ancients - Hence they are spoken of as “taken away” (Isa 3:1, Isa 3:2).
vineyard - the Jewish theocracy (Isa 5:1-7; Psa 80:9-13).
eaten up - “burnt”; namely, by “oppressive exactions” (Isa 3:12). Type of the crowning guilt of the husbandmen in the days of Jesus Christ (Mat 21:34-41).