Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 5

NOw will I sing to my welbeloved , a song of my beloved touching his vineyard : My welbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill .

I will record it to be a Witness for God, and against you, as Moses did his Song, Deut. 31. 19. & 32. 1.

To the Lord of the Vineyard, as appears by the last Clause of the Verse, to God or Christ, whom I love and serve, and for whose Glory, eclipsed by you, I am greatly concerned.

Not devised by me, not the Effect of my Envy or Passion; but inspired by God, which therefore it behoveth you to lay to heart.

His Church, oft and very fitly called a vineyard, because of God's singular Respect to it, and Care of it, and his Delight in it, and expectation of good Fruit from it, &c.

Hills being Places most commodious for Vines; See Psal. 80. 10. Heb. in an horn (which may signisie either, 1. the Figure or Shape of the Land of Canaan, which resembles an Horn; or, 2. the Heighth and Hilliness of that Land, as Horns are the highest parts of Beasts; or, 3. the Goodliness and Excellency of it, as an horn, when it is ascribed to a man, signifies his Glory and Dignity, as Iob 16. 15. Psal. 89. 17, 24, &c.) the son of oil, which, by a vulgar Hebraism, notes an oily or a fat Soil.

Marginal references: Psal. 80. 8. Oant. 8. 12. Jer. 2. 21. Mat. 21. 33. Mar. 12. 1. Luk. 20. 9.; Heb. the horn of the son of oyl.

2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof , and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it; and also made a wine-press therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.

That neither Men nor Beasts might spoil it.

Which otherwise would have marred the Land; of which see 2 Kings 3. 19. The sence is, He removed all Hinderances, and gave them all the Means of Fruitfulness.

For the Residence of the Keepers, that they might be obliged and encouraged to watch over it with more diligence.

Marginal references: Or, made a wall about it.; Heb. hewed.

3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard .

I dare make you Judges in your own Cause, it is so plain and reasonable.

4 What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it ? wherefore when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes ?

What Work is there belonging to the Office of a Master or Keeper of the Vineyard, which I have neglected?

How unworthy and inexcusable a Crime is it, that you have not onely been unfruitful in good Works, but also filled with all the Fruits of Wickedness.

Marginal references: Heb. was there to do.

5 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard ; I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up: and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down .

He graciously warns them before-hand, that they may have space and invitation to repent, and so to prevent the threatned Miseries.

I will withdraw my Presence and Protection from them, and give them up into the Hands of their Enemies.

Marginal references: Psal. 80. 12.; Heb. for a treading.

6 And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged , but there shall come up briers and thorns : I will also command the clouds, that they rain no rain upon it .

Vine-dressers use to dig up and open the Earth about the Roots of the Vines, for divers good purposes. The meaning is, I will remove my Ministers, who used great care and diligence to make you fruitful.

I will give you up to your own wicked Lusts.

I will deprive you of all my Blessings, which are oft compared to rain, &c.

7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant : and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry .

In whom God formerly delighted to dwell and converse. Compare Prov. 8. 31. Ier. 31. [illegible: 1+ letters]0.

From the Oppressed crying to Men for Help, and to God for Vengeance.

Marginal references: Heb. plant of his pleasures.; Heb. a scab.

8 Wo unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field , till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth.

That add new Purchases of Houses and Lands to their former Possessions. Not that this was in it self unlawful, but because they did this from an inordinate and insatiable desire of Riches, and with the Injury of their Brethren, as is manifest from the foregoing and following Words.

That they alone may be the Lords and Owners, and all others onely their Tenants and Servants.

Marginal references: Mic. [illegible: 1+ letters]. [illegible: 1+ letters].

9 In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate , even great and fair, without inhabitant.

I heard God speak what I am now about to utter. Heb. In the ears of the Lord. Which may relate either, 1. to the foregoing Words; The Cry of your Sins, and of the Oppressed, is come into God's Ears; he hears and sees it, and will certainly punish it: Or, 2. to the following Clause▪ which, being of great importance, he ushers in with an Oath; I speak it in God's Ears, as well as in yours; I call God to witness the Truth of what I say.

