Isaiah 46, One God and No Other

Cyrus will rise to conquer Judah and the surrounding kingdoms. But eventually Babylon will fall. The next three chapters of Isaiah describe that fall.

Isaiah 46:1-2, Bel and Nebo stoop

Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low;

    their idols are borne by beasts of burden.

The images that are carried about are burdensome,

    a burden for the weary.

They stoop and bow down together;

    unable to rescue the burden,

    they themselves go off into captivity.

A fast moving string of phrases, describes the uselessness of the Babylonian idols, Bel and Nebo, who are unable to rescue the people that worship them. (Bel/Baal and Nebo were gods of Babylon. Presumably Nebuchadnezzar was named for the god Nebo.)

Verse 2 begins qā·rə·sū ḵā·rə·‘ū which is literally "(They) stoop bow". Motyer says that when Hebrew runs two verbs together, the first is adverbial to the second; this might be read as "They stooping bowed" or "they bowed, toppled."

Isaiah 46:3-4, Sustainer

“Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob,

    all the remnant of the people of Israel,

you whom I have upheld since your birth,

    and have carried since you were born.

Even to your old age and gray hairs

    I am he, I am he who will sustain you.

I have made you and I will carry you;

    I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

God is committed to sustaining Jacob/Israel.

Isaiah 46:5-7, Cannot move or answer

“With whom will you compare me or count me equal?

    To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?

Some pour out gold from their bags

    and weigh out silver on the scales;

they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god,

    and they bow down and worship it.

They lift it to their shoulders and carry it;

    they set it up in its place, and there it stands.

    From that spot it cannot move.

Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer;

    it cannot save them from their troubles.

Isaiah's sarcastic view of idolatry reappears. People bow down to an idol that cannot speak; once it is placed, it cannot move.

Isaiah 46:8-10, One God

“Remember this, keep it in mind,

    take it to heart, you rebels.

Remember the former things, those of long ago;

    I am God, and there is no other;

    I am God, and there is none like me.

I make known the end from the beginning,

    from ancient times, what is still to come.

I say, ‘My purpose will stand,

    and I will do all that I please.’

Repeated, with emphasis, is the reminder that only YHWH is God and only YHWH is Creator. There are no others.

Isaiah 46:11, Bird of prey

From the east I summon a bird of prey;

    from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.

What I have said, that I will bring about;

    what I have planned, that I will do.

A bird of prey (Cyrus) will come from the east and fulfill the purposes of God.

Isaiah 46:12-13, Righteousness approaches

Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted,

    you who are now far from my righteousness.

I am bringing my righteousness near,

    it is not far away;

    and my salvation will not be delayed.

I will grant salvation to Zion,

    my splendor to Israel.

Righteousness and salvation approach, beginning with Cyrus from the east.