XLVII. (1) COME DOWN... — _The virgin daughter of Babylon, i.e.,_ Babylon itself, personified as till now unconquered, is called to leave her throne and sit in the dust as a menial slave. The epithets “tender” (better, perhaps, _wanton_) and “delicate” point to the luxury which had been identified... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE THE MILLSTONES. — Always the most servile form of female labour (Exodus 11:5; Job 31:10; Matthew 24:41). UNCOVER THY LOCKS. — The picture of suffering is heightened by the fact that the female slave has to wade unveiled, and bare-legged, all sense of shame outraged, to the scene of her labours... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL NOT MEET THEE AS A MAN. — The words in italics show that the phrase is difficult. Omitting them we get _I shall not meet a man, i.e.,_ there will be none to oppose me, or _I will not spare a man. _... [ Continue Reading ]
AS FOR OUR REDEEMER... — The verse comes in somewhat abruptly, but may be viewed (unless we suppose it to have been originally a marginal addition, which has found its way into the text) as Israel’s song of praise, as it looks on the overthrow of Babylon. As such it finds a parallel in the overthrow... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAS WROTH WITH MY PEOPLE... — The sin of Babylon was that she had gone beyond her commission as the chastiser of Israel, casting off all reverence for age, and making even the _old men_ do the hard tasks of bond-slaves (Lamentations 4:16; Lamentations 5:12). (Comp. Zechariah 1:15.)... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SAIDST... — The boastful confidence of Babylon in her own perpetuity blinded her, as it had long blinded other nations, to “these things,” _scil,_ the Divine law that pride and cruelty bring their own Nemesis.... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM, AND NONE ELSE BESIDE ME... — The boasts of Babylon are purposely embodied by the prophet in praises that recall Jehovah’s assertion of His own eternity. She practically deified herself. So a like boast is put into the mouth of Nineveh in Zephaniah 2:15, and was repeated almost verbally by the... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THEIR PERFECTION. — Better, _in their completeness._ She should taste the full bitterness of widowhood and bereavement. FOR THE MULTITUDE OF THY SORCERIES. — Better, _in spite of_ ...... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOU HAST TRUSTED IN THY WICKEDNESS... — Babylon, like other nations that have followed in her steps, took for its law that Might was Right, practically denied the existence of a Ruler who saw and judged, and boasted of its wisdom. The context implies that the special form of wisdom spoken of wa... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT OFF... — The words have been variously rendered: (1) _of which thou shalt know no dawn, i.e.,_ after the night of calamity; and (2) _which thou shalt not be able to charm away._ Stress is laid on the destruction being at once unforeseen and irretrievable.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF SO BE THOU SHALT BE ABLE... — The words come with a subtle tone of irony. _Persevere in thy enchantments_ ... _perchance thou wilt be able to profit, perchance thou wilt strike terror._... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NOW THE ASTROLOGERS... — The three words describe two aspects of the same art — (1) the _dividers of the heavens,_ assigning stellar influences to the signs of the Zodiac; (2) the “star-gazers,” further defined as _those who make known things to come at the new moon._ The Assyrian and Chaldæan o... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE SHALL NOT BE A COAL TO WARM AT. — Better, _it shall not be_ ... The destroying flame shall be altogether other than the fire on the hearth, at which a man can sit and warm himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
THY MERCHANTS, FROM THY YOUTH... — The commerce of Babylon is specially prominent in all descriptions. (Comp. Herod. i. 194-196; Ezekiel 17:4.) The time was coming when those who had thronged her markets would desert her and leave her to her desolation.... [ Continue Reading ]