work of my hands--spiritually ([Ep 2:10]); also literal Israel ([Is 60:21]). Maurer translates, instead of "command," Leave it to Me, in My dealings concerning My sons and concerning the work of My hands, to do what I will with My own. Lowth reads it interrogatively, Do ye presume to question Me and dictate to Me (see [Is 45:9], )? The same sense is given, if the words be taken in irony. But English Version is best.
12. The same argument for prayer, drawn from God's omnipotence and consequent power, to grant any request, occurs in [Is 40:26-31].
I, even my hands--so Hebrew ([Psa 41:2]), "Thou ... thy hand" (both nominatives, in apposition).
13. him--Cyrus, type of Messiah, who redeems the captives of Satan "without money and without price" ([Is 55:1]), "freely" (gratuitously) ([Is 52:3]; ; [Zec 9:11]; [Ro 3:24]).
in righteousness--to fulfil My righteous purpose (see on [Is 41:2]; [Is 42:6]; [Jr 23:6]).
14. The language but cursorily alludes to Egypt, Ethiopia, and Seba, being given to Cyrus as a ransom in lieu of Israel whom he restored ([Is 43:3]), but mainly and fully describes the gathering in of the Gentiles to Israel ([Ac 2:10], ; 8:27-38), especially at Israel's future restoration ([Is 2:2]; 14:1, 2; 19:18-22; 60:3-14; 49:23; [Psa 68:31]; , ).
labour--wealth acquired by labor ([Jr 3:24]).
Sabeans ... of stature--the men of Meroe, in Upper Egypt. Herodotus (3.30) calls the Ethiopians "the tallest of men" (see on [Is 18:2]; [1Ch 11:23]).
thee--Jerusalem ("my city," [Is 45:13]).
in chains--([Psa 149:8]). "The saints shall judge the world" ([1Co 6:2]) and "rule the nations with a rod of iron" ([Zec 14:12-19]; [Re 2:26], 27). The "chains," in the case of the obedient, shall be the easy yoke of Messiah; as "the sword of the Spirit" also is saving to the believer, condemnatory to the unbeliever ([Joh 12:48]; [He 4:12]; [Re 19:15]).
God is in thee--([Jr 3:19]).
15. God that hidest thyself--Horsley, after Jerome, explains this as the confession of Egypt, &c., that God is concealed in human form in the person of Jesus. Rather, connected with [Is 45:9], , the prophet, contemplating the wonderful issue of the seemingly dark counsels of God, implies a censure on those who presume to question God's dealings ([Is 55:8], ; [De 29:29]). Faith still discerns, even under the veil, the covenant-keeping "God of Israel, the Saviour" ([Is 8:17]).
16. ashamed--"disappointed" in their expectation of help from their idols (see on [Is 42:17]; Psalm 97. 7).
17. in the Lord--([Is 45:24], ), contrasted with the idols which cannot give even temporary help ([Is 45:16]); in Jehovah there is everlasting salvation ([Is 26:4]).
not ... ashamed--opposed to the doom of the idolaters, who, in the hour of need, shall be "ashamed" (see on [Is 45:16]).
18. (See on [Is 45:12]).
not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited--Therefore, Judah, lying waste during the Babylonish captivity, shall be peopled again by the exiles. The Jews, from this passage, infer that, after the resurrection, the earth shall be inhabited, for there can be no reason why the earth should then exist in vain any more than now ([2Pe 3:13]).
19. not ... secret--not like the heathen oracles which gave their responses from dark caverns, with studied obscurity ([Is 48:16]). Christ plainly quotes these words, thereby identifying Himself with Jehovah ([Joh 18:20]).
I said not ... Seek ... in vain--When I commanded you to seek Me (Jehovah did so, [Is 45:11], "Ask Me," &c.), it was not in order that ye might be sent empty away ([De 32:47]). Especially in Israel's time of trial, God's interposition, in behalf of Zion hereafter, is expressly stated as about to be the answer to prayer ([Is 62:6], ; Psa 102:13-17, 19-21). So in the case of all believers, the spiritual Israel.
righteousness--that which is veracious: not in the equivocal terms of heathen responses, fitly symbolized by the "dark places" from which they were uttered.
right--true (see on [Is 41:26]).
20. escaped of the nations--those of the nations who shall have escaped the slaughter inflicted by Cyrus. Now, at last, ye shall see the folly of "praying to a god that cannot save" ([Is 45:16]). Ultimately, those that shall be "left of all the nations which shall come against Jerusalem" are meant ([Zec 14:16]). They shall then all be converted to the Lord ([Is 66:23], ; [Jr 3:17]; [Zec 8:20-23]).
