Isaiah-Chap-46
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Please
Note: Some alterations or (additions)
have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been
corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the
following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם -
the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2.
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With
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
In Chapter 46, the Prophet Isaiah presents a striking contrast between the heavy idols of Babylon and the carrying אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God) of Israel. As the fall of Babylon nears, the images of their gods, ‘Bel’ and ‘Nebo’, are packed onto weary animals to flee, they are a burden to the beasts. In contrast, the Holy One of Israel declares that He is the one who has carried His people from the womb and will continue to carry them even into old age.
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Let
us now read Yeshayahu - Isaiah Chapter 46: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).
1. “Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth; their idols are upon the beasts, and upon the cattle; the things that ye carried about are made a load, a burden to the weary beast.
2. They stoop, they bow down together, they could not deliver the burden; and themselves are gone into captivity.
3. Hearken unto Me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, that are borne (by Me) from the birth, that are carried from the womb:
4. Even to old age I am the same, and even to hoar hairs will I carry you; I have made, and I will bear; yea, I will carry, and will deliver.
5. To whom will ye liken Me, and make Me equal, and compare Me, that we may be like?
6. Ye that lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance; ye that hire a goldsmith, that he make it a אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, to fall down thereto, yea, to worship.
7. He is borne upon the shoulder, he is carried, and set in his place, and he standeth, from his place he doth not remove; yea, though one cry unto him, he cannot answer, nor save him out of his trouble.
8. Remember this, and stand fast; bring it to mind, O ye transgressors.
9. Remember the former things of old: that I am אֱלֹהִים, and there is none else; I am אֱלֹהִים, and there is none like Me;
10. Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying: 'My counsel shall stand, and all My pleasure will I do';
11. Calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of My counsel from a far country; yea, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass, I have purposed, I will also do it.
12. Hearken unto Me, ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness:
13. I bring near My righteousness, it shall not be far off, and My salvation shall not tarry; and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel My glory”.
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Here is our ‘verse by verse’
section with Explanations:
1: The Bowing Idols. Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth:
Explanation: These were the chief deities of Babylon. Now, their statues are “laid upon the beasts” and “cattle”. These objects, which were once worshipped, are now described as “heavy burdens” that make the weary animals groan.
2: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s in Captivity.
Explanation: These idols “stoop” and “bow down together”. They are powerless to “deliver the burden” meaning they cannot save their own images from being hauled away. The gods themselves “are gone into captivity”.
3: Carried from the Womb.
Explanation: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim turns to the “house of Jacob”. Unlike the idols that must be carried by men, God has "”borne” Israel from the birth and “carried” them from the womb.
4: Faithfulness to Old Age.
Explanation: This is a verse of great comfort “And even to old age I am the same, and even to hoar hairs (grey hairs) will I carry you; I have made, and I will bear; yea, I will carry, and will deliver”. אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s strength does not diminish as His children grow older.
5: The Incomparable One.
Explanation: אֱלֹהִים asks, “To whom will ye liken Me, and make Me equal?” He challenges anyone to find a comparison to the Infinite.
6-7: The Futility of Wealth.
Explanation: The wealthy lavish gold and silver to hire a goldsmith to make a god. They “fall down, yea, they worship”. They carry this idol on their shoulders, set it in a place, and it stands there; “from his place he shall not remove”. If one cries to it, it cannot answer nor save him from trouble.
8: Remember and Show Yourselves Men.
Explanation: The “transgressors” are told to bring this to mind. They are urged to use their reason and “show themselves men” by recognising the folly of idolatry.
9: The
Only Elohim.
Explanation: “Remember the former things of old”. אֱלֹהִים declares plainly: “I am אֱלֹהִים, and there is none else; I am אֱלֹהִים, and there is none like Me”.
10: The
Master of Time.
Explanation: אֱלֹהִים is the one “declaring the end from the beginning” His counsel “shall stand”, and He will do all His “pleasure”. Nothing can thwart His ultimate plan.
11: The
Bird of Prey.
אֱלֹהִים calls
a “ravenous bird from the east”, referring again to Cyrus, the man of His
counsel from a far country.
Explanation: "I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it”.
12: The
Stout-Hearted.
Explanation: אֱלֹהִים addresses the “stout-hearted”, those who feel “far from righteousness” or who are stubborn in their despair.
13:
Salvation is Near.
Explanation: אֱלֹהִים declares, “I bring near My righteousness, it shall not be far off”. He will place “salvation in Zion” for Israel, who is His “glory”.
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My Closing Brief Message:
The heart of this chapter lies in the reversal of the burden. The idols of this world are burdens we must carry, and they eventually exhaust us. But the True אֱלֹהִים is the one who carries us.
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you,
saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
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May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom
Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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