Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 5:1
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
Now will I sing to my well beloved, &c.] These are the words of the Prophet Isaiah, being about to represent the state and condition of the people of Israel by way of parable, which he calls a song, and which he determines to sing to his beloved, and calls upon himself to do it; by whom he means either God the Father, whom he loved with all his heart and soul; or Christ, who is often called the beloved of his people, especially in the book of Solomon’s song; or else the people of Israel, whom the prophet had a great affection for, being his own people; but it seems best to understand it of God or Christ: a song of my beloved; which was inspired by him, or related to him, and was made for his honour and glory; or “a song of my uncle”f89, for another word is used here than what is in the preceding clause, and is rendered “uncle” elsewhere, (see <032549>Leviticus 25:49) and may design King Amaziah; for, according to tradition, Amoz, the father of Isaiah, was brother to Amaziah king of Judah, and so consequently Amaziah must be uncle to Isaiah; and this might be a song of his composing, or in which he was concerned, being king of Judah, the subject of this song, as follows: touching his vineyard; not his uncle’s, though it is true of him, but his well beloved’s, God or Christ; the people of Israel, and house of Judah, are meant, comparable to a vineyard, as appears from (<230507>Isaiah 5:7 <198014>Psalm 80:14,15) being separated and distinguished from the rest of the nations of the world, for the use, service, and glory of God. My beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill; or, “in a horn, the son of oil”f90; which designs the land of Israel, which was higher than other lands; and was, as some observe, in the form of a horn, longer than it was broad, and a very fruitful country, a land of olive oil, a land flowing with milk and honey, (<050807>Deuteronomy 8:7,8 <020308>Exodus 3:8). The Targum is, “the prophet said, I will sing now to Israel, who is like unto a vineyard, the seed of Abraham, my beloved, a song of my beloved, concerning his vineyard. My people, my beloved Israel, I gave to them an inheritance in a high mountain, in a fat land.”
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