2-3. “Who got things rolling here,got this champion from the east on the move?Who recruited him for this job,then rounded up and corralled the nationsso he could run roughshod over kings?He’s off and running,pulverizing nations into dust,leaving only stubble and chaff in his wake.He chases them and comes through unscathed,his feet scarcely touching the path.
21-24. “Set out your case for your gods,” says God.“Bring your evidence,” says the King of Jacob.“Take the stand on behalf of your idols, offer arguments,assemble reasons.Spread out the facts before usso that we can assess them ourselves.Ask them, ‘If you are gods, explain what the past means—or, failing that, tell us what will happen in the future.Can’t do that?How about doing something—anything!Good or bad—whatever.Can you hurt us or help us? Do we need to be afraid?’They say nothing, because they are nothing—sham gods, no-gods, fool-making gods.