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Isaiah Chapter 5 ISAIAH 5 Adult Continuing Education Class, Monday, 19 January 2015 David A. LeFevre JUDAH’S SINS (5) Chapter 5 stands alone and concludes the introductory celebration of Sukkot or Feast of Tabernacles where the section of the book. While chapter 1 lays out themes and harvest season is the focus (Motyer, 68), but I would key phrases that reappear many times, and chapters 2-4 argue that from other chapters in the Old Testament, it contrast Jerusalem as she is and can be, chapter 5 brings would appear that this feast was not being celebrated at the reader back to the harsh reality of Judah’s present this time (the temple was in great disrepair and Passover condition—sin and rebellion. It starts with a parable that was not celebrated, so it’s likely the others were not sounds pleasant at first, like a love story, but soon turns either; see 2 Chronicles 29-30). to reflect the wicked conditions of the day. Most of the rest of the chapter is a recitation of six conditions among 1 And then let me sing to my beloved a song of my the people that are contrary to God’s will, which will lead beloved about his vineyard. to the destruction promised in the parable. It concludes My beloved had a vineyard in a very fertile hill; with the Lord gathering a foreign army to destroy the wicked people. It leaves us with the question: If chapters 2 and he dug it up, and cleared it of stones, 2-4 laid out the possibility of Jerusalem (us) being and planted it with the choicest vine, exalted by God’s grace, what do we do when destruction comes to the Lord’s people, in spite of great promises? and built a watchtower in it, That question prepares us for Isaiah’s call in chapter 6. and he even hewed out a winepress in it; then he expected it to yield grapes, THE SONG OF THE VINEYARD (5:1-7) but it yielded sour grapes. Chapter 5 opens with an entrapment parable, so-called 3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, because the direct answer to the question is obvious and And men of Judah, inescapable to the listeners (in this case, in verse 4) but the answer turns out to condemn them. The other judge, between me and my vineyard. famous entrapment parable in the Old Testament is Nathan condemning David’s sin with Bathsheba (2 4 What more could have been done to my vineyard Samuel 12:1-13). Jesus used entrapment parables in his That I have not done in it? teaching as well, such as the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28- 32) and the Wicked Husbandmen (Matthew 21:33-45, Wherefore, when I expected it to bring forth grapes, both about a vineyard). Isaiah 5 is possibly influential in it brought forth sour grapes? Zenos’ much-expanded parable of the olive tree in Jacob 5, as well as other scriptural references (see Isaiah 27:2- 5 And now let me tell you what I will do to my 6; Jeremiah 2:21; 12: 10-11; Ezekiel 15:1-8; Romans vineyard: 11:17-24; and D&C 101:43-62). The notion of Israel being a vineyard was introduced in Isaiah 3:14. I will remove its hedge, and it will burn; The timing of the delivery of this chapter may well have I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled been in the fall during the harvest season when the down; images of grapes and vineyards would be on many minds. Some believe that it may have been during the fall 6 and I will make it wasteland; it will not be pruned, nor hoed; 1 shows dedication and care, for such a construction is but there will come up briers and thorns; costly, and manning it with a watch even more so. I will command the clouds not to rain on it. 5:2 made a winepress. Finally, he prepared for the 7 For the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the house of harvest by making his own winepress. This was a Israel, significant investment and something typically done and the men of Judah his delightful plant; only by the very wealthy or an entire community for common use. and he expected justice, 5:2 he looked. Or, “he waited” (NLT); the term is to “wait but behold bloodshed; expectantly, hope” (Oswalt, 1:153). The time between for righteousness, starting a vineyard and getting the first grape harvest but behold a cry of distress. would be at least two years, and possibly more. The 5:1 Now I will sing. Perhaps Isaiah actually stood in a owner of the vineyard invested much time, effort, and group of people and sang this song to them! The song money to make it successful, and waited patiently and starts out with gentle sounds and kind words, drawing with great anticipation for the first grapes to ripen. the listener in. 5:2 wild grapes. In spite of all his great effort, Isaiah’s 5:1 to my beloved a song of my beloved. In verses 1-2, friend’s vineyard did not have a good harvest but instead Isaiah starts the song singing about the beloved friend, gave him bad fruit. The word translated “wild grapes” then sings as (in the place of) the beloved friend in verses literally means ‘stinking fruit.’ Compare Jeremiah 2:21. 3-4, then reveals who the friend and the vineyard are in 5:3 judge, I pray you. Shifting to the perspective of the verses 5-7. It might seem odd to refer to the Lord as “my vineyard owner, Isaiah invites his listeners to determine beloved”; we tend to expect to hear that title applied to the justified outcome of such a situation. Like Isaiah 1, the Son by the Father. But it reflects Isaiah’s great love the setting is courtroom-like, with the vineyard owner for Yahweh, a God he knew in all his aspects—judgment bringing the vineyard itself to trial and all of Jerusalem and mercy, condemnation and concern, powerful and and Judah being the witnesses. This is the first hint that humble. this is more than an agricultural story—vineyards are 5:1 a very fruitful hill. Or, “on a fertile hillside” (NIV and not taken to trial. NASB). It is a prime location with excellent land, good 5:4 What could have been done more. There is no drainage, and good sunshine. answer except that the vineyard master has done every 5:2 he fenced it. Isaiah lists five things his friend did for possible thing to achieve a good harvest. Isaiah’s the vineyard to give it every chance of success. First, he audience would be baffled at the outcome of rotten built a strong fence around it to keep out wild animals grapes, unable to see what else could have been done. and marauders. Compare Jacob 5:41. 5:2 gathered out the stones. Second, he got rid of all the 5:5 I will tell you what I will do. There is intensity in the stones so the ground was rich and smooth. Judah’s hills Hebrew: ‘Now, I will make known my coming actions.’ are typically quite full of large rocks, so this is not a 5:5 take away the hedge/break down the wall. The trivial amount of work. Often, the rocks would be used to judgment against the vineyard could be to rip out the build walls and terraces on the slopes of the hills. plants and start over, or sell the vineyard and begin anew 5:2 planted it with the choicest vine. Third, he planted in another location. Instead, the surprising decision is to it with “the choicest vine.” The Hebrew is Sorëq, a grape tear down the defenses so carefully built and let animals plant of the highest quality, as opposed to the common and people have free reign to eat and tread it down. grape, GePen (both are found in Genesis 49:11 in the 5:6 I will lay it waste. Or, “I will make it a wasteland” blessing of Judah; the first “vine” is GePen and the second (NIV). Letting other do whatever they want in the is Sorëq, “the choice vine”). vineyard turns it into a desolate place. 5:2 built a tower. Fourth, he built a protective tower in 5:6 briers and thorns. Without any care, the weeds will the middle of the vineyard to watch for enemies. This proliferate and take over the former fertile hill. 2 5:6 I will also command the clouds. This is the first hint that the owner of the vineyard is not a mortal friend of till there can be no place, Isaiah, but the Lord himself, who is the only one who can that you are made to dwell alone in the land. control the weather! On the other hand, some who had a bad harvest may have cursed their own vineyards, 9 In my ears the Lord of Hosts says, asking for a similar fate, so it may reflect the arrogance of the people themselves. Either way, the ancients knew Surely many houses will be desolate, that rain came when the windows of heaven were and spacious and fair cities without occupants. opened (Genesis 7:11; 8:2; and Malachi 3:10), tying it directly to an act of God. 10 Yea, ten acres of vineyard will yield on bath, and the seed of the homer will yield and ephah.
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