United Commentaries

Isa.47.1-48.22

Two conclusions can be drawn from the preceding evidence that the Lord alone is God: (1) Babylon’s great pride is foolishness (47:1-15); (2) Israel needs to pay attention to the word of the Lord (48:1-22).

Isa.47.1-4

In this taunt against Babylon, the queen of nations is humiliated, forced to work as a servant girl.

Isa.47.1

To sit in the dust was a way of expressing humiliation.

Isa.47.3

God’s vengeance against those who oppose him and those who oppress his people (see 34:8) will bring justice to the world by purging it of wickedness.

Isa.47.5-11

Babylon’s confidence and arrogance were well known (see 14:13-17; Dan 4:30). All of this nation’s charms, magic, and wisdom were useless against the disaster decreed for it.

Isa.47.6

The people of Israel had provoked God’s wrath, prompting him to use Babylon to punish them. Now wicked Babylon itself would be punished.

Isa.47.8

I am the only one, and there is no other: This was a claim to divinity (cp. 45:5; 47:10). Only the Lord can make such a claim. For any created thing, including a nation, to utter this is the height of hubris.

To be a widow or to lose one’s children was a disgrace.

Isa.47.9

Witchcraft and magic were commonly used in an attempt to ward off evil and to secure a happy future.

Isa.47.10

In this context, ‘wisdom’ and ‘knowledge’ probably refer sarcastically to the pseudo-knowledge gained through occult practices, which actually led Babylon away from the truth and into disaster (47:11).

Isa.47.12-15

In the face of calamity, Babylon would turn to occult practices for help, but it would not find help.

Isa.47.13

Babylon was advanced in astronomy, which the astrologers and stargazers used as a form of divination (see Dan 2:2, 10; 5:7).