*H Bel is broken, Nebo is destroyed: their idols are put upon beasts and cattle, your burdens of heavy weight even unto weariness.
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.
*H They are consumed, and are broken together: they could not save him that carried them, and they themselves shall go into captivity.
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.
*H Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel who are carried by my bowels, are borne up by my womb.
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.
* Footnote * Baruch 6 : 15
Therefore fear them not. For as a vessel that a man uses when it is broken becometh useless, even so are their gods:*H Remember this, and be ashamed: return, ye transgressors, to the heart.
Ver. 8. Ashamed. Sept. "groan." Prot. "shew yourselves men." H.
*H Who call a bird from the east, and from a far country the man of my own will, and I have spoken, and will bring it to pass: I have created, and I will do it. Hear me, O ye hardhearted, who are far from justice.
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.
*H I have brought my justice near, it shall not be afar off: and my salvation shall not tarry. I will give salvation in Sion, and my glory in Israel.
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.