The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 200

xi. 1-9). Though not unconquered (see Xerxes (Ctes., 'Exe. Pera,'§ 22). Alexander the comment on ver. 1), she ho.d yet for the Great found her walls and her great two millennia. or more mo.into.ined o. promi- buildings in ruins, bnt still she we.s a con- nent position among the chief peoples of siderable place. Cyrus, however, no doubt, the earth, and he.d fine.lly risen to e. carried off e. portion of her population, prouder eminence tho.n e.ny the.t she he.d pre- which thenceforth began to dwindle, and viously occupied. Still, she ought to have continually became less and less o.a time remembered that " e.11 things come to o.n went on, until she sank into a solitude. end," e.nd to he.ve so comported herself in That extreme desolation which the pro- the time of her prosperity as not to have phets paint in such vivid colours ( eh. xii. provoked God to e.nger. So the.t thou didst 19-22; xiv. 22, 23; Jer. I. 10-15, 38-40; not le.y these things to thy heart. "These Ii. 1l6-43) was potentially contained in the things" must refer to the calamities about capture by Cyrus, which was the work of to fall upon Be.bylon, of which she may a single day. For the multitude of thy have heard before the end co.me-since they sorceries . . . of thine enchantments ( comp. had been prophesied so long previously- ver. 13; and see also Dan. ii. 2; v. 7). The but which she did not take to heart. The word here translated II sorceries" probably latter end of it; i.e. "the probable issue of means "incantations'' or "enchantments,'' her pride and cruelty" (Kay). while that translated II enchantments" Ver. 8.-Therefore; re.ther, and now. The means "spells." The addiction of the third strophe begins here, but with a single, Babylonians to magic is largely attested instead of a double, imperative. So also the by the classical writers, and has been fourth strophe in ver. 12. 'l'hou that art proved beyond a. doubt by the lately dis- given to pleasures (see the comment on ver. covered native remains. By these it appeara 1, sub fin.). That dwellest carelessly; or, that their magic fell under three principal that sittest securely ; i.e. in e.n imagined beads_: (I) the preparation and use of spells security. Herodotus says that, when Cyrus o.nd talismans, which were written forms invested the city, the inhabitants" made light engraved on stone or impressed on clay, and of his siege" (i. 190), and occupied them- worn on the person or attached to the ohject selves "in dancing and revelry" (i. 191). on which their influence was to be exerted; The Nabonidus Tablet seems to show that (2) the composition and recitation of form ulm very slight and insufficient preparations for of incantation, which were supposed to act defence were made. I am, and none else e.s charms, and to drive away demons o.nd beside me. This is not self-deification, but diseases; and (3) the taking of observations only a boo.at of superiority to all other e.nd framing of tables of prognostics and of earthly powers. Zepho.niah expresses in omens for general use, together with the exactly similar terms the pride and e.rro- casting of horoscopes for the special advan- go.nce of Assyria (ii. 15). I shall not sit tage of individuals (see Rawliuson's 'Egypt as a widow; i.e. in solitude and desolo.- and Babylon,' p. 58; e.nd comp. Lenor- tion (Lam. i. 1), deserted by the crowds mant, 'Lo. Magie cbcz les Cho.ldeens,' and who had sought her marts and delighted Professor Sayce's papers in the 'Transac- in her luxury. This result, which now im- tions of the Society of llibl. Archreol.,' vol. pended, had never been anticipated by the iii. p. 145, et seqq.; vol. iv. p. 302, et seqq.). " careless " one, who had expected to be The first and second forms of magic. o.re for ever "the lady of kingdoms." The loBB glanced ut in the present pe.ssage; the third of ohildren; i.e. diminution of population. is noticed in ver. 13. Ver. 9.-In a moment in one day. The Ver. 10.-Thou hast trusted in thy wicked- day of the capture of the city by Cyrus, neaa; i.e. in thy incantations aud spells, which was the third of Me.rchesvo.n, n.o. which were supposed to work in secret, e.nd 539. Then, "in o. moment," Babylon lost which could not be counteracted if their the whole of her prestige, ceased to reigu, victim we.s not aware of them. Thy wisdom ceased to be e.n independent power, became and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee. e." widow," had a portion of her population The astronomical" wisdom e.nd knowledge" torn from her, we.s brought down to the of the Babylonians, confessed by the Greeks dust, Losa of children, and widowhood to have been the origin of their own astro- co.me upon her in their perfection ; i.e. " in nomical knowledge (Plat., 'Epinomis,' p. the full extent of their bitterness" (Cheyne). 987; Hippe.rob. o.p. Proo!., 'In Tim.,' p. 71; Not that Cyrus imitated her oommon prac- Phmnix Coloph. o.p. A then., 'Dcipnos.,' xii. tice by oe.rrying off her entire population; p. 530, E.; Diod. Sic., ii. 31, etc.), led them on the contrBry, she continued for more on to that pervorsion of true science, than two centuries to be e. flourishing and astrology, which, when once entered upon, populous town. Twire she revolted from seduces the mind from all genuine and Darius Hystaspis (' Beh. Ins.,' col. i. pe.r. fruitful study of the celestial phenomena, 16; ool. iii. par. 13), once, perhaps, fro1n and lee.de it into u. hibyrinth of absurdities  206 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. [oa. XLVIL 1-15.