The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary

5:17 “Then the lambs will graze as in their pasture,And strangers will eat in the waste places of the wealthy” There has been much discussionamong commentators about the exact relationship of this verse to the preceding context. Some say1. it refers to God’s care for those remaining in the land2. it refers to God’s judgment of the wealthy landowners3. it refers to the remaining Jewish remnant after the exile4. it refers to Gentiles resettled in Judah’s territory after the exile of her citizensIt seems to me that the immediate context of judgment must relate it to the destruction and judgment ofthe wealthy and the ruin of their illegally procured land. It is public land now!NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 5:18-2318Woe to those who drag iniquity with the cords of falsehood,And sin as if with cart ropes;19Who say, "Let Him make speed, let Him hasten His work, that we may see it;And let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel draw nearAnd come to pass, that we may know it!"20Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!21Woe to those who are wise in their own eyesAnd clever in their own sight!22Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wineAnd valiant men in mixing strong drink,23Who justify the wicked for a bribe,And take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!5:18-23 Another strophe of “woes” on the wicked is enumerated because1. v. 18, they lead evil around like an animal on a leash2. v. 19, they demand YHWH to quickly fulfill His covenant promises (without regard for thecovenant requirements)3. v. 20, this may be related to v. 19. When God does not act the way they wanted, they calledHis acts evil, dark, and bitter4. v. 21, they assume their own wisdom to be true and God’s false (vv. 19-20)5. v. 22, they are drunkards6. v. 23, they use bribery to achieve their endsThese are manipulative egotists!5:18-19 “Woe to those who drag iniquity with the cords of falsehood,And sin as if with cart ropes” The Hebrew is uncertain. This seems to refer to a group ofpeople whom I have designated as practical atheists. They admit God’s existence theologically, butrefuse to walk in this knowledge. They choose to live as if there were no God and even taunt Hisexistence (cf. v. 19). They hold on to their sin at any cost! They are tied/bound to their self-centeredlifestyles!5:19 There are several commands in this verse.1. let Him make speed, BDB 554, KB 553, Piel IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense2. let Him hasten, BDB 301, KB 300, Hiphil COHORTATIVE81