Isaiah 46
Summary for Isa 46:1-2: 46:1-2 a This taunt was against the self-contradiction of Babylonian religion. 46:1 b Marduk-bel was the most important god in the Babylonian pantheon. Bel (similar to “Baal”) designated lordship.• Nebo (Nabu, Nebu), the patron deity of Babylonian scribes, was thought to be the son of Marduk-bel.
• Instead of being paraded in glory at a Babylonian festival, these gods would be hauled away on ox carts and disposed of, rejected by the Babylonian people.
46:3 c Those who remain in Israel refers to the remnant that would be left alive after the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC.
• The Lord, the Creator of humanity, cares for and carries his people (contrast the Babylonian idols that must be carried instead).
• since you were born ... before you were born: The Lord chose Israel even before they were a nation (see also 49:5 d).
Summary for Isa 46:8-13: 46:8-13 e Many of the exiles would be completely discouraged and not believe the prediction of God’s rescue. God challenged this unbelief.
46:10 f God knows the future before it even happens; he has comprehensive control over all events, and all his acts match his words (41:4 g, 26 h). He is the First and the Last (44:6 i; 48:12 j).
46:11 k The swift bird of prey from the east refers to Cyrus, the Persian king (see study note on 41:2).
46:12 l Formerly, Israel cared little for doing right (literally righteousness; see also 58:2 m; 59:9 n).
46:13 o The good news for Israel was that God was coming to set things right (literally I will bring my righteousness near; see 40:9 p; 51:5 q).
• show my glory to Israel: Unlike a craftsman who bestows material splendor on an idol (44:13 r), the Lord bestows true dignity on his people.
Isaiah 47
Summary for Isa 47:1-48:22: 47:1–48:22 s 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 t); (2) Israel needs to pay attention to the word of the Lord (48:1-22 u).Summary for Isa 47:1-4: 47:1-4 v In this taunt against Babylon, the queen of nations is humiliated, forced to work as a servant girl. 47:1 w To sit in the dust was a way of expressing humiliation.
47:3 x God’s vengeance against those who oppose him and those who oppress his people (see 34:8 y) will bring justice to the world by purging it of wickedness.
Summary for Isa 47:5-11: 47:5-11 z Babylon’s confidence and arrogance were well known (see 14:13-17 aa; Dan 4:30 ab). All of this nation’s charms, magic, and wisdom were useless against the disaster decreed for it.
47:6 ac 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 ad I am the only one, and there is no other: This was a claim to divinity (cp. 45:5 ae; 47:10 af). 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 ag Witchcraft and magic were commonly used in an attempt to ward off evil and to secure a happy future.
47:10 ah 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 ai).
Summary for Isa 47:12-15: 47:12-15 aj In the face of calamity, Babylon would turn to occult practices for help, but it would not find help.
47:13 ak Babylon was advanced in astronomy, which the astrologers and stargazers used as a form of divination (see Dan 2:2 al, 10 am; 5:7 an).
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