This chapter Isaiah 5 commences a new subject, and is in itself an entire prophecy, having no connection with the preceding or the following chapter. “When” it was delivered is unknown; but from the strong resemblance between the circumstances referred to here, and those referred to in Isaiah 2, it... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WILL I SING - This is an indication that what follows is poetic, or is adapted to be sung or chanted. TO MY WELL-BELOVED - The word used here - ידיד _y__e__dı̂yd_ - is a term of endearment. It properly denotes a friend; a favorite; one greatly beloved. It is applied to saints as being the belove... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE FENCED IT - Margin, ‘Made a wall about it.’ The word used here is supposed rather to mean “to dig about, to grub,” as with a pick-axe or spade. - “Gesenius.” It has this signification in Arabic, and in one place in the Jewish Talmud. - “Kimchi.” The Vulgate and the Septuagint understands it o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW ... - This is an appeal which God makes to the Jews themselves, in regard to the justice and propriety of what he was about to do. A similar appeal he makes in Micah 6:3 : ‘O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? Testify against me.’ He intended to “punish”... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT COULD I... - As a man who had done what is described in Isaiah 5:2, would have done all that “could” be done for a vineyard, so God says that he has done all that he could, in the circumstances of the Jews, to make them holy and happy. He had chosen them; had given them his law; had sent them p... [ Continue Reading ]
GO TO - The Hebrew word here is one that is commonly rendered, ‘I pray you,’ and is used “to call the attention to” what is said. It is the word from which we have derived the adverb “now,” נא _nā'_. I WILL TAKE AWAY THE HEDGE - A “hedge” is a fence of thorns, made by suffering thorn-bushes to gro... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL LAY IT WASTE ... - The description here is continued from Isaiah 5:5. The image is carried out, and means that the Jews should be left utterly without protection. I WILL ALSO COMMAND THE CLOUDS ... - It is evident here, that the parable or figure is partially dropped. A farmer could not comma... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE VINEYARD ... - This is the application of the parable. God had treated the Jews as a farmer does a vineyard. This was “his” vineyard - the object of his faithful, unceasing care. This was his “only” vineyard; on this people alone, of all the nations of the earth, had he bestowed his special... [ Continue Reading ]
WO UNTO THEM ... - The prophet now proceeds to “specify” some of the crimes to which he had referred in the parable of the vineyard, of which the Jews had been guilty. The first is “avarice.” THAT JOIN HOUSE TO HOUSE - That seek to possess many houses; or perhaps that seek to live in large and magni... [ Continue Reading ]
IN MINE EARS - This probably refers to the prophet. As if he had said, ‘God has revealed it to me,’ or ‘God has said in my ears,’ i. e, to me. The Septuagint reads it, ‘These things are heard in the ears of the Lord of hosts,’ that is, the wishes” of the man of avarice. The Chaldee, ‘The prophet sai... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, TEN ACRES - In this verse a reason is rendered why the houses mentioned in the previous verse should become desolate. The reason is, that the land would become sterile and barren, as a divine judgment for their oppression. To what particular time the prophet refers, here, is not apparent. It is... [ Continue Reading ]
WO UNTO THEM - The prophet, having denounced “avarice,” proceeds now to another vice - that of “intemperance, or dissipation.” THAT RISE UP EARLY ... - That rise “for this purpose,” when nothing else would rouse them. It may illustrate this somewhat, to remark, that it was not common among the anci... [ Continue Reading ]
The prophet proceeds to state still further the extent of their crimes. This verse contains an account of their dissipated habits, and their consequent forgetfulness of God. That they commonly had musical instruments in their feasts, is evident from many passages of the Old Testament; see Amos 6:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE MY PEOPLE ARE GONE - This is evidently used with reference to the “future.” The prophet described events as “passing before his eyes” as a vision (note, Isaiah 1:1); and he here seems to “see” the people going into captivity, and describes it as an event actually occurring. INTO CAPTIVITY... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE HELL - The word transated “hell,” שׁאול _sh__e__'ôl_, has not the same meaning that we now attach to that word; its usual signification, among the Hebrews, was “the lower world, the region of departed spirits.” It corresponded to the Greek ἅδης _Hadēs_, “hades,” or place of the dead. T... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE MEAN MAN ... THE MIGHTY MAN - The expressions here mean that “all” ranks would be subdued and punished; see the note at Isaiah 2:9. THE EYES OF THE LOFTY ... - see Isaiah 2:11, note; Isaiah 2:17, note. SHALL BE EXALTED IN JUDGMENT - In his justice; he shall so manifest his justice as to be... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALL THE LAMBS FEED - This verse is very variously interpreted. Most of the Hebrew commentators have followed the Chaldee interpretation, and have regarded it as desired to console the pious part of the people with the assurance of protection in the general calamity. The Chaldee is, ‘Then the... [ Continue Reading ]
