Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
BABYLON'S IDOLS COULD NOT SAVE THEMSELVES, MUCH LESS HER. BUT GOD CAN AND WILL SAVE ISRAEL: CYRUS IS HIS INSTRUMENT. (Isaiah 46:1-13)
Bel—the same as the Phœnician 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) (Jeremiah 19:13; Jeremiah 32:29; Zephaniah 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 Isaiah 65:11). According to the Apocryphal book, Bel and the Dragon, Bel was cast down by Cyrus.
boweth . . . stoopeth—falleth prostrate (Isaiah 10:4; I Samuel 5:3-4; Psalms 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, etc.
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 (I Samuel 5:1, etc.; Jeremiah 48:7; Jeremiah 49:3; Daniel 11:8).
carriages—in the Old English sense of the things carried, the images borne by you: the lading (Acts 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, Isaiah 46:3-4) are become burdens" (see on Isaiah 46:4).
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Isaiah 46:1:
Ezra 1:2
Isaiah 10:10-11
Isaiah 46:1
Isaiah 46:2
Isaiah 46:4
Jeremiah 10:5
Jeremiah 39:3
Jeremiah 50:2
Zephaniah 2:11
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