Isaiah 46:1

Babylon’s Idols

1 Bel bows down; Nebo [is] stooping. Their idols are {on} animals and {on} cattle; your {cargo} is carried [as] a burden {on} weary [animals].

Isaiah 46:1 Meaning and Commentary

Ver. 1 Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth
These are names of theIsaiah 46:2

They stoop, they bow together
Either the beasts under their burdens, or other idols besides those mentioned; or rather the Babylonians themselves, who were obliged to submit to the conquerors: they could not deliver the burdens;
the idols could not save themselves from being laid as burdens upon the beasts, any more than they could save their worshippers: so the Targum understands this and the preceding clause of them;

``they are cut off, and cut to pieces together, they could not deliver those that carried them;''

or else the Babylonians are designed, who could not save their gods from being used in this shameful manner: but themselves are gone into captivity,
or "their souls" ^F13; what were as dear to them as their own souls, their idols; to whom also souls may be ascribed by way of derision, being inanimate as well as irrational; and it is not unusual for idols to be said to be carried captive; hence those words of Tertullian, "manent et simulachra caplira": or rather the Babylonians, who went into captivity themselves, and so could not save their idols: thus they who had led captive the Jews are led captive themselves; and thus it will be with mystical Babylon, ( Revelation 13:10 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 (Mvpnw) "et animae eorum", V. L. Munster, Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius.

Isaiah 46:1 In-Context

1 Bel bows down; Nebo [is] stooping. Their idols are {on} animals and {on} cattle; your {cargo} is carried [as] a burden {on} weary [animals].

2 They stoop; they bow down together. They are not able to save [the] burden, but {they themselves go} in captivity.

3 "Listen to me, house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel who have been carried from [the] belly, who have been carried from [the] womb:

4 Even to [your] old age I [am] he; even to [your] advanced age I myself will support [you]. I myself have made [you], and I myself will carry [you], and I myself will support [you], and I will save [you].

5 To whom will you liken me, and count as equal, and compare with me, as though we were alike?

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "to"
• [b] Hebrew "animal"
• [c] Literally "to"
• [d] Literally "things that are carried"
• [e] Literally "to"