Isaiah 5

1 my well-beloved. Or, “my Friend,” meaning God. This introduction is adapted to secure a ready hearing for the prophet’s communication.

In a very fruitful hill. Lit., “Upon a horn, a son of oil (or fatness),” i.e., a fertile peak. The sunny sides of rocky precipitous hills have always been selected for the cultivation of the vine.

2 fenced it. Rather, “digged it thoroughly.”

a tower. Serving to protect the vineyard, to accommodate the owner and his labourers, and to contain the implements of cultivation and winemaking.

4 wild grapes. “Uvas silvestres” (Spanish version).

5 it shall be eaten up. Lit., “it shall be for consuming,” i.e. for a grazing-ground. Instead of being inclosed, it shall be thrown open for the pasturing and trampling of cattle.

6 no rain. This startling threat, which man could not enforce, prepares the way for the application of the parable in vers. 7-10. There can be no longer any doubt who the Lord of the Vineyard is. He is the Lord of the whole earth.

7 for judgement, but behold oppression. In this and the following verses the wild grapes are specified. Here and throughout the writings of the prophets we see how the sins of the past are repeated in our own time.

8 in the midst of the earth. Rather, “within the land.”

10 ten acres of vineyard, etc. The tenth part of a “homer” was called a “bath” in liquid and an “ephah” in dry measure, and contained about seven and a half gallons. It is therefore threatened that an acre of vineyard should yield less than a gallon, and that the produce of arable land should be only a tenth of the seed. The acre (as much as a man with a yoke of oxen could plough in a day) was about two-thirds of an English acre.

12. But they regard not, etc. Cp. Psa. xxviii. 5.

13 because [they have] no knowledge. R.V., “for lack of knowledge.”

14 hell. Heb. “Sheol,” or Gr. “Hades”: the grave (see Job xi. 8).

17 after their manner. Rather, “as in their pasture” (R.V.); i.e., the whole land, even the domains of the rich (see 8, 9), shall become a mere pasture-ground for wandering shepherds. For “strangers” the R.V. has, more correctly, “wanderers.”

18 a cart rope. That is, a strong rope. These men are represented not as being led away insensibly by sin, but as earnestly and perseveringly working at it with much labour: harnessed to it.

22 mighty to drink wine, etc. That was their only heroism, the heroism of the act. In defence of right they were very cowards; unable to stand against the temptation of a bribe, ib.: see 23, and comp. i. 23.

24 the fire. Lit., “the tongue of fire” (R.V.). the flame consumeth the chaff. Rather, “and as the burning grass falleth.”

25 the hills did tremble. The natural and immediate reference is to coming invasions of the Assyrian forces, whose fierceness and violence, as illustrated by the monuments, are vividly described (vers. 27-29). Their onset, however, was eventually to be succeeded by the yet more terrible and fatal attack by the king of Babylon.

their carcasses were torn. Rather, as R.V., “their carcasses were as refuse”—unburied, like common street sweepings.

26 will hiss unto them. Or “whistles unto them,” i.e., summoning the invading nations.

28 are sharp. Rather, “are sharpened,” on purpose to destroy.

30 against them. i.e., against the nation of Judah. The imagery is now changed for that of an advancing angry sea, over which there settles impenetrable gloom.