Isaiah 47:1-7
THE HUMILIATION OF THE DAUGHTER OF BABYLON... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HUMILIATION OF THE DAUGHTER OF BABYLON... [ Continue Reading ]
Come down and sit in the dust, degraded to the lowest depth, O VIRGIN DAUGHTER OF BABYLON, the city and country being regarded as a virgin queen; SIT ON THE GROUND, THERE IS NO THRONE, the seat of empire being lost to the former proud ruler, O DAUGHTER OF THE CHALDEANS! FOR THOU SHALT NO MORE BE CAL... [ Continue Reading ]
Take the millstones, those of the hand-mill, as turned by female slaves, AND GRIND MEAL, the grain being fed in through the center opening above and ground to flour by the revolving of the upper stone; UNCOVER THY LOCKS, taking off the veil, probably together with the plaite(l hair, as worn by Orien... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen, a figurative expression for exposing the hidden wickedness of Babylonia. I WILL TAKE VENGEANCE, for all the evil shown to His people Israel, AND I WILL NOT MEET THEE AS A MAN, not pardon or spare any man, but overthrow all the enemies.... [ Continue Reading ]
As for our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is His name, whose power is unlimited in carrying out His purposes, THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, zealous for the welfare of his people. The prophet, in beginning the second strophe of the chapter, once more addresses Babylon directly.... [ Continue Reading ]
Sit thou silent, namely, in captivity, AND GET THEE INTO DARKNESS, into the darkness of the dungeon, O DAUGHTER OF THE CHALDEANS; FOR THOU SHALT NO MORE BE CALLED THE LADY OF KINGDOMS, the queen and mistress of the world, a position which Babylon enjoyed for less than a century.... [ Continue Reading ]
I was wroth with My people, so the Lord explains the Babylonian captivity, which is hereby also prophesied, I HAVE POLLUTED MINE INHERITANCE, taking away the consecration which Israel possessed as His people, AND GIVEN THEM INTO THINE HAND, it was an act of the Lord's punishment, not a matter of Bab... [ Continue Reading ]
And thou saidst, flattering herself in her own mind, I SHALL BE A LADY FOREVER, haughtily considering her position beyond attack from every side, in an insolence which was an insult to God, SO THAT THOU DIDST NOT LAY THESE THINGS TO THY HEART, she did not consider the extent of her own cruelty, NEIT... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, living in wantonness, luxury, and licentiousness, THAT DWELLEST CARELESSLY, the feeling of false security being characteristic of the people of Babylon in that day, THAT SAYEST IN THINE HEART, I AM, AND NONE ELSE BESIDE ME, an expression of... [ Continue Reading ]
Babylon's Vain Attempt to Avert the Threatened Destruction... [ Continue Reading ]
but these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, with frightful suddenness, THE LOSS OF CHILDREN AND WIDOWHOOD, a total bereavement; THEY, these two great trials, SHALL COME UPON THEE IN THEIR PERFECTION, in full measure, FOR THE MULTITUDE OF THY SORCERIES AND FOR THE GREAT ABUNDANCE... [ Continue Reading ]
For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness, deeming herself secure in spite of her cruelty and tyranny; THOU HAST SAID, NONE SEETH ME. THY WISDOM, particularly that of various magical arts, AND THY KNOWLEDGE, especially the science of mathematics, which was pretty well developed in Babylon, IT HATH PER... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore shall evil come upon thee, in the Lord's punishment, THOU SHALT NOT KNOW FROM WHENCE IT RISETH, not being able to banish it; AND MISCHIEF, misfortune, destruction, SHALL FALL UPON THEE, THOU SHALT NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT OFF, to lay down ransom-money to be delivered from it; AND DESOLATION S... [ Continue Reading ]
Stand now with thine enchantments, the various magical formulas employed, AND WITH THE MULTITUDE OF THY SORCERIES, WHEREIN THOU HAST LABORED FROM THY YOUTH, this having ever been a characteristic of Babylon, as far as its history goes back; IF SO BE THOU SHALT BE ABLE TO PROFIT, IF SO BE THOU MAYEST... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels, driven to despair by the fruitless quest for means and methods to meet the threatened punishment and to avert it. LET NOW THE ASTROLOGERS, those versed in astronomy, but connecting with their activity that of fortune-telling, THE STAR-GAZERS, the pr... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, they, all the wizards and necromancers and astrologers, SHALL BE AS STUBBLE, the fire shall burn them, so that they will be totally destroyed; THEY SHALL NOT DELIVER THEMSELVES FROM THE POWER OF THE FLAME, as the wrath of God comes upon them to their destruction; THERE SHALL NOT BE A COAL TO... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus shall they, these men upon whom the Babylonians depended, BE UNTO THEE WITH WHOM THOU HAST LABORED, EVEN THY MERCHANTS, FROM THY YOUTH, for the astrologers and wizards and magicians did a flourishing business at the expense of the citizens of Babylonia; THEY SHALL WANDER EVERY ONE TO HIS QUARTE... [ Continue Reading ]