1:5 ye will not believe. Compare this verse to Isaiah 53:1, which similarly marvels at the inexcusable unbelief of the children of Israel at the great work of God. This unbelief will be especially manifest when they are dispersed “among the heathen.” The work of God which they reject is nothing less than the sending of His own Son to die for their sins, then rise again. See Acts 13:41.

1:6 Chaldeans. The “Chaldeans” are the Babylonians. Originally the Chaldeans proper occupied only southern Babylonian, where Abraham’s initial home had been (“Ur of the Chaldees”), but they soon came to dominate the whole region once controlled by Assyria. Under Nebuchadnezzar (605–562 B.C.), they developed the world’s greatest empire at that time.

1:6 breadth of the land. After conquering Assyria, the Babylonians, in the process of extending their empire into Egypt, also marched through the land of Israel, eventually besieging and sacking Jerusalem, carrying its leaders into Babylonian exile.

1:9 sup up. That is, “have supper.”

1:10 heap dust. “Heap dust” refers to the strategy of building a long ramp up to a city’s wall, enabling them to scale the wall and capture the city.

1:11 his god. The chief “god” of Babylon was Marduk (or “Merodach”), a name probably evolving through the centuries from Nimrod, Babylon’s great founder, who had been essentially deified by his descendants.