Isaiah 48:12

"Hearken unto me, O Jacob, and Israel my called: I am he; I am the first. I am also the last. Yea, my hand hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spread out the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together. Assemble yourselves, all ye, and hear; who among them hath declared these things? He whom Jehovah loveth shall perform his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans. I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him, and he shall make his way prosperous."

Again it is evident that the Lord is addressing both the righteous and wicked elements of Israel, Jacob the fleshly Israel, and Israel the covenant people; and this is another appeal for the people to behold how powerless and worthless their idol gods really are. Which of them ever prophesied a thing like the fall of Babylon to Cyrus? As Dummelow pointed out, despite the name of Cyrus not appearing here, it is evident enough that Cyrus "is the one spoken of."[11]

God's designation of Cyrus in these chapters is amazing: He is referred to as God's `called,' as God's `anointed,' as God's `arm' upon Babylon, and as God's `beloved' (Isaiah 48:14). Note the promise that Cyrus' way shall be `prosperous' (Isaiah 48:15). Herodotus reported that, "Throughout Cyrus' life he received no check of any kind until his last expedition in which he lost his life. His `prosperity' was beyond that of almost any other commander in human history."[12]

As Barnes declared:

"None of the astrologers, soothsayers, or diviners of Babylon had been able to foretell the expedition of Cyrus and his capture of Babylon; for, if they had been able to foresee the danger, they might have guarded against it, and the city might have been saved. But God had predicted it a hundred fifty years before it happened, thus demonstrating that he alone is God."[13]