Isaiah 47:5-11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 47:1-6

In these verses God by the prophet sends a messenger even to Babylon, like that of Jonah to Nineveh: ?The time is at hand when Babylon shall be destroyed.? Fair warning is thus given her, that she may by repentance prevent the ruin and there may be a lengthening of her tranquility. We may observe here, I. God's controversy with Babylon. We will begin with that, for there all the calamity begins; she has made God her enemy, and then who can befriend her: Let her know that the righteous Judge,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 47:7-15

Babylon, now doomed to ruin, is here justly upbraided with her pride, luxury, and security, in the day of her prosperity, and the confidence she had in her own wisdom and forecast, and particularly in the prognostications and counsels of the astrologers. These things are mentioned both to justify God in bringing these judgments upon her and to mortify her, and put her to so much the greater shame, under these judgments; for, when God comes forth to take vengeance, glory belongs to him, but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 47:5

Sit thou silent ,.... Here the speech is directed again to Babylon, which used to be a place of noise and hurry, as well as famous and much talked of all the world over; but now there should be a deep silence in it, no voice to be heard, the inhabitants being gone, and no discourse concerning it; no more talked of and celebrated for its magnificence and authority, trade and riches, but buried in oblivion. It is represented as sitting in silence, either as a mourner, or as one that is free... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 47:6

I was wroth with my people ,.... The people of Israel, for their sins and transgressions, particularly their idolatries. Here begin the reasons and causes of the destruction of Babylon, and the first mentioned is their cruelty to the people of God; for though he was angry with them himself, yet he resented their being ill used by them: I have polluted mine inheritance ; the Jews, who, as they were his people, were his portion and inheritance, as he was theirs: these he is said to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 47:7

And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever ,.... That her monarchy would continue in a succession of kings, that should rule over all nations to the end of the world. So mystical Babylon, when near her ruin, will say, "I sit a queen----and shall see no sorrow", Revelation 18:7 , so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart ; neither the sins she had been guilty of, particularly in acting the cruel part towards the people of God; nor the evils foretold should come upon her;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 47:8

Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures ,.... To carnal lusts and pleasures; gratifying her sensual appetite; indulging herself in everything that was agreeable to the senses; abounding in delicacies, and living deliciously; as is said of mystical Babylon, Revelation 18:4 , particularly given to venereal pleasures. Curtius says F7 Hist. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 1. , "no city was more corrupt in its manners, or furnished to irritate or allure to immoderate pleasures.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 47:9

But these two things shall come to thee in a moment on one day ,.... Suddenly, at once, at one and the same time. The destruction of Babylon was very sudden; the city was taken by surprise, before the inhabitants were aware of it, while the king and his nobles were regaling themselves at a feast; that very night Belshazzar was slain, and Darius the Mede took the kingdom, Daniel 5:30 and so those two things she boasted of would never be her lot came upon her together and at once: "the loss... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 47:10

For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness ,.... In wealth and power wickedly obtained; in political schemes wickedly contrived; in her ambition and pride, tyranny and cruelty; and especially in her wicked arts of astrology, divination, and magic: thou hast said, none seeth me ; lay her schemes of policy, which she thought so deeply laid, as not to be discovered; perform her magic arts, which were secretly done, and other her wicked actions done in the dark; but nothing can be hid from the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 47:11

Therefore shall evil come upon thee ,.... The evil of punishment, a great calamity; so Nebuchadnezzar foretold, as Abydenus relates F15 Ib. c. 41. p. 456. , that συμφορη , a calamity, should come upon the Babylonians; a day of evil, because of the above sins Babylon was guilty of: thou shall not know from whence it riseth ; from what quarter it will come, little dreaming of Cyrus, with whom the Chaldeans had had no quarrel. So mystical Babylon will not know from whence her ruin... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 47:6

I was wroth with my people - God, in the course of his providence, makes use of great conquerors and tyrants as his instruments to execute his judgments in the earth; he employs one wicked nation to scourge another. The inflicter of the punishment may perhaps be as culpable as the sufferer; and may add to his guilt by indulging his cruelty in executing God's justice. When he has fulfilled the work to which the Divine vengeance has ordained him, he will become himself the object of it; see ... read more

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