Isaiah 46:1--49:26
Bel <01078> [Bel.]
Bel, called Belus by the Greek and Roman writers, is the same as Baal; and Nebo is interpreted by Castell and Norberg of Mercury; the two principal idols of Babylon. When that city was taken by the Persians, these images were carried in triumph.
burdensome <04853> [a burden.]
unable <03201> [they could.]
themselves <05315> [but.]
themselves head off <05315 01980> [themselves are. Heb. their soul is.]
Listen <08085> [Hearken.]
who are left <07611> [the remnant.]
supported <06006> [borne.]
old <02209> [even to your.]
gray hair <07872> [even to hoar.]
empty out <02107> [lavish.]
bow down <05456> [they fall.]
carry .... put <05445 03240> [they carry him.]
cries out <06817> [one shall cry.]
Remember <02142> [Remember.]
rebels <07725> [bring.]
antiquity <07223> [the former.]
God ........ God <0410 0430> [I am God.]
none like <0657 03644> [and there is none like.]
end <0319> [the end.]
plan <06098> [My counsel.]
summons .............. out <07121> [Calling.]
eagle <05861> [a ravenous bird.]
Or, "an eagle," a very proper emblem for Cyrus, says Bp. Lowth, as in other respects, so particularly because the ensign of Cyrus was a golden eagle, [aetos chrusous,] the very word {ayit,} which the prophet uses here, expressed as near as may be in Greek letters.
one <0376> [the man.]
plan <06098> [that executeth my counsel. Heb. of my counsel.]
have decreed <01696> [I have spoken.]
Listen <08085> [Hearken.]
stubborn <047> [ye stouthearted.]
distance <07350> [that.]
bringing .... near <07126> [bring.]
wait <0309> [shall not tarry.]
salvation ......... save <08668> [salvation.]
Israel <03478> [Israel.]
down <03381> [down.]
virgin <01330> [O virgin.]
daughter ............ daughter <01323> [daughter.]
throne <03678> [there is.]
longer <03254> [thou shalt.]
millstones <07347> [the millstones.]
strip off <02834> [make bare.]
get <03947> [I will take.]
protector <01350> [our redeemer.]
silently <01748> [silent.]
longer <03254> [for.]
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.
angry <07107> [wroth.]
defiled <02490> [I have polluted.]
placed <07760> [thou didst.]
old people <02205> [upon.]
said <0559> [thou saidst.]
it ... turn <07760> [so that.]
lavishly <05719> [given.]
No <0657> [I am.]
lives ..................... live <03427> [I shall not.]
Both <08147> [these two.]
suddenly <07281> [in a moment.]
come ................... overwhelmed <0935> [they shall come.]
many <07230> [for the multitude.]
complacent <0982> [thou hast trusted.]
thought ................ say <0559> [thou hast said.]
wisdom <02451> [Thy wisdom.]
thought ................ say <07725 0559> [perverted thee. or, caused thee to turn away. I am.]
know ........................... recognize <03045> [thou shalt not know.]
charm <07837> [from whence it riseth. Heb. the morning thereof. thou shalt not be.]
appease <03722> [put it off. Heb. expiate.]
tired <03811> [wearied.]
omens <01895> [Let now.]
omens ..... who gaze <02374 01895> [astrologers, the stargazers. Heb. viewers of the heavens. the monthly prognosticators. Heb. that gave knowledge concerning the months.]
straw ......... rescue <07179 05337> [they shall.]
[themselves Heb. their souls.]
coals <01513> [there shall.]
dealt <05503> [thy merchants.]
strays off <08582> [they shall.]
Babylon was replenished from all nations, by a concourse of people, whom Jeremiah (ch. 50:37) calls "the mingled people." All these, at the approach of Cyrus, sought to escape to their several countries.
called <07121> [which are.]
<03318> [come.]
take oaths <07650> [which swear.]
invoke <02142> [make mention.]
honest <0571> [not in truth.]
live ....... trust <07121> [they call.]
trust ....... whose <05564> [and stay.]
Lord <03068> [The Lord.]
<05046> [declared.]
predictions <08085> [and I.]
know <01847> [I knew.]
stubborn <07186> [obstinate. Heb. hard.]
[and they.]
forehead <04696> [thy brow.]
beforehand <0227> [even.]
<06090> [Mine idol.]
heard ........... admit ..... say <08085> [hast heard.]
<05046> [and will.]
heard ........... admit ..... say <08085> [shewed.]
hear <08085> [thou heardest.]
told <0241> [thine ear.]
know ......... know <03045> [I knew.]
rebel <06586> [a transgressor.]
my reputation <08034> [my name's.]
hold back <0748> [defer.]
refined <06884> [I have refined.]
silver <03701> [with silver. or, for silver. I have chosen.]
act <06213> [mine own.]
defiled <02490> [for how.]
defiled <02490> [my name.]
{Shemi,} "my name," is supplied by one MS. and the LXX.
share <05414> [I will not.]
Listen <08085> [Hearken.]
Jacob <03290> [O Jacob.]
