What is it about?
The article examines the role of Isaiah 5:1–7, the Song of the Unfruitful Vineyard, in the thematic thrust of Isaiah 1–12. It then proceeds to explore, via selected examples, the resonance of this motif within Isaiah as a whole and its reprise in Micah; this reappraisal of passages such as Micah 7:1–20 points to the way in which these presuppose knowledge of the Song of the Vineyard on the part of their reader. Thus, light is cast on the creative work by the writers responsible for the latter such passages, which thereby impart their own distinct message.
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Why is it important?
Isaiah’s Vineyard Song (Isa 5:1–7) is the first unconditional prophecy of doom in this book which radically announces the complete destruction Judah: in Isa 1 there is still a chance to repent, chpt. 3:1 - 4:1 announces the demise of the upper class, and chpt. 2:6-22 sets the goal of the doom to come, i.e. YHWH alone shall be exalted on his day, but leaves open the details. This highlights the unique role of Isa 5:1-7 in Isa 1 - 12, which is as a whole understood as a description of the antecedents and execution of the Day of YHWH against Judah/Israel. The discussion of the reception of the Vineyard Song in Isa 7:23–25; 27:2–6 and Mi 7 shows that the word of judgement could not just be documented as it was but needed to be declared as fulfilled and turned against enemies in order to avert its dangerous effects. While the reference to it in Isa 7:23–25 serves as a redactional means of highlighting a first step in its fulfillment, Isaiah 27:2–6 endeavours to reverse the fatal verdict, and the concluding chapter of Micah marks the complete fulfillment of the prophecy of doom so that it can now be turned against the enemy who destroyed the female voice speaking.
Perspectives
This article is part of a broader comparative approach researching the relationships between Isaiah and the Twelve Minor Prophets, a field which has since attracted increased attention. The comparative interpretation of prophetic texts helps to better understand the phenomenon of prophecy as a whole, which has its foundations in certain fundamental aspects of the human being.
Prof Dr Joachim Eck
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen
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This page is a summary of: The Song of the Unfruitful Vineyard (Isa 5:1–7): Its Position in the Book of Isaiah and Its Reception in Late Layers of Isaiah and the Twelve, September 2020, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1515/9783110705799-009.
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