Geneva Study Bible Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast. Bel boweth down, {a} Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the {b} beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavily loaded; they were a burden to the weary beast.
(a) These were the chief idols of Babylon. (b) Because they were of gold and silver, the Medes and Persians carried them away. They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity. {c} They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but {d} themselves have gone into captivity.
(c) The beasts that carried the idols fell down under their burden. (d) He derides the idols, who had neither soul nor sense. Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: Hearken to me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are {e} borne by me from the birth, which are carried from the womb:
(e) He shows the difference between the idols and the true God; for they must be carried by others, but God himself carries his, as in De 32:11. And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. And even to your old age I am he; and even to gray hairs will I carry you: {f} have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
(f) Seeing I have begotten you, I will nourish and preserve you forever. To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and {g} compare me, that we may be like?
(g) The people of God setting their own calamity, and the flourishing estate of the Babylonians, would be tempted to think that their God was not so mighty as the idols of their enemies: therefore he describes the original of all the idols to make them to be abhorred by all men: showing that the most that can be spoken in their commendation, is but to prove them vile. They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship. They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.
They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble. They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.
Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. Remember this, and show yourselves men: bring it again to {h} mind, O ye transgressors.
(h) Become wise, meaning, that all idolaters are without wit or sense, like mad men. Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. Calling a ravenous {i} bird from the east, the man that executeth my {k} counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also perform it.
(i) That is, Cyrus, who will come as swift as a bird and fight against Babylon. (k) Him by whom I have appointed to execute that which I have determined. Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: Hearken to me, ye stubborn in heart, that are far from {l} righteousness:
(l) Who by your incredulity would prevent the performance of my promise. I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory. I bring {m} near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not delay: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory. (m) He shows that man's incredulity cannot abolish the promise of God, Ro 3:3. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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