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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 46:5-13

The deliverance of Israel by the destruction of Babylon (the general subject of all these chapters) is here insisted upon, and again promised, for the conviction both of idolaters who set up as rivals with God, and of oppressors who were enemies to the people of God. I. For the conviction of those who made and worshipped idols, especially those of Israel who did so, who would have images of their God, as the Babylonians had of theirs, 1. He challenges them either to frame an image that should... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 46:5

To whom will ye liken me ?.... Was it lawful that any likeness might be made, which yet is forbidden, Exodus 20:4 what likeness could be thought of? is there any creature in heaven or earth, among all the angels or sons of men, to whom God can be likened, who has done such works of power, and acts of grace, as to care and provide not only for the house of Israel, from the beginning of their state to the close of it, but for all his creatures from the beginning of life to the end thereof,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 46:6

They lavish gold out of the bag ,.... As if it was of no value and account; that is, the Heathen idolaters, some of them, who are excessively devoted to idolatry; these, being rich, take out their bags of gold, and give it in a very profuse manner to a workman to make a golden image for them, not caring what it cost them; such an one was that which Nebuchadnezzar made, sixty cubits high, and six broad, Daniel 3:1 see an instance of profuseness this way in the Israelites themselves, Exodus... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 46:7

They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him ,.... That is, the idol; men carry him upon their shoulders in procession, and expose him to the view and veneration of the people, just as the host is carried in procession by the Papists; or the idol being made, the workman or his men lift it up, for it cannot lift up itself, and take it upon their shoulders, and carry it home to the proprietor: and set him in his place ; in his house, if an household god: or in the temple, church, or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 46:8

Remember this ,.... Or "these things", as the Syriac version, concerning the matter of which, and the manner in which idols are made; their impotency to move themselves, and their inability to help their votaries, and the difference between them and the true God: and show yourselves men ; and not brutes, as the makers and worshippers of images are, or show themselves as if they were; who unmanly themselves, and act contrary to the natural reason of mankind: or "be ye strong" F17 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 46:9

Remember the former things of old ,.... The things that were from the beginning, or the ancient things done by the Lord, whether as the effects of power, wisdom, and goodness, or in wrath, or in mercy; such as the creation of the heavens, and the earth, and all things in them; the destruction of the old world, and of Sodom and Gomorrah; the bringing of Israel out of Egypt through the Red sea and wilderness, to Canaan's land, and all the wondrous things then done for them; which are so many... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 46:10

Declaring the end from the beginning ,.... The end of the Jewish state, both as a church, and a commonwealth, from the first settlement of it in the times of Moses, and by him, Deuteronomy 32:29 . The end of the world, and all things in it, as early as the times of Enoch, the seventh from Adam, Judges 1:14 . The end and issue of every event, at least of many very remarkable and momentous ones, before they came to pass; and particularly things relating to Christ, the beginning and end;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 46:11

Calling a ravenous bird from the east ,.... Or "a flying fowl", or "swift winged bird" F21 עיט "avem, a velocitate", Munster; so Vatablus; ab עוט "in volando celeriter et cum impetu", Forerius; so Ben Melech says, Cyrus is surnamed a fowl, because of his great swiftness and haste to come to Babylon; though he observes that some say, that a ravenous fowl is called עיט ; the singular may be put for the plural; so Cocceius renders it, "volucres", birds, and may design the whole army... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 46:12

Hearken unto me, ye stout hearted ,.... This is not an address to the Chaldeans, as Kimchi and others think, who were merciless and cruel to the Jews, and far from doing that which was right unto them, but oppressed them, and would not let them go; but to the Jews themselves, at least to the wicked and profligate among them, who were always a stouthearted, stiffnecked, and a rebellious people; and even those who made more presences to religion were only self-righteous, and were far from true... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 46:7

They bear him upon the shoulder - and set him in his place - This is the way in which the Hindoos carry their gods; and indeed so exact a picture is this of the idolatrous procession of this people, that the prophet might almost be supposed to have been sitting among the Hindoos when he delivered this prophecy. - Ward'S Customs. Pindar has treated with a just and very elegant ridicule the work of the statuary even in comparison with his own poetry, from this circumstance of its being fixed... read more

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