Isaiah 46

Isaiah 46:1-13 . BABYLON'S IDOLS COULD NOT SAVE THEMSELVES, MUCH LESS HER. BUT GOD CAN AND WILL SAVE ISRAEL: CYRUS IS HIS INSTRUMENT.

1. Bel--the same as the Phoenician Baal, that is, lord, the chief god of Babylon; to it was dedicated the celebrated tower of Babylon, in the center of one of the two parts into which the city was divided, the palace being in the center of the other. Identical with the sun, worshipped on turrets, housetops, and other high places, so as to be nearer the heavenly hosts (Saba) ( Jeremiah 19:13 , 32:29 , Zephaniah 1:5 ). GESENIUS identifies Bel with the planet Jupiter, which, with the planet Venus (under the name Astarte or Astaroth), was worshipped in the East as the god of fortune, the most propitious star to be born under Bel and the Dragon, Bel was cast down by Cyrus.
boweth . . . stoopeth--falleth prostrate ( Isaiah 10:4 , 1 Samuel 5:3 1 Samuel 5:4 , Psalms 20:8 ).
Nebo--the planet Mercury or Hermes, in astrology. The scribe of heaven, answering to the Egyptian Anubis. The extensive worship of it is shown by the many proper names compounded of it: Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuzar-adan, Nabonassar, &c.
were upon--that is, were a burden (supplied from the following clause) upon. It was customary to transport the gods of the vanquished to the land of the conquerors, who thought thereby the more effectually to keep down the subject people ( 1 Samuel 5:1 , &c. Jeremiah 48:7 , 49:3 , Daniel 11:8 ).
carriages--in the Old English sense of the things carried, the images borne by you: the lading ( Acts 21:15 ), "carriages," not the vehicles, but the baggage. Or, the images which used to be carried by you formerly in your solemn processions [MAURER].
were heavy loaden--rather, are put as a load on the beasts of burden [MAURER]. HORSLEY translates, "They who should have been your carriers (as Jehovah is to His people, Isaiah 46:3 Isaiah 46:4 ) are become

2. deliver--from the enemies' hands.
burden--their images laid on the beasts ( Isaiah 46:1 ).
themselves--the gods, here also distinguished from their images.

3. in contrast to what precedes: Babylon's idols, so far from bearing its people safely are themselves borne off, a burden to the laden beast; but Jehovah bears His people in safety even from the womb to old age ( Isaiah 63:9 , Deuteronomy 32:11 , Psalms 71:6 Psalms 71:18 ). God compares Himself to a nurse tenderly carrying a child; contrast Moses' language ( Numbers 11:12 ).

4. old age--As "your"--"you"--"you," are not in the Hebrew, the sentiment is more general than English Version, though of course it includes the Jews from the infancy to the more advanced age of their history ( Isaiah 47:6 ).
I am he--that is the same ( Psalms 102:27 , John 8:24 , Hebrews 13:8 ).
I will bear . . . carry--Not only do I not need to be borne and carried Myself, as the idols ( Isaiah 46:1 ).

5. ( Isaiah 40:18 Isaiah 40:25 ).

6. ( Isaiah 40:19 Isaiah 40:20 , 41:7 .) They lavish gold out of their purses and spare no expense for their idol. Their profuseness shames the niggardliness of professors who worship God with what cost them nothing. Sin is always a costly service.

7. cry . . . can . . . not . . . save--( Isaiah 45:20 , with which contrast Isaiah 45:19 ).