HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

ISAIAS 46

CHAPTER XLVI.

Ver. 1. Bel; perhaps Nimrod, (C.) or Saturn, to whom they sacrificed their children. W. --- Nabo, "the oracle" of Belus. The Chaldees adored statues and beasts. But the Persians worshipped the elements. C. --- Xerxes destroyed the tomb of Belus, after his expedition into Greece. Arrian vii.) He had there demolished the temples, (Herod. viii. 109.) pretending (H.) that "the world is the house of the gods." Cic. Leg. ii. --- Weariness. The priests affected to be weighed down, as if the god were present. Bar. vi. 25. S. Cyr.

Ver. 2. They. Lit. "their soul." H. --- The pagans must have supposed they had one. C. --- Captivity. "There are as many triumphs over the gods as over men." Tert. --- The former shared the fate of their adorers. Their statues were plundered.

Ver. 3. By my. Vulg. may have read a me ab, (C.) instead of a meo. Heb. and Sept. "taken from the womb," (H.) and treated with the utmost tenderness. C.

Ver. 8. Ashamed. Sept. "groan." Prot. "shew yourselves men." H.

Ver. 11. Bird; Cyrus, whose rapid conquests are thus denoted. C. --- He chose a golden eagle, with wings expanded, for his standard. Xen. vii. --- Christ came from heaven to redeem the world. Ps. xviii. 6. Mal. iv. 2. C. --- He was the orient, adored by the eastern sages, to whom the prophet refers. S. Jer. W.

Ver. 12. Israel. It shall no longer be a reproach. Cyrus shall restore my people to their own country. But Christ more full accomplished what is here declared respecting the establishment of his Church. C.