in the mythological stage. And the prophet might well exclaim in a tone of triumph, _Among all the wise of the nations none at all is like unto thee_, O Lord, as a source of true wisdom and understanding for the guidance of life (ver. 7). The inclusion of eclipses and comets among the signs of heaven here spoken of has been thought to be barred by the considerations that these are sometimes alleged by the prophets themselves as signs of coming judgment exhibited by the God of Israel; that, as a matter of fact, they were as mysterious and awful to the Jews as to their heathen neighbours; and that what is here contemplated is not the terror inspired by rare occasional phenomena of this kind, but an habitual superstition in relation to some ever-present causes. It is certain that in another prophecy against Babylon, preserved in the book of Isaiah, it is declared that, as a token of the impending destruction, "the stars of heaven and the Orions thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause his light to shine" (Isa. xiii. 10); and the similar language of the prophet Joel is well known (Joel ii. 2, 10, 30, 31, iii. 15). But these objections are not conclusive, for what our author is denouncing is the heathen association of "the signs of the heavens," whatever may be intended by that expression, with a false system of religious belief. It is a special kind of idolatry that he contemplates, as is clear from the immediate context. Not only does the parallel clause "Unto the way of the nations use not yourselves" imply a gradual conformity to a heathen religion; not only is it the fact that the Hebrew phrase rendered in our versions "Be not dismayed!" may imply religious awe or worship (Mal. ii. 5), as indeed terms denoting fear or dread are used by the Semitic languages in general; but the prophet at once proceeds to an exposure of the absurdity of image-worship: _For the ordinances_ (established modes of worship; 2 Kings xvii. 8; here, established objects of worship) _of the peoples are a mere breath_ (_i.e._, nought)! _for it_ (the idol) _is a tree, which out of the forest one felled_ (so the accents); _the handiwork of the carpenter with the bill. With silver and with gold one adorneth it_ (or, _maketh it bright_); _with nails and with hammers they make them fast, that one sway not_ (or, _that there be no shaking_). _Like the scarecrow of a garden of gourds are they, and they cannot_ _speak; they are carried and carried, for they cannot take a step_ (or, _march_): _be not afraid of them, for they cannot hurt, neither is it in their power to benefit!_ "Be not afraid of them!" returns to the opening charge: "Of the signs of heaven stand not in awe!" (cf. Gen. xxxi. 42, 53; Isa. viii. 12, 13). Clearly, then, the _signa cœli_ are the idols against whose worship the prophet warns his people; and they denote "the sun, the moon,