Isaiah 45

Chap. XLVI. ver. 1. Bel boweth down,] See Dean Prideaux’s note on Gen. x. 9.

— Bel—Nebo. Idols worshipped in the East; it has been conjectured that the former meant the sun, the latter the moon. Vitringa.

— their idols were upon the beasts, &c.] The images Idols are not comparable to God for power, or present salvation.

and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaded; they are a burden to the weary beast.

— from the east, the man that executeth my counsel] Compare chap. xli. 25; and xliv. 28; xlv. 13. W. Lowth.

— I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass;] If in all succeeding ages, from that time to this, we attend to the great events that have happened in the world, we shall find them all conducted by the same sovereign and almighty hand: especially, if we observe that many of these events were foretold long before they happened, and have since been exactly accomplished, we must conclude these to be visible and incontestable proofs of the eternal power and godhead of Him, who so “declared the end from the beginning;” his power effecting what his wisdom had foreseen and decreed. Hereby we are not only taught the use and benefit of history in general, especially of that contained in the holy Scriptures; but, by comparing events with the prophecies therein contained, we must be convinced with the utmost certainty that the Scriptures are infallibly true; that they are the word of God, and not of man; the word of Him alone, who declares “the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done;” who besides can say, “What I have spoken I will also bring to pass; what I have purposed I will also do.” Wogan.

Chap. XLVII. ver. 1. — O virgin daughter of Babylon.] b Ps. 23. 11. Prov. 19. 21. & 21. 30. Hebr. 6. 17.

Isaiah 45:3

3. — house of Israel, which are borne by me &c.] The Prophet contrasts the power of God, and his tender goodness effectually exerted towards his people, with the inability of the false gods of the heathen. He, like an indulgent father, had carried his people, “as a man doth bear his son,” Deut. i. 21; had protected them, and delivered them from their distresses: the idols must be themselves carried about by their worshippers, (ver. 7.) removed from place to place with much labour and fatigue, nor can they answer when their votaries cry unto them. Bp. Lowth. They were so far from being able to defend them, that they could not save themselves; and those who were wont to be bowed to and adored, are forced themselves to bow and stoop to the will of the plundering soldier, and are removed as common lumber, ver. 1. 2. Wogan.

Isaiah 45:8

8. Remember this, and shew yourselves men.] That is, Consider it well, think of it again and again. Consideration is the proper act of reasonable creatures, to whom it is peculiar to propose to themselves some end and design of their actions; if ye do not this, you do not shew yourselves men, but are rather like brute creatures who have no understanding, and act only by a natural instinct. Abp. Tillotson.

Isaiah 45:11

11. Calling a ravenous bird] The eagle; a very proper emblem of Cyrus; as in other respects, so particu-