Isaiah 28:7

“But they also have erred through wine, &c.] Either they that sat in judgment, and turned the battle to the gate, as Jarchi interprets it: or rather, since the Lord was a spirit of judgment and strength to those, the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin in later times are meant, in the latter end of Hezekiah’s reign, or in the times of Manasseh, or nearer the Babylonish captivity; these tribes, which professed the true religion, and who had the word, and worship, and ordinances of God among them, even these were guilty of the same sin of drunkenness, as the ten tribes that had apostatized; there were the drunkards of Judah, as well Ephraim, who “erred through wine”; they erred and strayed from…”

“Though Judah is to survive the fall of Ephraim, yet "they also" (the men of Judah) have perpetrated like sins to those of Samaria (Isa 5:3, Isa 5:11), which must be chastised by God. erred . . . are out of the way--"stagger . . . reel." Repeated, to express the frequency of the vice. priest . . . prophet--If the ministers of religion sin so grievously, how much more the other rulers (Isa 56:10, Isa 56:12)! vision--even in that most sacred function of the prophet to declare God's will revealed to them. judgment--The priests had the administration of the law committed to them (Deu 17:9; Deu 19:17). It was against the law for the priests to take wine before entering the tabernacle (Lev 10:9;…”

“But - Judah is guilty of the same sins with Israel, therefore they also must expect the same calamities; of which he speaks afterward. The prophet - The teachers, who should have been patterns of sobriety to the people. They err - The prophets miscarry in their sacred employment. Stumble - The priests mistake in pronouncing the sentence of the law, which was their duty. Isaiah 28:9”

“28:7-13 The focus returns to the lamentable present situation in Israel (and Judah). The leaders and people will be ensnared by their own schemes. 28:7 The priests and prophets led the people astray. • Intoxicating beverages such as wine and alcohol were prohibited for priests while fulfilling their duties (Lev 10:9).”

“erred: Isa 19:14, Isa 56:10-12; Lev 10:9, Lev 10:10; Pro 20:1, Pro 31:4, Pro 31:5; Ecc 10:17; Eze 44:21; Hos 4:11; Mic 2:11; Mat 24:29; Luk 21:34; Eph 5:28 are swallowed: Psa 107:27 \*marg. err in: Isa 3:12, Isa 9:16; Jer 14:14, Jer 23:13, Jer 23:16; Lam 2:4; Eze 13:7; Hos 4:12 Isaiah 28:8”

“With the words, "and they also," the prophet commences the second half of the address, and passes from Ephraim to Judah. "And they also reel with wine, and are giddy with meth; priest and prophet reel with meth, are swallowed up by wine: they are giddy with meth, reel when seeing visions, stagger when pronouncing judgment. For all tables are full of filthy vomit, without any more place." The Judaeans are not less overcome with wine than the Ephraimites, and especially the rulers of Judah. In wicked violation of the law of God, which prohibited the priests from drinking strong drink when performing priestly service, and that on pain of death ( Lev 10:9, cf., Eze 44:21), they were intoxicated…”