Isa 46.1-13 contains a prophecy about the fall of Babylon by Cyrus and Medo-Persia. It also talks about the release of the Jewish people from the captivity.
v 1…Bel (meaning “Lord” and related to Baal, a sun divinity) has bowed down (fallen), Nebo (another false god and contained in many Babylonian names like Nebuchadnezzar, Nabopalasser, etc) stoops over (falls prostrate); their images are consigned to the beasts and the cattle (because the city had fallen and these images were carried away in wagons). The things that you carry are burdensome, a load for a weary beast (if those idols were real they should have carried the people like Yehovah does his people).
v 2…They stoop over, they have bowed down together; they could not rescue the burden (couldn’t save Babylon who are now being carried away), but have themselves gone into captivity.
v 3…Listen to me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of Israel (all those that remained of the ten tribes), you have been borne by me since birth (Yehovah is different than these idols because he is not carried by anyone, but he does the carrying-Ezek 16).
v 4…Even to your old age, I shall be the same (unchanging, he will never replace them with another. This refutes Replacement Theology Christianity or any other religion), and even to your graying years I shall bear you. I have done it, and I shall carry you; and I shall bear you and I shall deliver you (he will never leave or abandon Israel and will deliver them out of the birth-pains and all their enemies).
Isa 46.5-7 are Abomination of Desolation passages (Isa 40.18-20, 44.9-20, 45.20; Rev 13.14; Jer 10.1-5. These are forbidden according to Deut 4.15-19).
v 5…To whom will you liken me, and make me equal and compare me (because it is impossible), that we should be alike (Yehovah and the idol or crucifix)?
v 6…Those who lavish gold from the purse and weigh silver on the scale hire a goldsmith, and makes it a god; they bow down, indeed they worship it.
v 7…They lift it up upon the shoulder and carry it; they set it in its place and it stands (in the pedestal intended for it, like the Abomination of Desolation standing in the Temple-Matt 24.15), it does not move from its place. Though one may cry to it, it cannot answer (45.19); it cannot deliver him from his distress (because it is nothing).
v 8…Remember this, and be assured; recall it to mind, you transgressors (you who forget the true God).
v 9…Remember the former things long past (God structures history to tell us what will happen in the Scriptures and the end times-Ecc 1.9, 3.15; Lam 3.37; Rom 15.4; Ezek 38.17; Isa 41.22), for I am God, and there is no other; God, and there is no one like me.
v 10…Declaring the end from the beginning (who foretells future events, starting with his 7000-year plan in Gen 1 for example) and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, “‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all my good pleasure (as he will now set forth)’;
v 11…Calling a bird of prey (Cyrus) from the east (Persia was east of Babylon, and the standard of Cyrus will have an eagle on it), the man of my purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it (especially the return of the exiles from captivity).
v 12…Listen to me, you stubborn minded (on purpose), who are far from righteousness (they had no wish to have any knowledge of it as defined in the Torah).
v 13…I bring near my righteousness (salvation of Israel), it is not far off (it will surely come); and my salvation will not delay (be late). I will grant salvation in Zion, and my glory for Israel (Yehovah will bring back the Jewish people from Babylon and he will glory in his people once again).
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