Isaiah 47

Chap. XLVII. Ver. 1—15. God’s judgments against Babylon.—The destruction of Babylon is denounced by a beautiful detail of particulars, in ‘ren § her state of high prosperity is contrasted with her approaching adverse and miserable condition. She is represented as a tender and delicate virgin, reduced to the work and abject condition of a slave, and bereaved of every comfort and enjoyment. This reverse of circumstances is stated to be on account of her cruelty, (particularly to God’s people,) her pride, voluptuousness, sorceries, and incantations. The folly of these superstitious practices, the prophet elegantly exposes in the latter part of the chapter, in terms strikingly applicable to our modern prognosticators and almanac makers—“the astrologers, the star-gazers, the monthly prognosticators:”’—Let them ‘stand up and save thee!”

As the deliverance of the Jews was intimately connected with the fall of Babylon, a chorus of that nation breaks in (ver. 4.) in the very middle of the prophet’s denunciations, to praise God, in a distich (in the original) of a different measure and construction, which adds to its fine effect, considered in

Notes on the verses

Chap. XLVII. Ver. 2. Take the millstones.—Lowth, ‘‘The mill.’’ In the East, it was (and still is) the custom to employ female slaves to grind the corn, with hand mills. (Matthew 24:41). See Hermer’s Obs.—Pass over.—Lowth, ‘Wade through.” Ver. 3. I will not meet thee as a man.—Lowth, ‘I will suffer no man to intercede.” Ver. 5. Lady of kingdoms.—After Babylon was taken by Cyrus, instead of being, “the lady of kingdoms,” the metropolis of a great empire, and mistress of all the East, it became subject to the Persians; and the imperial seat being removed to Susa, instead of having a king, it had only a deputy residing there, who governed it as a province of the Persian empire.—Bagster. Ver.

6. Was wroth.—From this verse we may learn, that when God is angry with any, we ought rather to be compassionate and kind, for we also are sinners. © Ver. 7. Not remember the latter end of it.—Lowth, ‘‘Thou didst not think what was in the end to thee.” Ver. 9. In a moment.—That is, suddenly. Cyrus suddenly and unexpectedly entering the city while the Babylonians were engaged in revelling and drunkenness, slew their king and many of the inhabitants; and when Darius took the city by stratagem, A. M. 3888, B. C. 516, he beat down the walls from 200 to 50 cubits; and impaled 3000 of its principal inhabitants.—Bagster.—In their perfection.—Heb. ‘Completely, entirely;” or, according to some, “‘all at once.” So LXX., Lowth, Boothroyd, &c.—For.—Lowth, “Notwithstanding,”

&e. Ver. 11. Thou shalt not know from whence it riseth.—See margin.—Not be able to put it off—See margin. That is, by any idolatrous sacrifices, —Which thou shalt not know.—Lowth, ‘Of which thou shalt have no ap- Ver. 12. Stand now with, &c.—Lowth, “Persist now in,” &c. Ver. 14. Not a coal.—That is, they shall all be quickly and entirely consumed, like a blaze of stubble; not a coal, that is, no remains of them, shall be left. Ver. 15. Even thy merchants.—That is, those (meaning the astrologers, &c.) with whom thou hast trafficked (or done business) from thy youth.—Shall wander.—Babylon was replenished from all nations by a concourse of people, whom Jeremiah ((Isaiah 1:37).) calls ‘the mingled people;” and Æschylus denominates the inhabitants of the same capital, a mixture of all sorts.” All these, at the approach of Cyrus, sought to escape to their several countries. God, to convince the people of their foreknown obstinacy, revealed his prophecies. He exhorteth them to obedience, because of [their] salvation. He saveth them for his own sake. Ps. 63. 26. Suddenly, and they came to pass. [I] sent me. Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not] sore | sea: not; yea, from the time that thine ear was] taais. | Jacob. My * hand also hath laid the foundation of the light of poetry. “‘As for our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.”