Isaiah 47:5-11
Summary for Isa 47:5-11: 47:5-11 a Babylon’s confidence and arrogance were well known (see 14:13-17 b; Dan 4:30 c). All of this nation’s charms, magic, and wisdom were useless against the disaster decreed for it.47:6 d 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 e I am the only one, and there is no other: This was a claim to divinity (cp. 45:5 f; 47:10 g). 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 h Witchcraft and magic were commonly used in an attempt to ward off evil and to secure a happy future.
47:10 i 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 j).
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