Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley, [1754-65], at sacred-texts.com
Isaiah 46:1
isa 46:1
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.
Isaiah 46:2
isa 46:2
They - The Babylonians. Together - The Babylonians and their idols together, neither could help the other. Deliver - The Babylonians could not deliver their idols.
Isaiah 46:3
isa 46:3
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.
Isaiah 46:7
isa 46:7
Remove - He can stir neither hand nor foot to help his people.
Isaiah 46:8
isa 46:8
Bring it - Think of this again and again, ye who have been guilty of this foolish sin.
Isaiah 46:10
isa 46:10
Declaring - Foretelling from the beginning of the world, future events which should happen in succeeding ages, even to the end of the world.
Isaiah 46:11
isa 46:11
A bird - Cyrus, called a bird for his swiftness, and ravenous for his fierceness, and victoriousness over his enemies.
Isaiah 46:13
isa 46:13
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.