WO UNTO THEM ... - This is a new denunciation. It introduces another form of sin, and threatens its appropriate punishment. THAT DRAW INIQUITY WITH CORDS OF VANITY - The general idea in this verse and the next, is, doubtless, that of plunging deeper and deeper into sin. The word “sin” here, has been... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT SAY ... - They add one sin to another for “the purpose of defying” God, and provoking him to anger. They pretend that he will not punish sin; and hence, they plunge deeply into it, and defy him to punish them. LET HIM MAKE SPEED - Let him come quick to punish. AND HASTEN HIS WORK - His punish... [ Continue Reading ]
WO UNTO THEM THAT CALL EVIL GOOD ... - This is the fourth class of sins denounced. The sin which is reprobated here is that of “perverting and confounding” things, especially the distinctions of morality and religion. They prefer erroneous and fake doctrines to the true; they prefer an evil to an up... [ Continue Reading ]
WO UNTO THEM THAT ARE WISE ... - This is the fifth crime specified. It refers to those who are inflated with a false opinion of their own knowledge, and who are, therefore, self-confident and vain. This is expressly forbidden; Proverbs 3:7 : ‘Be not wise in thine own eyes;’ compare Proverbs 26:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
WO UNTO THEM THAT ARE MIGHTY ... - This is the sixth specification of crime. He had already denounced the intemperate in Isaiah 5:11. But probably this was a prevailing sin. Perhaps there was no evidence of reform; and it was needful to “repeat” the admonition, in order that people might be brought... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH JUSTIFY - This refers, doubtless, to magistrates. They gave unjust decisions. FOR REWARD - For bribes. AND TAKE AWAY THE RIGHTEOUSNESS - That is, they do not decide the cause in favor of those who have just claims, but are determined by a bribe; see the note at Isaiah 1:23. It is remarkable,... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE AS THE FIRE ... - The remainder of this chapter is occupied with predicting “judgments,” or punishments, upon the people for their sins which had been specified. The Hebrew here is, ‘The tongue of fire.’ The figure is beautiful and obvious. It is derived from the pyramidal, or tongue-like... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE IS THE ANGER OF THE LORD KINDLED - The Lord is “enraged,” or is angry. Similar expressions often occur; Num 11:33; 2 Kings 23:26; Deuteronomy 11:17; Psa 56:1-13 :40; Job 19:11; Psalms 2:12. The “cause” of his anger was the crimes which are specified in this chapter. AND HE HATH STRETCHED F... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE WILL LIFT UP AN ENSIGN ... - The idea here is, that the nations of the earth are under his control, and that he can call whom he pleases to execute his purposes. This power over the nations he often claims; compare Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1; Isaiah 10:5; Isaiah 9:11; Isaiah 8:18. An “ensign”... [ Continue Reading ]
NONE SHALL BE WEARY - In this verse and the following, the prophet describes the condition of the army that would be summoned to the destruction of Judea. It would be composed of bold, vigorous, courageous men; they would be unwearied by long and painful journies; they would be fierce and violent; t... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSE ARROWS ARE SHARP - Bows and arrows were the common instruments of fighting at a distance. Arrows were, of course, made sharp, and usually pointed with iron, for the purpose of penetrating the shields or coats of mail which were used to guard against them. AND ALL THEIR BOWS BENT - All ready f... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR ROARING ... - Their battle cry, or their shout as they enter into an engagement. Such a “shout,” or cry, was common at the commencement of a battle. War was very much a personal conflict; and they expected to accomplish much by making it as frightful and terrible as possible. A shout served no... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL ROAR AGAINST THEM - The army that shall come up shall roar against the Jews. The image of “the roaring of the sea” indicates the great number that would come; that of the roaring of the “lion” denotes their fierceness and terror. AND IF ONE LOOK UNTO THE LAND - This expression has given s... [ Continue Reading ]