Isa 5:8-14 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Isa 5:8-23: 5:8-23 This section contains six pronouncements of sorrow —six threats of dreadful judgment (5:8 , 11 , 18 , 20 , 21 , 22 ). The sorrows identify some of the “bitter grapes” produced by the vineyard of Israel (5:1-7 ). Summary for Isa 5:8-10: 5:8-10 What sorrow: The first threat of judgment was against oppressive greed. Properties ( house and field ) were being taken by illegal means. The new owners were thugs who used every avenue to enrich themselves at the expense of the poor (see 1 Kgs 21:1-29 ; Amos 2:6-7 ).

Summary for Isa 5:8-23: 5:8-23 ^a This section contains six pronouncements of sorrow—six threats of dreadful judgment (5:8 ^b, 11 ^c, 18 ^d, 20 ^e, 21 ^f, 22 ^g). The sorrows identify some of the “bitter grapes” produced by the vineyard of Israel (5:1-7 ^h).
Summary for Isa 5:8-10: 5:8-10 ⁱ What sorrow: The first threat of judgment was against oppressive greed. Properties (house and field) were being taken by illegal means. The new owners were thugs who used every avenue to enrich themselves at the expense of the poor (see 1 Kgs 21:1-29 ^j; Amos 2:6-7 ^k).
5:10 ^l As with drought (5:5-6 ^m), the reduction of crops was at times a divine judgment (see Hag 1:6 ⁿ, 9 ^o; 2:16 ^p).
Summary for Isa 5:11-17: 5:11-17 ^q What sorrow: The second threat of judgment concerned indulgent lifestyles. The language throughout this section indicates a life of corruption.
5:12 ^r Self-indulgent and contented, these people never think about the Lord. They were too busy enjoying their drunken parties to reflect on why things went bad in the first place, such as why God sent no rain, or why they lost a battle.
5:13 ^s 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 ^t). They likely knew about him, but their behavior showed that they did not know him in any intimate way.
5:14 ^u The grave (Hebrew Sheol) represented the place of the dead in ancient Near Eastern thinking (see 14:9 ^v).