The Houses which you have so greedily coveted, shall cast you out, and become desolate.

Marginal references: Or, this is in mine ears, saith the LORD, &c.; Heb. If not, &c.

10 Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath , and the seed of an omer shall yield an ephah .

To wit, of Wine. The Bath contained about eight Gallons. Thus an Acre did not yield one Gallon.

Which was of the same Quantity with the Bath, onely the Bath was the Measure of Liquid things, the Ephah of Dry things; and an Ephah was the tenth part of an Homer, Ezek. 45. 11. So in stead of that great Increase which that fruitful Land commonly yielded, they should lose nine parts of their Seed. Thus a fruitful Land was made barren for their Wickedness, according to God's threatning, Psal. 107. 34. and they had as little comfort in their Lands, as in their Houses; which were the two kinds of their Purchases, v. 8.

11 Wo unto them that rise up early in the morning , that they may follow strong drink, that continue until night , till wine enflame them .

Which was unusual, and scandalous in that case, Eccles. 10. 16. Act. 2. 15. They made Drinking their daily Trade and Business.

Thereby wasting both precious Time, and God's good Creatures, and the Health of their Bodies, as well as of their Souls.

He useth this Word partly to shew their [illegible: 1+ letters]olly and Misery, because the Wine was so far from quenching and satisfying their Appetites, that it did indeed inflame and increase them; and partly to prevent the vain Excuse of them who thought themselves innocent, because they did not drink to Drunkenness, although they cast themselves into an intemperate Heat through their Excess.

Marginal references: Prov. 23. 29, 30.; Or, pursue the[illegible: 1+ letters].

12 And the harp and the viol, the tabret and the pipe, and wine are in their feasts : but they regard not the work of the LORD , neither consider the operation of his hands.

They give up themselves wholly to Luxury, and that in a very unseasonable time, as it follows.

What God hath lately done, and is yet doing, and about to do among them; his grievous Judgments, partly inflicted, and partly threatned, which required another Course of Life, even to give themselves to Fasting and Prayer and Reformation, that so they might remove the incumbent, and prevent the approching Calamities.

Marginal references: Amos 6. 5, 6.; Job. 34. 27. P[illegible: 1+ letters]al. 28. 5.

13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity , because they have no knowledge : and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.

Either, 1. are actually gone, which was true of the Ten Tribes in Hezekiab's Reign, 2 Kings 18. 9. under whom this Prophecy might be uttered▪ or, 2. shall certainly and shortly go, as the Two Tribes afterward did.

No serious consideration of God's Works, and of their own Duty and Danger.

Who thought themselves quite out of reach of Famine.

Marginal references: Hos. 4. 6.; Heb. their glory are men of famine.

14 Therefore hell ▪ hath enlarged her self, and opened her mouth without measure : and their glory , and their multitude, and their pomp , and he that rejoyceth , shall descend into it.

Or, the grave, as this Word most commonly signifies.

To receive those vast Numbers which shall die by this Famine, or otherwise, as is here implied.

Their Honourable men, as they were called, v. 13. being distinguished both here and there from the multitude.

All their Glory shall die with them.

That spendeth all his days in Mirth and Jollity, and casteth away all Cares and Fears.

Marginal references: Heb. her soul.

15 And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled , and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled.

All of them, both high and low, shall be brought to destruction.

Marginal references: Chap. 2. 9, 11, 17.

16 But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment , and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness .

By the execution of this just Judgment upon his incorrigible Enemies.

Shall appear to be an holy God.

By his righteous Judgments.

Marginal references: Or, the holy God.; Heb. the God the holy.

17 Then shall the lambs feed after their manner , and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.

When God shall have finished that Work of Judgment upon the Ungodly, he will extend Mercy to a Remainder. This is very usual in this Prophet, in the midst of his Threat [illegible: 1+ letters] to insert something for the support of Believers.

