Isaiah 27

Chap. XXVII. Ver. 1—13. God’s conduct toward his church represented by the care of a husbandman over his vineyard. The first verse evidently belongs to the preceding chapter. God there announces his rising to execute judgment: here he states the objects of his vengeance. The straight serpent is plainly the crocodile—the crooked serpent, probably the Boa-constrictor, and the Sea-serpent, (perhaps that enormous creature lately seen upon the American shores,) though generally supposed to be the whale. These were undoubtedly designed to typify tyrannical powers of the first class, but which of them it is not easy, nor perhaps possible to ascertain.

Then comes in the beautiful parable of the Vineyard, which is doubtless designed to represent the nature of God’s dealings with his people Israel, in a kind of dialogue (called in the original ‘a responsive song’) between Jehovah, the great Husbandman, ((John 15:1).) and the people of Israel, who are his vineyard. According to Bishop Lowth’s view of this passage, “The church wishes for a wall, or a defence of thorns; human strength and protection: Jehovah replies that this would nought avail her, nor defend her against his wrath: he counsels her therefore to betake herself to his protection. On which she entreats him to make peace with her.”—Such is the import of this ‘‘responsive song.” The prophet then compares the afflictions of Israel with the more terrible judgments against their enemies, and asks, ‘Hath he smitten him (Jacob) as he smote those that smote him?’ i.e. their enemies. The answer is, No: his judgments on Israel are tempered with mercy (ver. 8.) and intended to purify and not destroy. And therefore when their enemies shall be utterly destroyed, as fuel for the fire, they shall be gathered, like fruit, from every country into which they have been scattered.

Notes on the verses

Chap. XXVII. Ver. 1. Leviathan.—The name is used for any great monster, either by sea or land, and especially for the crocodile; see exposition of (Job 41)[The animals here mentioned, says Bishop Lowth, (which he thinks are the crocodile, serpent, and whale,) are used allegorically, without doubt, for great potentates, enemies and persecutors of the betes of God; but to specify the particular persons or states designed by the prophet under these images is a matter of great difficulty.]—Bagster. Ver. 2. Sing ye.—Lowth, “Sing ye a responsive song,” which the Hebrew certainly implies. (See (Nehemiah 12:31-40). with our notes.)——A vineyard of red twine.—Lowth, “The beloved vineyard;” so a great number of MSS., some printed editions, the LXX., and Chaldee.

The Hebrew in no case has any remark to distinguish the speakers, as we have; but the learned Bishop just quoted, distributes them thus: Ver. 3. (Jehovah.) It is I, Jehovah, that preserve her; I will water her every moment; I will take care of her by night; And by day I will keep guard over her. Ver. 4. (Vineyard.) I have no wall for my defence; O that I had a fence of the thorn and brier! (Jehovah.) Against them should I march in battle; spe—eg up together. 5. Ah! let her rather take hold of my protection. (Vineyard.) Let him make peace with me! ee Peace let him make with me. 6 (Jeh.) They that come, &c. [mB verse peaite| to att the dialogue.] To this version and distribution, Dr. Boothroyd adheres very nearly, e in the sixth verse.

To render this intelligible, it may be proper to [note] ver. 4. that hedges of thorn and brier are often used instead of stone; but in those hot countries they are so combustible as easily to take fire, and are often employed for fuel. In ver. 4, instead of Fury is not in me, Lowth reads, “I have no wall” ld which, however, does not differ widely in the original; for the Hebrew word for fury, by the insertion of a vay, becomes “a wall;” and in this change he is supported by the LXX. and the Syriac. Ver. 8. In measure when it shooteth forth.—See margin; that is, the rod of correction, ‘Thou ik debate with it.” This, though rejected by the Bishop and Dr. Boothroyd, we think very beautiful; it is the portrait of a father chastising his child, and hesitating, or debating with the rod, that it be not too severe.

Again he stayeth, holdeth back, (see (Proverbs 30:4).) the roughness of the wind in the day of tempest. Ver. 9. And this is all the fruit.—Boothroyd, ‘This shall be the whole fruit;’ i.e. the ultimate consequence, even “the removal of his sin.” When he maketh, &c.—That is, when he destroyeth all the vestiges of idolatry, and particularly the ‘‘sun images,” as the margin reads. (See chap. xvii. 8.) Ver. 10. The defenced (or fortified) city.—Dr. Boothroyd refers this to Babylon, which, like a worthless vine, was to be broken down and burnt. Ver. 12. The Lord shall beat off, &c.—Boothroyd, “Shall gather his fruit,—the flood of the river unto,” &c. This was done by beating the fruit from the trees.