Isaiah 46:1-2

1, 2. Bel The same as Baal (lord or master) of the Phoenicians, and Jupiter of the Greeks. Used with

Nebo the Mercury of the Greeks it indicates the worship of the sun and planets.

As Hebrew great names took fragments of the names Elohim and Jehovah, for example, Joshua, Elihu, etc., so Babylonian monarchs and chief men were similarly named from “Bel” and “Nebo” as Belshazzar and Nebuchadnezzar. The prophet here pictures these images as fallen, and being carried off to captivity. Tutelar deities are often so represented when captivity and distress come upon their worshippers. See Jeremiah 48:7; Jeremiah 49:3; Hosea 10:5-6.

Carriages This means, not vehicles, but things carried. See in Acts 21:15, “We took up our carriages.”

Heavy laden To wit, camels, asses, oxen, etc.