Chapters 46 & 47 Babylon Revisited in Humiliation

Chapter 46 begins: Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.

Chapter 47 begins: Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.

*Bel and Nebo were idols and gods the Chaldean people of Babylon worshipped. They would have been in a permanent location and the people would come to them and bow down before them in worship. but here in Chapter 46 we see them carried away upon beast and these idols are the ones bowing and stooping down. See Isaiah 21:9

*In Chapter 47 1- 3a, 5 One of Babylon's highest god was a female god. The virgin daughter likely be the of the king would have been completely covered in public, she would have been pampered and would have never known physical labor. She would have been a praised possession oh highest value, sought by the other rulers and princes of the world. - Here Babylon is  is seen as a disgraced virgin her nakedness exposed for all to see, being put to the grind stone to grind meal , sitting in darkness no longer something beautiful to behold [A princess sitting the darkness to hide her shame after being raped, ravaged]

*These verses are speaking of when the Medes & Persians under Darius and Cyrus defeat Babylon and break down their gods and make them slaves (See Isaiah 45:14). Babylon once served by slaves from all nations, especially the Jews, were brought in chains before Cyrus be salves replacing the Jews.  

*In Chapter 46:3-12 The LORD tells his remnant (V 3) hearken -hear me and respond - remember who I AM. The creator, their sustainer, their savior. The LORD states that He is not to be compared to the gods of Babylon (Vs 5-7) that will be broken down and carried off. He is of Old, Verse 46:12 Understand - righteousness is a long way from those who trust in their own strength .

Verse 46:13- When you see the gods of Babylon being broken down and carried away. When Babylon is brought before my ravenous servant in chains - look for my salvation and righteousness to come to Zion, my Jerusalem than is is near - it will be offered again.

*In Chapter 47:6-15 The LORD declares the reason for the humiliation coming to Babylon.

Although it was He (The LORD) who delivered Judah and Jerusalem into the hands of Babylon, they did not show the God's people any mercy.(7:6)

They put the Jews under an unnecessarily heavy yoke (burden upon burden, sold them as salves through the world, left Jerusalem in a total state of poverty and corruption (remember Deuteronomy 28). (7:6)

Babylon thought they going to be the envy of the world forever.(7:7)

The Chaldeans lived for pleasures (7:8)

Babylon Said " I am, and none else beside me" mocking The Great I AM. (V:8)

Greatly increase in number - (V:*8)

(47:9-10) - They have trusted in wickedness, sorcery, enchantments, perverted wisdom and knowledge and thought they could hide themselves fro The LORD in their sins. (46:11) trusting in evil will bring evil.

*(47:12-15) The LORD tells to go ahead and trust (or stay) in all your wickedness and self, see if they can save you. The LORD says in verse 7:9 "But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day" Babylon's judgment shall come swiftly in one moment of one day and everything you trust in will be as stubble in a great fire - no salvation in what they have sought after and trusted in.

The Two That Days - When Cyrus rules and subdues the enemies and free Israel to return and rebuild the temple also When Christ returns and subdues the wicked nations at the end of the tribulation. The sign for both times of restoration brought to Israel and Jerusalem is the fall of Babylon (Revelation 14:8, 18:2)

Something interesting See Revelation 18:2,17 with Isaiah 23:14 and Genesis 49:1 and Genesis 49:13)