Isaiah 5:13

“Therefore my people are gone into captivity, &c.] Or rather, as Kimchi explains it, “shall go into captivity”; the past for the future; for this cannot be understood even of the captivity of the ten tribes, for they were not carried captive until the sixth year of Hezekiah’s reign, (<121706>2 Kings 17:6 18:1) whereas this prophecy was delivered out many years before, even in the time of Uzziah, as is manifest from the following chapter, (<230601>Isaiah 6:1) and much less it cannot design the captivity of Judah, but respects the captivity by the Romans, in future time. Because [they have] no knowledge; of the work of the Lord, and the operations of his hands; the Septuagint and Arabic…”

“are gone--The prophet sees the future as if it were before his eyes. no knowledge--because of their foolish recklessness (Isa 5:12; Isa 1:3; Hos 4:6; Luk 19:44). famished--awful contrast to their luxurious feasts (Isa 5:11-12). multitude--plebeians in contradistinction to the "honorable men," or nobles. thirst-- (Psa 107:4-5). Contrast to their drinking (Isa 5:11). In their deportation and exile, they shall hunger and thirst.”

“Therefore my people are gone - This is evidently used with reference to the “future.” The prophet described events as “passing before his eyes” as a vision (note, Isaiah 1:1); and he here seems to “see” the people going into captivity, and describes it as an event actually occurring. Into captivity - Referring, doubtless, to the captivity at Babylon. Because they have no knowledge - Because they do not choose to retain the knowledge of God. And their honorable men - The Hebrew is, ‘The glory of the people became people of famine;’ that is, they shall be destroyed with famine. This was to be a “punishment” for their dissipation at their feasts. And their multitude - The mass, or body of the…”

“No knowledge - No serious consideration of God's works, and of their own duty and danger. Honourable men - Who thought themselves quite out of the reach of famine. Isaiah 5:14”

“5:13 Israel and Judah would go into exile to Assyria (722 BC) and Babylon (586 BC). • The people did not respond to the Lord because they did not know him (see 1:3). They likely knew about him, but their behavior showed that they did not know him in any intimate way.”

“my people: Isa 1:7, Isa 42:22-25; Kg2 17:6; Ch2 28:5-8 because: Isa 1:3, Isa 27:11; Jer 8:7; Hos 4:6; Mat 23:16-27; Luk 19:44; Joh 3:19, Joh 3:20; Rom 1:28; Pe2 3:5 honourable men are famished: Heb. glory are men of famine, Jer 14:18; Lam 4:4, Lam 4:5, Lam 4:9 multitude: Jer 14:3; Amo 8:13 Isaiah 5:14”

“Therefore judgment would overtake them in this blind, dull, and stupid animal condition. "Therefore my people go into banishment without knowing; and their glory will become starving men, and their tumult men dried up with thirst." As the word "therefore" (lâcēn, as in Isa 1:24) introduces the threat of punishment, gâlâh (go into captivity) is a prophetic preterite. Israel would go into exile, and that "without knowing" (mibb'li-da'ath). The meaning of this expression cannot be "from want of knowledge," since the min which is fused into one word with b'li is not causal, but negative, and mibb'li, as a preposition, always signifies "without" (absque). But are we to render it "without…”