Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:
IISA. 5:1-30. A new prophecy, entire in itself. Probably delivered about the same time as Isaiah 2:1-22; Isaiah 3:1-26, in Uzziah's reign. Compare Isaiah 5:15-16 with Isaiah 2:17; and Isaiah 5:1 with Isaiah 3:14. However, the close of the chapter alludes generally to the still distant invasion of Assyrians in a later reign (cf. Isaiah 5:26 with Isaiah 7:18; and Isaiah 5:25 with Isaiah 9:12). When the time drew nigh, according to the ordinary prophetic usage, he handles the details more particularly (Isaiah 7:1-25; Isaiah 8:1-22) - namely, the calamities caused by the Syro-Israelite invasion, and subsequently by the Assyrians whom Ahaz invited to his help.
Now will I sing to my well-beloved - to lª-, rather, concerning (Gesenius), for; i:e., in the person of my beloved, as His representative (Vitringa). Or for - i:e., in honour of God, my Beloved (Grotius), on whose account I am jealous lest the Israelites should transfer their affection to another (Calvin). Isaiah gives a hint of the distinction and yet unity of the Divine Persons (cf. He with I, Isaiah 5:2-3).
A song of my beloved - inspired by Him. Compare Deuteronomy 31:19; Deuteronomy 31:21, "write ye this song for you ... that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel;" so Deuteronomy 32:1 is referred to in Isaiah 1:2, The Pentateuch is the basis of prophecy. 'The Beloved' is Yahweh, the Second Person, the "Angel" of God the Father, not merely in His character as incarnate Messiah, but as God of the Jews (Exodus 23:20-21; 33:34; Exodus 33:14
). The phrase "my beloved," is drawn from Canticles. Christ is the Beloved of the Father, and the Beloved of the Church, the Bride (Matthew 3:17; Song of Solomon 1:13-14).
My well-beloved hath a vineyard (Isaiah 3:14; Psalms 80:8, etc) - the Jewish covenant people, separated from the nations for His glory, as the object of His special care (Matthew 20:1; Matthew 21:33). Jesus Christ in the "vineyard" of the New Testament Church is the same as the Old Testament Angel of the Jewish covenant.
In a very fruitful hill - literally, a horn (peak, as the Swiss shreckhorn) of the son of oil; poetically, for very fruitful. Suggestive of isolation, security, and a sunny aspect. Isaiah alludes plainly to the Song of Solomon (Song of Solomon 6:3; Song of Solomon 8:11-12) in the words "His vineyard," and "my beloved." Other instances of like allusions occur cf. Isaiah 26:20; Isaiah 61:10, with Song of Solomon 1:4; Song of Solomon 4:10). The transition from "branch" (Isaiah 4:2) to "vineyard" here is not unnatural.