John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 46:1

"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]." — Isaiah 46:1 (ASV)

Bel hath bowed down. Isaiah continues the same subject, for we do not need to trouble ourselves about the division of chapters, which have not always been accurately divided. Instead, we should examine the statements themselves, which agree with each other in the way I have pointed out. Yet if anyone prefers to view this as the beginning of a new discourse, because immediately afterward he prophesies concerning the destruction of Babylon, I will not greatly quarrel with him.

Nebo is cast down. “Bel” and “Nebo” were idols that were worshipped by the Babylonians, and probably were their chief patrons, as idolaters always have some particular gods under whose protection, above all others, they consider themselves to be placed. It may be conjectured that this “Nebo” was a kind of inferior god that was added to the chief god “Bel,” much like Mercury was to Jupiter. Under their names, he also includes the rest of the idols and declares that all the superstitions and false worship of the Gentiles will be overthrown when God will lay low and triumph over their worshippers, because it will then be manifest that he is the righteous avenger of his Church.

Their idols shall be on the beasts. Because the Babylonians had haughtily boasted of the protection of false gods, the Prophet rebukes that vain confidence, because the God of Israel will not only bring utter ruin on that wicked nation but also will cast down and treat their gods disdainfully. The reason he says that they will be burdens for “beasts” is that they will be laid on wagons and removed from one place to another, and will even be huddled together without any respect, just as the wagoners think proper. This is what is meant by “being cast down,” for the robbers will collect into a large heap those gods that formerly occupied an elevated station.

Indeed, there can be no doubt that this was fulfilled when the Persians and Medes took Babylon by storm, for when the monarchy was removed, these idols were taken away as a part of the booty.

But Isaiah, though he predicted this, looked further—that is, to the coming of Christ, who was to overturn and destroy all false worship. For when his kingdom has been established, all idols immediately fall to the ground, and it is impossible for false religion and superstition to exist alongside the knowledge of him. By his brightness he dispels all darkness, so as to leave no room for false gods or superstitions, for, as Paul says,

“What hath Christ to do with Belial? What hath light to do with darkness?”
(2 Corinthians 6:14–15).

At the same time, it should be observed that the Prophet had his eye on the time when the Jews were held in captivity. For they saw the Babylonians offer incense to idols and ascribe supreme power to them, as if the government of affairs depended on them, while the God of the Jews was treated with scorn, as if he could not defend his people or as if he cared nothing about them. For this reason, he shows that there will be such a great revolution that the gods of the Babylonians, which were elevated so high, will be laid low, and God, who appeared to be low, will rise up and avenge his people.