Isaiah 2:20 - Exposition

In that day a man shall cast , etc, When the idols disappoint their worship-pets, and prove to be unable to save them, they are treated with scorn and ignominy. The African beats his fetish on such occasions. The Israelites would fling theirs to the moles and the bats. Idols of silver … idols of gold (comp. Exodus 20:23 ; Psalms 115:4 : Psalms 135:15 ; Isaiah 30:22 ; Isaiah 31:7 ; Hosea 8:4 ; Hosea 13:2 ). A passage of Habakkuk ( Habakkuk 2:19 ) shows that sometimes the main bulk of the idol was of stone, which was overlaid with a coating of one or other of the two precious metals; but it would seem that ordinarily the entire image was either of gold or silver (comp. Exodus 32:4 , Exodus 32:24 ; 1 Kings 12:28 ). No doubt it was thought that the god worshipped through the image was more honored, and therefore better pleased, by the more costly material. Which they made each one for himself ; rather, which they ( i.e. the manufacturers) have made for him . Idol-making was a trade, as we see by the Acts of the Apostles ( Acts 19:24-27 ). To the moles ; literally, to the dig-holes . The metaphor must not be pressed. They would throw the idols into holes and corners, pits and caverns, where moles and bats might be expected to be the only visitants. Some idea of the blindness implied in any regard for idols may have prompted the imagery.