Isaiah 46 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Bel — The chief idol of the Babylonians, called by profane historians Jupiter Belus. Boweth — As the Babylonians used to bow down to him to worship, so now he bows down to the victorious Persians. Nebo — Another of the famous idols, which used to deliver oracles. Their idols — Were taken and broken, and the materials of them, gold, silver, and brass, were carried upon beasts into Persia. Your carriages — O ye Persians, to whom he turns his speech.

They — The Babylonians. Together — The Babylonians and their idols together, neither could help the other. Deliver — The Babylonians could not deliver their idols.

Carried — Whom I have nourished, ever since you were a people, and came out of Egypt; and that as tenderly, as parents bring up their own children.

Remove — He can stir neither hand nor foot to help his people.

Bring it — Think of this again and again, ye who have been guilty of this foolish sin.

Declaring — Foretelling from the beginning of the world, future events which should happen in succeeding ages, even to the end of the world.

A bird — Cyrus, called a bird for his swiftness, and ravenous for his fierceness, and victoriousness over his enemies.

I bring — Tho' you are unrighteous, I will shew myself a righteous and faithful God, making good my promise of delivering you out of Babylon after seventy years. It — My work of saving you from the Babylonish captivity. Will place — I will bring my people to Zion, and save them from all their enemies. My glory — In whom I will once again glory as my people.