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Isa_5:2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
Ver. 2. And he fenced {a} it.] Maceria munivit; he hedged it in, or walled it about, protecting his people from the rage of enemies wherewith that country was begirt. God was "a wall of fire to them," {Zec_2:5} and a wall of water to them, {as Exo_14:22} whence their land, though part of the continent, is called "an island," {Isa_26:6} not only because separated from other countries, but because secured and made media insuperabilis unda.
And gathered out the stones thereof.] He not only cast out the Canaanites, but flatly forbade idolatry, and all other wickednesses, ðáíôá ôá óêáíäáëá , every scandal or rock of offence that might hinder their growth, or turn them out of the way. {Heb_12:13}
And planted it with the choicest vine.] Heb., Sorek; the vines of which place {Jdg_16:4} may seem to be the best and choicest, like as now in Germany are the vines of Herbipolis. See Jer_2:21. The saints of God are noble plants, and of choice spirits; they are the chiefest personages, and of highest account in heaven.
And built a tower in the midst of it.] For both beauty, defence, and convenience. This may be meant of Jerusalem, or the temple therein, that "tower of the flock," and the "stronghold of the daughter of God’s people." {Mic_4:8} Religion set up in the power and purity of it, is the beauty and bulwark of any place.
And also made a winepress therein.] For the pressing of the grapes, and saving of the vine; but, alas! that labour might have been saved for any grapes he got, or wine he made.
“ Fallitur augurio spes bona saepe suo. ”
Little good is done many times by the most pressing and piercing exhortations and argumeuts used by God’s faithful prophets.
And he looked that it should bring forth grapes,] i.e., Good grapes, as little thinking ut opera perdatur et spes eludatur, to have lost all his care and cost, as he did. For who planteth a vineyard and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock and eateth not of the milk of the flock? {1Co_9:7}
And it brought forth wild grapes.] Stinking stuff, as the word signifieth, that which was naught and noisome: grapes of Sodom and clusters of Gomorrah. {Deu_32:32-33} He looked for the "fruit of the Spirit"; but behold the "works of the flesh" {Gal_5:19} No whit answerable to his continual care, culture, and custody, they made him, as one saith, a contumacious and contumelious retribution. Thus the wicked answer Heaven’s kindness with an ungrateful wickedness.
{a} Pro Sepivit alii vertunt Fodit, pastinavit, plantavit.