Isaiah 47
Summary for Isa 47:1-48:22: 47:1–48:22 a Two conclusions can be drawn from the preceding evidence that the Lord alone is God: (1) Babylon’s great pride is foolishness (47:1-15 b); (2) Israel needs to pay attention to the word of the Lord (48:1-22 c).Summary for Isa 47:1-4: 47:1-4 d In this taunt against Babylon, the queen of nations is humiliated, forced to work as a servant girl. 47:1 e To sit in the dust was a way of expressing humiliation.
47:3 f God’s vengeance against those who oppose him and those who oppress his people (see 34:8 g) will bring justice to the world by purging it of wickedness.
Summary for Isa 47:5-11: 47:5-11 h Babylon’s confidence and arrogance were well known (see 14:13-17 i; Dan 4:30 j). All of this nation’s charms, magic, and wisdom were useless against the disaster decreed for it.
47:6 k The people of Israel had provoked God’s wrath, prompting him to use Babylon to punish them. Now wicked Babylon itself would be punished.
47:8 l I am the only one, and there is no other: This was a claim to divinity (cp. 45:5 m; 47:10 n). Only the Lord can make such a claim. For any created thing, including a nation, to utter this is the height of hubris.
• To be a widow or to lose one’s children was a disgrace.
47:9 o Witchcraft and magic were commonly used in an attempt to ward off evil and to secure a happy future.
47:10 p In this context, ‘wisdom’ and ‘knowledge’ probably refer sarcastically to the pseudo-knowledge gained through occult practices, which actually led Babylon away from the truth and into disaster (47:11 q).
Summary for Isa 47:12-15: 47:12-15 r In the face of calamity, Babylon would turn to occult practices for help, but it would not find help.
47:13 s Babylon was advanced in astronomy, which the astrologers and stargazers used as a form of divination (see Dan 2:2 t, 10 u; 5:7 v).
Copyright information for
TNotes