Even before engaging in battle, their mere presence instills fear, and the phrase "from himself shall his judgment and heavy burden arise" suggests that he may appoint rulers from his own ranks, relying solely on his own strength and sword rather than foreign guards, or it could imply that he will receive in return the very tribulations he has inflicted upon others, facing defeat just as he defeated others.
His cavalry will advance from distant lands, wreaking greater havoc in their swift pursuits than leopards and wolves that hunt by night; indeed, wolves are more deadly as dusk approaches, hungry from the day’s fast stalking their prey. Likewise, the horsemen will not merely engage for battle; nothing stands against them as they hurry to increase their speed like an eagle diving for its catch. As a fierce wind withers all greenery, so too shall everything be reduced to naught in their presence, with the multitude of captives ensuring that their numbers rival the grains of sand.
So it is that Nebuchadnezzar shall reign supreme, triumphing over kings, driving them before his chariot in mockery, finding amusement in their defeat. His pride will swell to such heights that he will presume to conquer even nature itself, overpowering the most fortified cities. He will approach Tyre, constructing a causeway through the sea to transform the island into a peninsula, crafting an entryway to the city amidst the waves. Laughing at every fortification, he will encircle it with ramparts and claim it, a fate foreshadowed by the prophet Ezekiel, who declared that Nebuchadnezzar "the king of Babylon made his army weary with great labor against Tyre. Every head was made bald, and every shoulder bare. But no reward was given to him, nor to his army under Tyre, for the labors in which they served against him" (Ezekiel 29:18).
Once he has solidified his fortifications and faced no further resistance, his heart will swell with arrogance, believing himself a god, he will erect an image of gold in Babylon and summon all nations to worship him. Yet, upon doing so, he will be transformed into an image of the beast and ultimately fall. In the translations of Aquila and Symmachus, the phrase conveys a meaning of defect, signifying a deviation from what he once was, a common motif in Saint Paul's writings. This expression also reflects our own experiences when we say that an army has been beaten instead of defeated or destroyed, and how we describe vineyards and fields as having sinned rather than barren grapes and fruit.
The closing words — "this strength of his is the strength of his God" — should be read with a sense of irony, suggesting that this might is granted by Bel, his deity. To honor this god, he mandates allegiance from all nations under threat of death. As we transition to the Septuagint, we aim to reveal their profound meanings. "Behold, I will raise up the Chaldeans, a fierce and unyielding nation that traverses the earth to seize possessions that are not theirs." This serves as a warning to those who mock and blaspheme His Providence, for the Chaldeans symbolize forces akin to demonic beings, signifying evil spirits sent forth to wreak torment on sinners or the souls of the wicked through whom divine retribution is exacted.
These merciless Chaldeans show no mercy and are swift in executing their orders. They tread across the land, reflecting the wide path that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13) — a path once followed by the rich man in the Gospel who adorned himself in purple (Luke 16:19), as well as those who indulge in excess and luxuries, as illustrated in the Book of Amos (Amos 6:4). Their broad way symbolizes the earth tread upon by the feet of the Chaldeans, who refuse the narrow road that leads to life, a path walked by the Apostle Paul, glorifying God amid tribulations and trials (1 Corinthians 6:20).
The Chaldeans roam across the earth to claim lands that are not theirs. Yet, every soul inherently belongs to God, despite being besmirched by vices and transgressions, and though the accursed spirit claims, "I will return to my house from which I came" (Matthew 12:44), it is a falsehood, for no rational soul is intended to be a dwelling for such malevolence.
Following, we read: "The Chaldean is fearful and glorious; from him alone shall judgment proceed, and seizures shall depart from him." The fear he instills comes through the myriad punishments he imposes on those who neglect Divine Providence, while he erroneously takes the glory of the Godhead for himself. He is celebrated among the naive and the irreverent for his prophecies, false forms of healing, and the ailments he afflicts himself. The judgment upon those who reject God will be rendered by him, either from his own person or from Chaldea's influence, as the apostle states that they will be chastened to learn not to blaspheme (1 Timothy 1:3). However, those who repent and turn back to God will escape from Chaldea, even if once ensnared and among the captured.
Should we witness someone long-serving the devil who then repents and seeks God, we might remark, "His captivity has departed." For those who repent will release from the demons that hold them — breaking free with the speed of leopards and evening wolves — and approach the humble One who rode on a donkey (John 12:15; Zechariah 9:9), rushing to consume the divine nourishment of the Word of God, satisfying their long-standing hunger.
The phrase translated as "and his horsemen will rush on their horses," interpreted by Simmachus as "his horsemen shall be scattered," depicts a scene of collapse and chaos. The Arabian wolves, representing those who have endured a treacherous life, leaving darkness behind, will hasten to seize the sustenance of God’s Word. When they depart the shadows, the culmination will arrive for the wicked, the Chaldeans who obstruct the repentant, preventing their heartfelt return to God.
When the evildoers are vanquished and captives liberated from their grasp, God’s Word will shine forth like sand gathered from Chaldean bondage, delighting in the downfall of tyrants as it cherishes the victors of salvation. With the advent of the Savior, the once-proud devil has been subdued, and his dominion laid waste, revealed in his insidious offer to Christ: "All these things I will give you if you will bow down and worship me" (Matthew 4:9).
Indeed, it is a source of joy and wisdom when the folly of tyrants is trampled down and overthrown, transforming their past might into mockery. The great dragon, originally created to signify God's triumph, has become a source of laughter among the angels, accompanied not only by his defeat but also by the trading of tyranny for ridicule through the Word of God. He laughs at every stronghold, and what stronger fortification exists than that which the Apostle describes: "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God" (2 Corinthians 10:4,5).
Thus, all pretenses of earthly power, misleading honors, and material wealth shall be dismantled, and God’s Word shall mock every fortress of human pride, erecting barriers of truth against illusions of strength. As this unfolds, a transformation will take place where His Spirit will begin to show mercy, pleading for sinners, reconciling them back to their Creator — revealing the power of the Lord who can achieve such wonderous transformations.
As we examine these intricate passages, we see how they challenge historical interpretations and how what was once understood literally in relation to the Chaldeans now is interpreted figuratively, conveying God’s mercy and freedom to those who have escaped the grasp of such oppression. While history demands precise adherence to truths, figurative sense allows flexibility constrained only by the laws of piety and contextual integrity, urging us to refrain from making excessive or unjust comparisons.
THEOSIS