[illegible: 1 word] poor and harmless People, who shall be left in the Land when the Rich are carried into Captivity, as it fell out 2 Kings 25. 12.

Or, by their fold, as this Word is manifestly used Mic. 2. 12. the onely place of Scripture, except this, in which this Word is found.

The Lands left by their Owners, who were either slain, or carried into Captivity.

Of the Rich and Great men, so called Psal. 22. 29. & 78. 31. Isa. 10. 16.

The poor Israelites, who were left to be vine-dressers and husbandmen, 2 Kings 25. 12. who are called strangers, because they were so in reference to that Land, not being the proper Owners of it, nor related to them; as the Israelites of other Tribes are called strangers, in opposition to the Levites, as Numb. 1. 51. and elsewhere; yea, and the Levites are so called, in opposition to the Seed of Aaron, Numb. 16. 40.

18 Wo unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity , and sin as it were with a cartrope :

That are not onely drawn to sin by the Allurements of the World, or by the Perswasions of wicked men, being surprised and overtaken by Sin, as sometimes good men are, Gal. 6. 1. but are active and industrious in drawing Sin to themselves, or themselves to Sin; that greedily and steadily pursue Sin, and the Occasions of it, and are not at rest till they have overtaken it; that sin wilfully, and resolvedly, and industriously.

Or, with cords of lying, as the last Word frequently signifies, i. e. with vain and deceitful Arguments and Pretences, whereby Sinners generally draw themselves to Sin; among which, one follows in the next Verse, to wit, the Impunity which they promise to themselves. Or these Cords may note the Means which they use to accomplish that Iniquity which they have devised.

With all their might, as Beasts commonly do that draw Carts with Ropes.

19 That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it : and let the counsel of the holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it.

To wit, God, in whose Name thou and other Prophets are always reproving and threatning us.

He onely thinks to affright us with Bugbears; but he either cannot, or will not do us any harm: we do not fear him, let him do his worst, let him begin as soon as he pleaseth. Not that any of the Israelites were so impudent as to use these Expressions; but this was the plain Language of their Actions, they lived as if they were of this Opinion; their Presumption and Security shewed their desperate Contempt of God, and of all his Judgments.

Who by his [illegible: 1 word] is engaged to punish us. They scornfully repeated the Title usually given by the Prophets unto God.

Marginal references: Jer. 17. 15, Amos 5. 18. 2 Pet. 3. 3, 4.

20 Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil ; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.

That take away the difference between Good and Evil, that justifie and approve wicked Men and Things, and condemn Piety, or Vertue, or righteous Persons. Compare [illegible: 1 word]. 17. 15. Thus many call Serious Godliness, Humourous Singularity; and Justice, Morofity; and Meekness, Stupidity, &c. as on the contrary▪ [illegible: 1 word] call Pride, Magnanimity; and Covetousness, Good▪ [illegible: 1+ letters]andry. And men are very apt to follow the Course of the World in their false Judgments of things; which therefore the Prophet so severely forbids.

Marginal references: Heb. that say concerning evil, It is good, &c.

21 Wo unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight .

That being puffed up with an Opinion of their own Wisdom, despise the Counsels and Instructions of God by his Prophets, and prefer their own vain Fancies before the Judgment of the All-wise God, as appears by the Errour beforementioned, v. 20. that they affirmed that to be Evil, which God had declared to be Good.

Marginal references: Prov. 3[illegible: 1+ letters] 7. Rom. 12. 16.; Heb. before their face.

22 Wo unto them that are mighty to drink wine , and men of strength to mingle strong drink.

That can drink much without Intoxication, in which they gloried, as too many do at this day.

i. e. To drink: the Antecedent being put for the Consequent; which is usual: for they mingled it in order to drinking.

23 Which justifie the wicked for reward , and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him .

Not by mistake or incogitancy, but wilfully for Bribes.

