (Jeremiah 48:7). (Daniel 11:8).) He then returns (ver. 9) to a contemplation of the perfections of the true God, particularly that prescience which foretold events so distant as the deliverance of Israel from Babylon or Cyrus, and an eternal salvation by Messiah.—It is remarkable that Cyrus, compared in verse 11 to an Eagle, (so the word translated ravenous bird should be rendered,) is said by Xenophon to have had a golden eagle for his ensign, using, without knowing it, the identical word of the prophet. So exact is the correspondence between the prophet and the historian; between the prediction and the event. (See Bp. Lowth.)

Notes on the verses

Chap. XLVI. Ver. 1. Bel was the chief idol of the Babylonians, called by profane writers Jupiter Belus, and supposed to be the same with the Baal of the piecromengs [piecronymings?] ei te delivered oracles, and is said to have presided over

Ver. 2. They could not deliver the burden.—That is, they could not save themselves from being carried away captive. See (Jeremiah 10:5).

Ver. 11. A ravenous bird —Ait, “the eagle,” the very word, remarks Lowth, used by Xenophon, with a Greek termination, (aetos,) in speaking of the ensign of Cyrus.

Ver. 12, Ye stout-hearted.—Lowth, “Stubborn of heart.”

Ver. 13. I will bring near my righteousness.—That is, make it evident in the fulfilment of my promises.