Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.
Let them bring (them) forth, and show us what shall happen - `Let them bring near and declare future contingencies' (Horsley). Or, as the Chaldaic, Septuagint, Vulgate, Arabic, and Syriac, 'Let them draw near,' etc. Hebrew, yagishuw (H5066).
Let them show the former things, what they (be), that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come - show what former predictions the idols have given, that we may compare the event ("latter end") with them; or give new prophecies ('declare things to come') (Isaiah 42:9). Barnes explains it more reconditely-`Let them foretell the entire series of events, showing, in their order, the things which shall first occur, as well as those which shall finally happen.' The false prophets tried to predict isolated events, having no mutual dependency; not a long series of events mutually and orderly connected, and stretching far into futurity. They did not even try to do this. None but God can do it (Isaiah 46:10; Isaiah 44:7-8). "Or declare us things for to come" will, in this view, mean, Let them, if they cannot predict the series, even predict plainly any detached events. I prefer the former view, which is simpler.