Isa 5:8-23 | 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).
5:16 ^w God’s kingship is by definition just and righteous, and he will be exalted by his justice. At his exaltation, oppressors will be condemned (see 1:21-23 ^x).
Summary for Isa 5:18-19: 5:18-19 ^y What sorrow: The third threat of judgment was against mockers, who openly treated God’s authority with contempt. 5:18 ^z God’s ropes were “ropes of kindness and love” for Israel (Hos 11:4 ^aa).
5:19 ^ab The people challenged God to hurry up and do something to prove that he really exists and is in control of this world. The verb hurry up translates two Hebrew verbs: maher (“be quick”) and khush (“be speedy”). The same Hebrew words are used in the name Maher-shalal-hash-baz (Isa 8:1 ^ac).

• God’s plan was revealed to Isaiah. Little did the people know that God’s purposes would turn against them.
5:20 ^ad What sorrow: The fourth threat of judgment was against a lack of integrity.

• evil is good ... dark is light ... bitter is sweet: This twisted way of looking at life corrupts God’s holy order.
5:21 ^ae What sorrow: The fifth threat of judgment concerned the folly of self-deception.
Summary for Isa 5:22-24: 5:22-24 ^af What sorrow: The sixth threat of judgment was against the indulgent lifestyle of the wicked.