Three MSS. and two old editions add {avdi,} "my servant."
summoned <07121> [my called.]
beginning <07223> [I am he.]
hand ...... right hand <03027 03225> [hand.]
right hand <03225> [and.]
right hand spread <02946 03225> [my right hand hath spanned. or, the palm of my right hand hath spread out.]
summon <07121> [when.]
gather <06908> [assemble.]
announced <05046> [among them.]
Instead of {bahem,} "among them," thirty-five MSS. and two editions have {bachem,} "among you."
<03068> [The Lord.]
Rather, "He whom the Lord hath loved, will execute his will on Babylon:" that is, Cyrus.
carry out <06213> [he will do.]
spoken <01696> [I have not.]
sovereign Lord <03069 0136> [the Lord God.]
Lord ............. Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
teaches <03925> [which teacheth.]
who <01869> [which leadeth.]
only .... obeyed my <03863 07181> [that thou.]
prosperity <07965> [then had.]
descendants <02233> [seed.]
name <08034> [his name.]
Leave <03318> [ye forth.]
shout <06963> [with a voice.]
Leave ..................... earth <03318 07097> [utter it even.]
thirst <06770> [they thirsted.]
water ............... water <04325> [he caused.]
Listen <08085> [Listen.]
Pay attention <07181> [and hearken.]
Lord <03068> [The Lord.]
made .................. made <07760> [he hath made.]
hollow <06738> [in the.]
made .................. made ..... sharpened <07760 01305> [made me.]
The polished shaft, says Bp. Lowth, denotes the same efficacious word which is before represented by the sharp sword. The doctrine of the gospel pierced the hearts of its hearers, "bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."
worked <03021> [I have laboured.]
expended <03615> [spent.]
But <0403> [yet.]
reward <06468> [work. or, reward.]
formed <03335> [that formed.]
restore <07725> [to bring.]
Israel <03478> [Though, etc. or, That Israel may be gathered to him, and I may, etc. Israel.]
honored <03513> [yet.]
insignificant ......... servant <07043 05650> [It is a light thing that. or, Art thou lighter, than that, etc.]
<05341> [preserved. or, desolations. I will also.]
deliverance <03444> [that thou mayest.]
protector <01350> [the Redeemer.]
one .... despised <05315 0960> [to him whom man despiseth. or, to him that is despised in soul.]
servant <05650> [to a.]
Kings <04428> [Kings.]
chosen <0977> [and he.]
favor <07522> [In an.]
help <05826> [have I helped.]
make .... covenant <05414 01285> [give thee.]
mediator <06965> [establish. or, raise up.]
reassign <05157> [to cause.]
prisoners <0631> [to the.]
dark dungeons <02822> [to them.]
graze <07462> [They shall feed.]
slopes <08205> [high.]
hungry <07456> [shall not.]
oppressive heat <08273> [neither.]
compassion <07355> [he that.]
come <0935> [these shall.]
sky <08064> [O heavens.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
Lord <03068> [The Lord.]
sovereign <0136> [my Lord.]
woman <0802> [a woman.]
compassion <07355> [that she should not have compassion. Heb. from having compassion. they may.]
forget ........................ forget ..... forget <07911> [yet.]
inscribed <02710> [I have.]
walls <02346> [thy walls.]
children <01121> [children.]
hurry <04116> [haste.]
Or, by a slight change of the points, "Thy builders shall make haste:" those appointed to build the city and walls of Zion, shall speedily begin and accomplish the work.
while those who destroyed <02040> [thy destroyers.]
Look <05375> [Lift up.]
gather <06908> [all these.]
live <02416> [As I live.]
put <03847> [thou shalt.]
bride <03618> [as a bride.]
[doeth.]
Bp. Lowth adds from the LXX., "her jewels."
ruins <02723> [thy waste.]
devoured <01104> [they that.]
children <01121> [children.]
place <04725> [The place.]
bereaved <07921> [seeing.]
barren <01565> [am desolate.]
raise ......................... carry <05375> [Behold.]
arms <02684> [arms. Heb. bosom.]
Kings <04428> [kings.]
Cyrus, Darius, Artaxerxes, and other Persian monarchs, as well as Alexander the Great, and his successors, particularly Demetrius, conferred many privileges and immunities on the Jewish people, and were munificent benefactors to their temple. But the prophecy was more remarkably and fully fulfilled in the favour which Constantine the Great, and other Christian princes and princesses from his time to the present day, have shewn to the church of Christ; though it cannot be disputed, that the grand and signal accomplishment of these predictions is yet future.
guardians <0539> [nursing fathers. Heb. nourishers.]
princesses <08282> [queens. Heb. princesses. bow.]
lick <03897> [lick up.]
shame <0954> [for they.]
spoils <04455> [Shall.]
spoils <04455> [prey.]
captives ...... conqueror <07628 06662> [lawful captive. Heb. captivity of the just.]
captives <07628> [Even.]
captives <07628> [captives. Heb. captivity. I will contend.]
rescue <03467> [I will save.]
eat <0398> [I will feed.]
get drunk <07937> [drunken.]
wine <06071> [sweet wine. or, new wine. and all.]
