Isaiah 47

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:14

Behold, they shall be as stubble - They shall be no more able to resist the judgments which are coming upon the city, than dry stubble can resist the action of the fire. A similar figure is used in Isaiah 1:31 (see the notes at that verse). Compare also Isaiah 29:6; Isaiah 30:30, where fire is a symbol of the devouring judgments of God.They shall not deliver themselves - Margin, as Hebrew, ‘Their souls.’ The meaning is, that they would be unable to protect themselves from the calamities which... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:15

With whom thou hast labored - The multitude of diviners, astrologers, and merchants, with whom thou hast been connected and employed. The idea is, that Babylon had been the mart where all of them had been assembled.Even thy merchants from thy youth - Babylon was favorably situated for traffic; and was distinguished for it. Foreigners and strangers had resorted there, and it was filled with those who had come there for purposes of trade. The sense here is, that the same destruction which would... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 47

A.M. 3294. B.C. 710. The prophet had intimated the destruction of the Babylonish empire in a few words at the beginning of the last chapter; and he here foretels it more plainly, and denounces it as a just judgment upon the Babylonians for their cruelty toward God’s people, Isaiah 47:1-6 . Their pride and carnal security, Isaiah 47:7-9 . Their confidence in themselves and contempt of God, Isaiah 47:10 . Their magic arts, their enchantments and sorceries, which should be so far from... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 47:1-2

Isaiah 47:1-2. Come down From thy throne; and sit in the dust As a mourner for thy approaching calamities; O virgin daughter of Babylon Thou that art tender and delicate like a virgin. Sit on the ground In a condition the most abject and degraded. There is no throne Namely, for thee. Imperial power is taken from thee, and translated to the Persians. Thou shalt no more be called tender Thou shalt be reduced to the greatest hardships and miseries. Take the millstones Thou shalt be... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 47:3

Isaiah 47:3 . Thy nakedness shall be uncovered Either for want of raiment to cover it, or rather, by thine enemies in the way of scorn and contumely. I will take vengeance Upon thee, for thy many and great injuries done to my people. I will not meet thee as a man But like an Almighty God, whose power thou canst not resist. I will not treat thee with moderation and gentleness, as those men who have not quite put off humanity use to do, but like a lion, to tear thee to pieces: see Hosea... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 47:4

Isaiah 47:4. As for our Redeemer, &c. The words, as for, not being in the Hebrew text, Bishop Lowth translates this verse, “Our Avenger, Jehovah God of hosts, the Holy One of Israel, is his name.” And he observes, “Here a chorus breaks in upon the midst of the subject, with a change of construction as well as sentiment, from the longer to the shorter kind of verse; after which, the former subject and style are resumed.” The passage seems to be inserted in the midst of this prophecy... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 47:5-6

Isaiah 47:5-6. Sit thou silent Through grief and shame, and as mourners used to do, Job 2:13. Cease thy vaunting and insolent speeches. And get thee into darkness Thou shalt go into an obscure, disconsolate, and calamitous condition. Thou shalt no more be the lady of kingdoms The chief and glory of all kingdoms; the most large, potent, and glorious empire of the world, as thou hast been. I was wroth with my people “The metaphor in this verse,” says Vitringa, “is taken from a father,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 47:7-8

Isaiah 47:7-8. Thou sayest, I shall be a lady for ever I shall always be the chief city and mistress of the world, and shall never know any change of condition in this respect. If we consider that the city of Babylon had no less than one hundred gates made of solid brass; that its walls were two hundred feet high, and fifty broad, according to the lowest account given of them by historians, and, according to some, three hundred and fifty feet in height, and eighty-seven in thickness, so... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 47:9

Isaiah 47:9. These two things shall come to thee The very two things that thou didst set at defiance; loss of children and widowhood Both thy princes and thy people shall be cut off, so that thou shalt be no more a government, and no more a nation. They shall come in their perfection In the highest degree: thy king and kingdom shall be utterly and irretrievably destroyed. This prophecy was twice fulfilled; “having been accomplished the very night that Babylon was taken, when the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 47:10-11

Isaiah 47:10-11. For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness Thou hast thought that thy cunning and policy would still preserve thee; and hast said, None seeth me My counsels are so deeply and craftily laid, and my designs so secretly carried on, that none can discover them or prevent their execution. And thou hast supposed that God himself either did not regard thee, or would not call thee to an account for thy wicked conduct. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge Thy skill in the arts of human... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:14

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:15

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 47

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 47:1-2

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 47:3

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 47:4

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 47:5-6

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 47:7-8

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 47:9

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 47:10-11

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