47. Isaiah Chapter Forty-Seven

Isaiah Chapter 47 The 46th chapter pronounced judgment upon the gods of Babylon, the 47th declares the doom of Babylon itself. Her pride would be humbled in the dust. For the phrase “sit on the ground,” see Isaiah 3:26. She had been noted for her luxury and debauchery, and called “tender and delicate” (Isaiah 47:1). Now she who was mistress must do the menial work of grinding at the mill. As a prisoner of war she would be compelled to abandon modesty and wade through her rivers.

All this Babylon would bring upon herself through her treatment of God’s people. He is their “Redeemer,” the Conqueror of their foes. He is “Jehovah of hosts,” possessed of absolute authority. He is “the Holy One of Israel,” signifying their character as it should be in relation to Himself, and the unholy character of their oppressors (Isaiah 47:4).

Babylon had been looked upon as an Empress, “the lady of kingdoms” (the king of Babylon called himself “king of kings,” Ezekiel 26:7; cp. Daniel 2:37). Now she must go into darkness, hiding herself for shame. When the Lord used her as His instrument for the chastisement of His people (Isaiah 47:6), she exceeded her authority, mercilessly treating the aged and helpless. This has been the case with all the potentates who have been permitted to occupy the land of Palestine and hold His people in captivity, and the same thing will obtain in regard to the Antichrist in the future.

Isaiah 47:8-10 depict further the character of the guilty city, her voluptuousness, her self-exaltation, as well as her self-deification in adopting the title “I AM,” which alone belongs to God, her false sense of security, her sorceries and enchantments (astrology had its origin in Babylonia), her seared conscience in declaring that no eye saw her wickedness, and so virtually denying the existence and omnipresence of God. Possessed of natural wisdom and knowledge, she had used these to pervert her ways.

Hence evil would come upon her, of which she would not “know the dawning” (Isaiah 47:11, r.v.), or rather, as in the margin, “know how to charm away.” Mischief would fall upon her which she could not expiate (see a.v. margin).

Enchantments and sorceries had been practiced there “from her youth” (Isaiah 47:12), i.e., from the time of the reestablishment of Babel by Nimrod (Genesis 10:10, which is historically subsequent to Genesis 11:9). * The practice of the black art would not deliver her from her doom. Her traffickers would wander each in his own way (Isaiah 47:15, r.v. margin; cp. Revelation 18:1-24); they would flee to their own localities, leaving Babylon to its doom.