Now the famine was severe in Samaria. 3
57:21 There will be no prosperity,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
57:1 The godly 6 perish,
but no one cares. 7
Honest people disappear, 8
when no one 9 minds 10
that the godly 11 disappear 12 because of 13 evil. 14
5:2 He built a hedge around it, 15 removed its stones,
and planted a vine.
He built a tower in the middle of it,
and constructed a winepress.
He waited for it to produce edible grapes,
but it produced sour ones instead. 16
5:3 So now, residents of Jerusalem, 17
people 18 of Judah,
you decide between me and my vineyard!
1 tn The word “visit” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
2 sn Elijah’s sarcastic proposals would have been especially offensive and irritating to Baal’s prophets, for they believed Baal was imprisoned in the underworld as death’s captive during this time of drought. Elijah’s apparent ignorance of their theology is probably designed for dramatic effect; indeed the suggestion that Baal is away on a trip or deep in sleep comes precariously close to the truth as viewed by the prophets.
3 map For location see Map2-B1; Map4-D3; Map5-E2; Map6-A4; Map7-C1.
4 sn These work crews. The work crews referred to here must be different than the temporary crews described in 5:13-16.
5 tn Heb “officers of his chariots and his horses.”
6 tn Or “righteous” (KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NAB “the just man”; TEV “Good people.”
7 tn Or perhaps, “understands.” Heb “and there is no man who sets [it] upon [his] heart.”
8 tn Heb “Men of loyalty are taken away.” The Niphal of אָסַף (’asaf) here means “to die.”
9 tn The Hebrew term בְּאֵין (bÿ’en) often has the nuance “when there is no.” See Prov 8:24; 11;14; 14:4; 15:22; 26:20; 29:18.
10 tn Or “realizes”; Heb “understands” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV).
11 tn Or “righteous” (KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NAB “the just man.”
12 tn Heb “are taken away.” The Niphal of אָסַף (’asaf) here means “to die.”
13 tn The term מִפְּנֵי (mippÿne, “from the face of”) often has a causal nuance. It also appears with the Niphal of אָסַף (’asaph, “gather”) in 2 Chr 12:5: אֲשֶׁר־נֶאֶסְפוּ אֶל־יְרוּשָׁלַם מִפְּנֵי שִׁישָׁק (’asher-ne’esphu ’el-yÿrushalam mippÿney shishaq, “who had gathered at Jerusalem because of [i.e., due to fear of] Shishak”).
14 tn The translation assumes that this verse, in proverbial fashion, laments society’s apathy over the persecution of the godly. The second half of the verse observes that such apathy results in more widespread oppression. Since the next verse pictures the godly being taken to a place of rest, some interpret the second half of v. 1 in a more positive vein. According to proponents of this view, God removes the godly so that they might be spared suffering and calamity, a fact which the general populace fails to realize.
15 tn Or, “dug it up” (so NIV); KJV “fenced it.’ See HALOT 810 s.v. עזק.
16 tn Heb “wild grapes,” i.e., sour ones (also in v. 4).
17 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
18 tn Heb “men,” but in a generic sense.