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 ]