Isaiah 5 - Introduction

The chapter consists of three parts:

2 Samuel 5:1; 2 Samuel 5:1. The ingratitude of Israel and its approaching rejection by Jehovah are set forth under the veil of a homely parable.

ii. Isa 5:8-24. A series of six "Woes" directed against the prevalent vices and injustice of the upper classes and leaders of the state.

iii. Isa 5:25-30. Isaiah's first description of the Assyrian invaders, the agents of Jehovah's chastisement, already appearing on the horizon of the prophet's vision.

There are strong reasons for thinking that iii. formed originally the peroration of a different prophecy, entirely independent of Isaiah 5:1 (see below). 1 and 2, on the other hand, form a connected whole to which Isaiah 5:24 forms a suitable and well-marked conclusion. Although they may not have formed parts of a single spoken address, there are no grounds for supposing that they ever existed separately in writing.

To what date is this passage (Isaiah 5:1) to be ascribed? By the consent of nearly all critics, it belongs to the first period of Isaiah's career, but beyond this it is impossible to speak very definitely. A comparison with ch. 2 4, however, suggests that the prophet has now acquired a more intimate knowledge of the state of society in Jerusalem, and is able to lay a firmer hand on the evils of his time. We shall probably not go far wrong if we assign the prophecy to a slightly later date than the preceding Chapter s.