Isaiah 3:14

“The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof, &c.] Both civil and ecclesiastical; the princes, chief priests, and elders of the people, who set themselves and took counsel together against the Lord and his Christ; would not suffer the people to be gathered to him; sought his life, and at last took it away. For ye have eaten up the vineyard, or burnt itf63; the house of Israel, and of Judah compared to a vineyard, in a following chapter; and so the Targum, “ye have oppressed my people;” these are the husbandmen our Lord speaks of, that beat the servants that were sent for the fruits of the vineyard, and at last killed the heir, (<402134>Matthew…”

“ancients--Hence they are spoken of as "taken away" (Isa 3:1-2). vineyard--the Jewish theocracy (Isa 5:1-7; Psa 80:9-13). eaten up--"burnt"; namely, by "oppressive exactions" (Isa 3:12). Type of the crowning guilt of the husbandmen in the days of Jesus Christ (Mat 21:34-41). spoil . . . houses-- (Mat 23:14).”

“With the ancients ... - With the old men, the counselors. Ye have eaten up the vineyard - Hebrew ‘Ye have burnt up’ - that is, you have oonsumed or destroyed it. By the vineyard is represented the Jewish republic or people; Psalms 80:9-13; compare the notes at Isaiah 5:1-7. The princes and rulers had, by their exactions and oppressions, ruined the people, and destroyed the country. The spoil of the poor - The “plunder” of the poor; or that which you have taken from the poor by exactions and oppressions. The word “spoil” commonly means the plunder or booty which is obtained in war. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Ancients - The princes or rulers; such were commonly chosen out of those who were in ripe years. Eaten - Destroyed instead of preserving the church and commonwealth of Israel. Spoil - The goods which you have violently taken away from the poor. Isaiah 3:16”

“3:14 elders and rulers: Wickedness and abuse by ungodly and incompetent leadership thwarts God’s purpose for his people (see also 3:12). Therefore, leaders come under more severe judgment because they bear responsibility for the welfare of those under them. • my vineyard: See the Song of the Vineyard (5:1-7).”

“enter: Job 22:4, Job 34:23; Psa 143:2 the ancients: Isa 3:2, Isa 3:3 ye have eaten: or, ye have burnt, Isa 5:7; Job 24:2-7; Jer 5:27; Amo 4:1; Mic 2:2, Mic 6:10; Mat 21:33 Isaiah 3:15”

“"Jehovah will proceed to judgment with the elders of His people, and its princes. And ye, ye have eaten up the vineyard; prey of the suffering is in your houses. What mean ye that ye crush my people, and grind the face of the suffering? Thus saith the Lord Jehovah of hosts." The words of God Himself commence with "and ye" (v'attem). The sentence to which this (et vos = at vos) is the antithesis is wanting, just as in Psa 2:6, where the words of God commence with "and I" (va'ani, et ego = ast ego). the tacit clause may easily be supplied, viz., I have set you over my vineyard, but he have consumed the vineyard. The only question is, whether the sentence is to be regarded as suppressed by…”