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].
Ver. 1. Bel is bowed down.] Jupiter Belus (as Pliny a calleth him), Babel's chief God, is now become a prey to the Persians, and might be to them of as great worth as was Nebuchadnezzar's solid gold image dedicated in Dura. Dan 3:1-2 This great golden image some think to be the same that is here called Nebo or Nebuchadnezzar. Others think it to be Apollo Deus vaticinus. Tremellius rendereth it, the prophesying or oracular God. Jeremiah seemeth to call him Merodach. Jer 51:2 Dagon the Septuagint render him, but not well.
Your carriages were heavy laden.] Tam estis dii graves.
a Lib. vi. cap. 26.