Delitzech supposes), but to the oapti ves of idolatry. Israel hu been already "oalled Babylon, designated in these later chapters a ~nsgreeeor from the beginning" (oh. indifferently 88 "JMob" or "Israel" (eh. xlvm. 8). xl. 27; :xli. 8, 14; :xiii. 24; xliii. l, 28; xliv. Vera. 9-11.-A FURTHER ADMONITION 1, 21, 23; xiv. 4, etc.), never 88 "Judah" and oonstantly mentioned e.s a "remnant" GROUNDED ON OTHER MOTIVES. lerael is -all that was left of the oppressed and exhorted to continue firm in the faith (1) d?wn-trodden nation (see eh. i. 9; x. 20-22; by the recollection of God's mercies in the xi. 16, etc.). Borne by me. Carried in the past (ver. 9); (2) by the consideration of e'"erle.sting aims, e.s a child in the arms of his prophetic power (ver. 10); and (3) by its nurse or mother (comp. eh. lxiii. 9). a renewed promise of coming deliverance From the belly . . . from the womb. From the very beginning of the national existence. through Cyrus (ver. 11). Ver. 4.-Evcn to your old age I am he· ~er•. 9.-Re~ember the former. things of eren to hoar hairs, etc. The nurse-eve~ old, •:e. ~ s wonderful dealings with tbe mother-soon grows tired of carrying Israel m times past-the miracles in E<>ypt the child, and leaves him to shift for him- the pe.ssa.11:e of the Red Sea, the deli ver;nce~ s~lf. But God's tender care for his people from l\'liclian, and Ammon, and the Philis- lasts from their infancy, through their boy- tines, and Zera.h, and Sennacherib-which hood and manhood, to their old age. The proved him God in a sense in which the everlasting arms never weary. God's watch- word could be applied to no other. I am fulness., his providence, hie protection, never God . . . I am God. In the original " I fail. I have ma.de, and I will bear. The a.m El . . . I am Elohim." El is !, the maker of a. thing he.s naturally regard to Mighty One," "the Omnipotent;" Elohim what he has me.de, loves it, desires its good, "the tiodhee.d" in all its fulness. ' seeks to defend and ea.ve it. Ver. 10.-Deolaring the end from the Ver. 5.-To whom will ye liken me 1 beginning ; i.e. " possessed of the very (comp. eh. xl. 18.) Am I to be likened to highest prophetic power, able to declare the idols of Babylon? Will you make from the very beginnings of history its ulti- images of me? Bethink you what the mate issues" (see Gen. iii. 15; xvi. 12; very nature of an idol i,,--how contrary to xxi. IS, etc.), My oounsel; rather, my my nature I My idol would be no more purpose, or my plan (comp. Ps. xxxiii. 11 • capable of helping itself or others than the Job xxili, 13; and supra, eh, xiv. 24). ' images of Nebo or Bcl-111erodach. Ver.11.-Calling a ravenous bird; rather Ver. 7.-They bear him upon the shoulder a bird of prey. The imagery is quite natural: (see the comment on eh. xlv. 20). Here, and exactly parallel to that by which however, it is not the carrying in procession N ebuchadnezza.r ie termed "an eagle," both that is spoken of, but the conveyance of the by Jeremiah (xlix. 22) and Ezekiel (xvii. 3). image by the wori.na.n from his own work- There is no need to suppose any allusion shop to the temple where it is to be set up. to the fact, if fa.et it be, that the Persians The carrying of heavy burdens upon the frorn the time of Cyrus had for a. standard a shoulder is mentioned by Herodotus (ii. 35), golden eagle, with wings outspread, on the a.nd frequently represented on ancient top of a spear-she.ft (Xen., 'Cyrop.,' vii. 1, § 4· monuments (see 'Ancient Monarchies,' 'Anab.,' i. 10, § 12). From the east (comp'. vol. i. l'P· 402, 475; 'Herodotus,' vol ii. pl. eh. xli. 2, 25), Both Persia and Sueiana, opp. p. 177; etc.). From his place &hall he which were the primary seats of the power not remove; i.e. he (the god) will have no of Cyrus, lay to the ea.et of Babylon, the power of moving an inch from the spot on latter due east, the former somewhat to the which he ie set up. There he will stand south-ea.et. Even Media. might, according motionleBB, till some one comes and pushes to Hebrew usage, be described as east, him or pulls him from hie place. though lying almost due north-east. Ver. 8.-Remember this, and show your- Vers. 12, 13.-AN ADMONITION TO TBB selves men ; or, remember this, and stand OBDURATE IN ISRAEL. Gocl'e mercy extends firm. Isaiah is addressing those who waver even to those who resist his grace. 1'hey between true religion and idolatry. Hitherto who have been hitherto stiff-necked and they have not fallen away, but they are in danger of so doing. "Remember," he so.ye "far from righteousness," have a. special to them, or "bear in mind constantly the warning addressed to them. Salvation is impotence of the idols, and the power of drawing nigh; the deliverance of Iarael is Jel.iove.h, and then stand firm-remain in approaching; tht.ro ie no time to lose ; will your old faith-do not be drawn over to so they not cast in their lot with the true foolish a thing as idolatry." 0 ye traDB- greaaors. It is to be a " transgressor" even Israel, and take advantage of the deliverance ~ contemplate the turning from Jehovah to when it comes? llll, xl.VI. l-18.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 197
Ver. 12.-Ye ■tout-hearted (comp. Ezek. my people." This latter is the aalvation ii. 6; iii. 7 ; and infra, eh. xl viii. 4). The that ahall not tarry. In Zion. The head- LXX. tronslate by 0'1<l\:71po1e&p6w,. quarters of the "aalvation" shall once more Ver. 13.-I bring near my righteouaneBB; be Mount Zion, or Jerusalem, where God's i.e. "my righteous judgment is approaching people shall once more take up their abode, -thot judgment which involves vengeance and which shall be "the centre of the on my enemies, mercy and deliverance to renovated nation" (Delitzsch).