To wit, juridically, they pronounce Sentence against him, as if he and his Cause were unjust.

Marginal references: Prov. 17. 15▪ & 24. 24.

24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness , and their blossom shall go up as dust : because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the hole One of Israel.

They shall be like a Tree which not onely withers in its Branches, but dies and rots at the Roots, and therefore is past all hopes of recovery. The sence is, They shall be destroyed both Root and Branch.

Shall vanish (for so the Word ascend or go up is oft used, as Exod. 16. 14. Iob 5. 26. Ier. 48. 15. Ezek. 11. 23, 24.) as the Dust, which is blown away with every Wind; or, shall be resolved into Dust, and yield no Fruit.

Which implies Disobedience joyned with Contempt.

Marginal references: Heb. the tongue of fire.

25 Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble , and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still .

A Metaphorical and Hyperbolical Description of a grievous Calamity, familiar in the Prophets, as Isa. 64. 1, 2. Ier. 4. 24. and in other Authors.

Ready to give you another and a [illegible: 1+ letters]orer Blow. This is not the end, as you vainly imagine; but, if you repent not, the beginning of your Sorrows, and an Earnest of further Calamities.

Marginal references: Or, as dung.; Ch. 9. 12. & 17. 21. & 10. 4.

26 And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far , and will hiss unto them from the ends of the earth : and behold, they shall come with speed swiftly.

To call them together for this Service, as Generals use to do for the raising of Armies.

Either, 1. to the Assyrians, of whom he speaks more particularly ch. 10. and that under this same Character of a People that come from far, v. 3. and who did not long after this Prophecy invade Iudaea, and did much mischief in it. Although that part of the Prediction, v. 29. they [illegible: 1 word] lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it, do not seem to agree to them, nor that Invasion; for the Assyrians were forced to retreat with great shame and loss, and the Iews were delivered from them. Or, 2. to the Chaldaeans; for even Babylon is called a far countrey, Isa. 39. 3. And he saith nations, because the Chaldaean Army was made up of several Nations.

Or, will whistle unto, or for them: will gather them together by his Word, as Shepherds gather their Sheep. He intimates how easily and speedily God can do this Work.

Which is not to be understood strictly, but popularly, and with a latitude, from very remote Places; although part of the Chaldaean Army did come from Places not very [illegible: 1 word] distant from the end of that part of the World, so far as [illegible: 1 word] was then known.

Marginal references: Chap. 7. 18.

27 None shall be weary , nor stumble amongst them: none shall slumber nor sleep : neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken .

Though their March be long and tedious. As I have called them to this Work, so I will strengthen and assist them in it.

They shall all be watchful and diligent to take all Opportunities and Advantages of executing my Judgments upon my People.

Which otherwise would hinder, or at least slacken them in their March. I will take all Impediments out of their way.

28 Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent : their horses hoofs shall be counted like flint , and their wheels like a whirlwind .

Who are every way furnished and ready for my Work, waiting onely for my Command.

Because they shall not be broken or battered by the length or stoniness and ruggedness of the Way.

Partly for the swiftness of their March, and partly for the force and violence of their Chariots in Battel.

29 Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions ; yea, they shall roar and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it.

Which signifies both their Cruelty, and their greediness and eagerness to catch and devour the Prey.

Neither the Iews themselves, nor the Egyptians, to whose help they will trust, nor any of their Confederates.

30 And in that day they shall roar against them, like the roaring of the sea : and if one look unto the land, behold, darkness and sorrow , and the light is darkned in the heavens thereof .

Which is violent and frightful.

Darkness, to wit, Sorrow; the latter Word explains the former, and the Particle and is put expositively, as it is frequently.

When they look up to the Heavens, as men in distress usually do, they see no Light there; their Comforts are wholly eclipsed, and their Hopes are like the giving up of the Ghost.

Marginal references: Chap. 8. 22.; Or, distress.; Or, when it is light, it shall be dark in the destructions thereof.