21. Challenge the worshippers of idols ([Is 41:1]).
take counsel together--as to the best arguments wherewith to defend the cause of idolatry.
who ... from that time--([Is 41:22], ; see on [Is 44:8]). Which of the idols has done what God hath, namely, foretold, primarily as to Cyrus; ultimately as to the final restoration of Israel hereafter? The idolatry of Israel before Cyrus' time will have its counterpart in the Antichrist and the apostasy, which shall precede Christ's manifestation.
just ... and ... Saviour--righteous in keeping His promises, and therefore a Saviour to His people. Not only is it not inconsistent with, but it is the result of, His righteousness, or justice, that He should save His redeemed ([Is 42:6], ; [Psa 85:10], ; [Ro 3:26]).
22. Look ... and be ye saved--The second imperative expresses the result which will follow obedience to the first ([Ge 42:18]); ye shall be saved ([Joh 3:14], ). [Nu 21:9]: "If a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass he lived." What so simple as a look? Not do something, but look to the Saviour ([Ac 16:30], ). Believers look by faith, the eye of the soul. The look is that of one turning (see Margin) to God, as at once "Just and the Saviour" ([Is 45:21]), that is, the look of conversion ([Psa 22:27]).
23. sworn by myself--equivalent to, "As I live," as [Ro 14:11] quotes it. So [Nu 14:21]. God could swear by no greater, therefore He swears by Himself ([He 6:13], ).
word ... in righteousness--rather, "the truth (see on [Is 45:19]) is gone forth from My mouth, the word (of promise), and it shall not return (that is, which shall not be revoked)" [Lowth]. But the accents favor English Version.
tongue ... swear--namely, an oath of allegiance to God as their true King (see on [Is 19:18]; [Is 65:16]). Yet to be fulfilled ([Zec 14:9]).
24. Rather, "Only in Jehovah shall men say of me (this clause is parenthetical), is there righteousness" (which includes salvation, [Is 45:21], "a just God and a Saviour," [Is 46:13]), &c. [Maurer].
strength--namely, to save.
shall men come--Those who have set themselves up against God shall come to Him in penitence for the past ([Is 19:22]).
ashamed--([Is 45:16]; [Is 54:17]; ).
25. all ... Israel--the spiritual Israel ([Ro 2:29]) and the literal Israel, that is, the final remnant which shall all be saved ([Is 45:17]; [Ro 11:26]).
justified--treated as if they were just, through Christ's righteousness and death ([Jr 23:5]).
glory--literally, "sing" in His praise ([Jr 9:24]; [1Co 1:31]).
Chapter 46
Is 46:1-13. Babylon's Idols Could Not Save Themselves, Much Less Her. But God Can and Will Save Israel: Cyrus Is His Instrument
1. Bel--the same as the Phoenician Baal, that is, lord, the chief god of Babylon; to it was dedicated the celebrated tower of Babylon, in the center of one of the two parts into which the city was divided, the palace being in the center of the other. Identical with the sun, worshipped on turrets, housetops, and other high places, so as to be nearer the heavenly hosts (Saba) ([Jr 19:13]; ; [Zep 1:5]). Gesenius identifies Bel with the planet Jupiter, which, with the planet Venus (under the name Astarte or Astaroth), was worshipped in the East as the god of fortune, the most propitious star to be born under (see on [Is 65:11]). According to the Apocryphal book, Bel and the Dragon, Bel was cast down by Cyrus.
boweth ... stoopeth--falleth prostrate ([Is 10:4]; [1Sa 5:3], ; [Psa 20:8]).
Nebo--the planet Mercury or Hermes, in astrology. The scribe of heaven, answering to the Egyptian Anubis. The extensive worship of it is shown by the many proper names compounded of it: Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuzar-adan, Nabonassar, &c.
were upon--that is, were a burden (supplied from the following clause) upon. It was customary to transport the gods of the vanquished to the land of the conquerors, who thought thereby the more effectually to keep down the subject people ([1Sa 5:1], &c.; [Jr 48:7]; ; [Da 11:8]).
carriages--in the Old English sense of the things carried, the images borne by you: the lading ([Ac 21:15]), "carriages," not the vehicles, but the baggage. Or, the images which used to be carried by you formerly in your solemn processions [Maurer].
were heavy loaden--rather, are put as a load on the beasts of burden [Maurer]. Horsley translates, "They who should have been your carriers (as Jehovah is to His people, [Is 46:3], ) are become burdens" (see on [Is 46:4]).