Commentari biblici

Isa 5:1-30.

PARABLE OF JEHOVAH'S VINEYARD.

A new prophecy; entire in itself. Probably delivered about the same time as the second and third chapters, in Uzziah's reign. Compare

Isa 5:15, 16 with Isa 2:17;

and

Isa 5:1 with Isa 3:14.

However, the close of the chapter alludes generally to the still distant invasion of Assyrians in a later reign (compare

Isa 5:26 with Isa 7:18;

and

Isa 5:25 with Isa 9:12).

When the time drew nigh, according to the ordinary prophetic usage, he handles the details more particularly

(Isa 7:1-8:22);

namely, the calamities caused by the Syro-Israelitish invasion, and subsequently by the Assyrians whom Ahaz had invited to his help.

1. to--rather, "concerning" [GESENIUS], that is, in the person of My beloved, as His representative [VITRINGA]. Isaiah gives a hint of the distinction and yet unity of the Divine Persons (compare He with I,

Isa 5:2, 3).

of my beloved--inspired by Him; or else, a tender song [CASTALIO]. By a slight change of reading "a song of His love" [HOUBIGANT]. "The Beloved" is Jehovah, the Second Person, the "Angel" of God the Father, not in His character as incarnate Messiah, but as God of the Jews

(Ex 23:20, 21; 32:34; 33:14).

vineyard--

(Isa 3:14; Ps 80:8,

&c.). The Jewish covenant-people, separated from the nations for His glory, as the object of His peculiar care

(Mt 20:1; 21:33).

Jesus Christ in the "vineyard" of the New Testament Church is the same as the Old Testament Angel of the Jewish covenant.

fruitful hill--literally, "a horn" ("peak," as the Swiss shreckhorn) of the son of oil; poetically, for very fruitful. Suggestive of isolation, security, and a sunny aspect. Isaiah alludes plainly to the Song of Solomon

(So 6:3; 8:11, 12),

in the words "His vineyard" and "my Beloved" (compare

Isa 26:20; 61:10, with So 1:4; 4:10).

The transition from "branch"

(Isa 4:2)

to "vineyard" here is not unnatural.

2. fenced--rather, "digged and trenched" the ground to prepare it for planting the vines [MAURER].

choicest vine--Hebrew, sorek; called still in Morocco, serki; the grapes had scarcely perceptible seeds; the Persian kishmish or bedana, that is, "without seed"

(Ge 49:11).

tower--to watch the vineyard against the depredations of man or beast, and for the use of the owner

(Mt 21:33).

wine-press--including the wine-fat; both hewn, for coolness, out of the rocky undersoil of the vineyard.

wild grapes--The Hebrew expresses offensive putrefaction, answering to the corrupt state of the Jews. Fetid fruit of the wild vine [MAURER], instead of "choicest" grapes. Of the poisonous monk's hood [GESENIUS]. The Arabs call the fruit of the nightshade "wolf grapes"

(De 32:32, 33; 2Ki 4:39-41).

JEROME tries to specify the details of the parable; the "fence," angels; the "stones gathered out," idols; the "tower," the "temple in the midst" of Judea; the "wine-press," the altar.

3. And now, &c.--appeal of God to themselves, as in

Isa 1:18; Mic 6:3.

So Jesus Christ, in

Mt 21:40, 41,

alluding in the very form of expression to this, makes them pass sentence on themselves. God condemns sinners "out of their own mouth"

(De 32:6; Job 15:6; Lu 19:22; Ro 3:4).

4. God has done all that could be done for the salvation of sinners, consistently with His justice and goodness. The God of nature is, as it were, amazed at the unnatural fruit of so well-cared a vineyard.

5. go to--that is, attend to me.

hedge . . . wall--It had both; a proof of the care of the owner. But now it shall be trodden down by wild beasts (enemies)

(Ps 80:12, 13).

6. I will . . . command--The parable is partly dropped and Jehovah, as in

Isa 5:7,

is implied to be the Owner: for He alone, not an ordinary husbandman

(Mt 21:43; Lu 17:22),

could give such a "command."

no rain--antitypically, the heaven-sent teachings of the prophets

(Am 8:11).

Not accomplished in the Babylonish captivity; for Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Haggai, and Zechariah prophesied during or after it. But in gospel times.

7. Isaiah here applies the parable. It is no mere human owner, nor a literal vineyard that is meant.

vineyard of the Lord--His only one

(Ex 19:5; Am 3:2).

pleasant--"the plant of his delight"; just as the husbandman was at pains to select the sorek, or "choicest vine"

(Isa 5:2);

so God's election of the Jews.

judgment--justice. The play upon words is striking in the Hebrew, He looked for mishpat, but behold mispat ("bloodshed"); for tsedaqua, but behold tseaqua (the cry that attends anarchy, covetousness, and dissipation,

Isa 5:8, 11, 12;

compare the cry of the rabble by which justice was overborne in the case of Jesus Christ,

Mt 27:23, 24).

Isa 5:8-23.

SIX DISTINCT WOES AGAINST CRIMES.

8.

(Le 25:13; Mic 2:2).

The jubilee restoration of possessions was intended as a guard against avarice.

till there be no place--left for any one else.

that they may be--rather, and ye be.

the earth--the land.