12. Stand—forth: a scornful challenge to Babylon's magicians to show whether they can defend their city. laboured—The devil's service is a laborious yet fruitless one ( :-). read more
God sarcastically challenged the Babylonians to continue to trust in their mediums and horoscopes, as though they might be able to deliver them from the fate He announced. They were not about to humble themselves, as the Ninevites did in Jonah’s day. If there was any time the Babylonians needed help from their wise men, it was before the Lord visited them with judgment. read more
The doom of Babylon 47:12-15Yahweh’s denunciation of Babylon comes to a climax in the final four verses. In spite of her pride, Babylon would need a savior, but there would be none for her. read more
An Ode on the Humiliation of Babylon1-15. The coming calamity. The reason of Babylon’s fall. Her helplessness to avert it.2. Grind] i.e. as a slave (Exodus 11:5).Uncover, etc.] RV ’remove thy veil, strip off the train, uncover the leg.’ The overthrow of the city is set forth under the figure of a maiden carried away into slavery. Pass over] on the way to exile. 3. Will not meet, etc.] RV ’will accept no man,’ i.e. none shall be spared.6. Babylon is to be thus punished because, when the Jewish... read more
(12) If so be thou shalt be able . . .—The words come with a subtle tone of irony. Persevere in thy enchantments . . . perchance thou wilt be able to profit, perchance thou wilt strike terror. read more
CHAPTER XIIBABYLONIsaiah 47:1-15THROUGHOUT the extent of Bible history, from Genesis to Revelation, One City remains, which in fact and symbol is execrated as the enemy of God and the stronghold of evil. In Genesis we are called to see its foundation, as of the first city that wandering men established, and the quick ruin, which fell upon its impious builders. By the prophets we hear it cursed as the oppressor of God’s people, the temptress of the nations, full of cruelty and wantonness. And in... read more
CHAPTER 47 A Description of the Fall of Babylon 1. Babylon’s degradation announced (Isaiah 47:1-3 ) 2. Israel acknowledges the redeemer (Isaiah 47:4 ) 3. Retribution for Babylon (Isaiah 47:5-7 ) 4. The destruction swift and sure (Isaiah 47:8-15 ) In chapter 14 a similar description of Babylon and the fall of the king of Babylon is recorded. All has its meaning for the future. read more
47:12 Stand now with thy enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, in which thou hast {l} laboured from thy youth; if thou shalt be able to profit, if thou mayest prevail.(l) He derides their vain confidence, who put their trust in anything but in God, condemning also such vain sciences, which serve no use, but to delude the people, and to bring them from depending only on God. read more
ISAIAH INTRODUCTION TO PART TWO The chapters of Part 2 (chaps. 40-46) are chiefly millennial, and so different from the prevailing themes preceding, as to raise a query whether they were not written by some other author a second, or deutero-Isaiah, as some call him. We do not hold that opinion, the reasons for which are briefly stated in the author’s Primers of the Faith. In Synthetic Bible Studies, it was found convenient to treat this part as a single discourse though doubtless, such is not... read more
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Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Isaiah 47:12
"Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast labored from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels: let now the astrologers, the star-gazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from the things that shall come upon thee. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame:... read more