8. The Gods of Babylon will fall (46:1-13)

This is a marvelous passage illustrating the artistic and rhetorical skills of the poet/prophet. In a masterful way in vv.1-7 he plays on the words “to carry” and “to bear,” demonstrating that Babylon’s gods must be carried and borne by those who are already weary, while the God of Israel carries and bears his people and gives strength to the weary (cf. 40:28-31).

This statement on God as incomparable is reinforced by an appeal to history: “Remember the former things,” a reference to God’s mighty acts in the Exodus event. V.11 is another allusion to Cyrus (a bird of prey). He is a part of God’s plan.