Fathers

Loading…

What the Fathers say

Isaiah 46:1

Eastern Fathers

Cyril of Alexandria

But Bel was also honored in other cities. For they say that Bel was the mythical figure Chronos among the godless Greeks, one who was reputedly cruel and bloodthirsty and loved to slaughter humans … whereas the God of the universe is not pleased with such terrible impieties and through one of the holy prophets he said to those who were accustomed to doing this, "You sacrifice humans, for you have run out of cattle." … The expression "cast down" is apt, since the prophet here speaks of a time near to his own. …

Commentary On Isaiah 4:3.46:1 ↗

Western Saints

Jerome

Bel is broken, Nabo is crushed. Their idols have become beasts and livestock, burdening you with heavy loads until exhaustion. They have melted together and crumbled. They could not save those who carried them, and their souls will go into captivity. Seventy: Bel has fallen, Dagon is crushed. Their statues have become beasts and livestock, bound together as a burden for the laboring, the weak, and the hungry, unable to prevail together. They could not save from war. …

Commentary on Isaiah ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Here he foretells the destruction of the enemies holding them captive, namely, the Babylonians, as to two things in which they gloried: first, as to the destruction of their idols; second, as to the ending of their kingdom, below: come down, sit in the dust (Isa 47:1). The first of these is divided into two. …

Commentary on Isaiah ↗