Isa 46:1-2 | Clarke | e4.org | CHAPTER XLVI The idols of Babylon represented as so far from being able to bear the burden of their votaries, that they themselves are borne by beasts of burden into captivity , 1, 2. This beautifully contrasted with the tender care of God, in bearing his people from first to last in his arms, and delivering them from their distress , 3, 4. The prophet, then, with his usual force and elegance, goes on to show the folly of idolatry, and the utter inability of idols , 5-7. From which he passes with great ease to the contemplation of the attributes and perfections of the true God , 8-10. Particularly that prescience which foretold the deliverance of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity, with all its leading circumstances; and also that very remote event of which it is the type in the days of the Messiah , 11-13. NOTES ON CHAP. XLVI Verse 1. Their carriages were heavy loaden -"Their burdens are heavy"] For nesuotheychem, your burdens , the Septuagint had in their copy nesuotheyhem, their burdens .

‏ Isaiah 46:1-2

CHAPTER XLVI

The idols of Babylon represented as so far from being able to bear the burden of their votaries, that they themselves are borne by beasts of burden into captivity, 1, 2.

This beautifully contrasted with the tender care of God, in bearing his people from first to last in his arms, and delivering them from their distress, 3, 4.

The prophet, then, with his usual force and elegance, goes on to show the folly of idolatry, and the utter inability of idols, 5-7.

From which he passes with great ease to the contemplation of the attributes and perfections of the true God, 8-10.

Particularly that prescience which foretold the deliverance of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity, with all its leading circumstances; and also that very remote event of which it is the type in the days of the Messiah, 11-13.

NOTES ON CHAP. XLVI

Verse 1. Their carriages were heavy loaden-"Their burdens are heavy"] For nesuotheychem, your burdens, the Septuagint had in their copy nesuotheyhem, their burdens.

Verse 2. They could not deliver the burden-"They could not deliver their own charge"] That is, their worshippers, who ought to have been borne by them. See the two next verses. The Chaldee and Syriac Versions render it in effect to the same purpose, those that bear them, meaning their worshippers; but how they can render massa in an active sense, I do not understand.

For lo, not, velo, and they could not, is the reading of twenty-four of Kennicott's, sixteen of De Rossi's, and two of my own MSS. The added vau gives more elegance to the passage.

But themselves-"Even they themselves"] For venaphsham, an ancient MS. has ki naphsham, with more force.