Isaiah 47

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:4

As for our Redeemer - This verse stands absolutely, and is not connected with the preceding or the following. It seems to be an expression of admiration, or of grateful surprise, by which the prophet saw Yahweh as the Redeemer of his people. He saw, in vision, Babylon humbled, and, full of the subject, he breaks out into an expression of grateful surprise and rejoicing. ‘O! our Redeemer! it is the work of our Saviour, the Holy One of Israel! How great is his power! How faithful is he! How... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:5

Sit thou silent - The same general sentiment is expressed here as in the preceding verses, though the figure is changed. In Isaiah 47:1-3, Babylon is represented under the image of a frivolous and delicately-reared female, suddenly reduced from her exalted station, and compelled to engage in the most menial and laborious employment. Here she is represented as in a posture of mourning. To sit in silence is emblematic of deep sorrow, or affliction (see Lamentations 2:10): ‘The elders of the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:6

I was worth with my people - In this verse and the following, a reason is assigned why God would deal so severely with her. One of the reasons was, that in executing the punishment which he had designed on the Jewish people, she had done it with pride, ambition, and severity; so that though God intended they should be punished, yet the feelings of Babylon in doing it, were such also as to deserve his decided rebuke and wrath.I have polluted mine inheritance - Jerusalem and the land of Judea see... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:7

And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever - This passage describes the pride and self-confidence of Babylon. She was confident in her wealth; the strength of her gates and walls; and in her abundant resources to resist an enemy, or to sustain a siege. Babylon was ten miles square; and it was supposed to contain provisions enough to maintain a siege for many years. There were, moreover, no symptoms of internal decay; there were no apparent external reasons why her prosperity should not... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:8

Therefore hear now this - The prophet proceeds, in this verse and the following, to detail more particularly the sins of Babylon, and to state the certainty of the punishment which would come upon her. In the previous verses, the denunciation of punishment had been figurative. It had been represented under the image of a lady delicately trained and nurtured, doomed to the lowest condition of life, and compelled to stoop to the most menial offices. Here the prophet uses language without figure,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:9

In a moment, in one day - This is designed, undoubtedly, to describe the suddenness with which Babylon would be destroyed. It would not decay slowly, and by natural causes, but it would not decay slowly, and by natural causes, but it would be suddenly and unexpectedly destroyed. How strikingly this was fulfilled, it is not needful to pause to state (see Isaiah 13:0, note; Isaiah 14:1, note) In the single night in which Babylon was taken by Cyrus, a death-blow was given to all her greatness and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:10

For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness - The word ‘wickedness’ here refers doubtless to the pride, arrogance, ambition, and oppressions of Babylon. It means, that she had supposed that she was able by these to maintain the ascendancy over other nations, and perpetuate her dominion. She supposed that by her great power, her natural advantages, and her wealth, she could resist the causes which had operated to destroy other nations. Men often confide in their own wickedness - their cunning, their... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:11

Therefore shall evil come upon thee - In consequence of thy pride and self-confidence; of the prevalence of corruption, licentiousness, and sin; of the prevalence of the arts of magic and of divination abounding there; and of the cruel and unfeeling oppression of the people of God; for all these crimes ruin shall come certainly and suddenly upon thee.Thou shalt not know from whence it cometh - Margin, ‘The morning thereof.’ The margin expresses the true sense of the phrase. The word used here... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:12

Stand now with thy enchantments - (See the notes at Isaiah 47:9). This is evidently sarcastic and ironical. It is a call on those who practiced the arts of magic to stand forth, and to show whether they were able to defend the city, and to save the nation.Wherein thou hast labored - Or in practicing which thou hast been diligently employed.From thy youth - From the very commencement of thy national existence. Babylon was always distinguished for these arts. Now was a time when their value was... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:13

Thou art wearied - Thou hast practiced so many arts, and practiced them so long, that thou art exhausted in them. The ‘counsels’ here referred to, are those which the astrologers and diviners would take in examining the prognostications, and the supposed indications of future events.Let now the astrologers - Call in now the aid of the various classes of diviners on whom thou hast relied to save thee from the impending calamity and ruin. The words rendered here ‘astrologers’ (שׁמים הברי hoberēy... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:10

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:11

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:12

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:13

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