Isaiah 1:8

8 And the daughter of Zion has become like a tent in a vine-garden, like a watchman's house in a field of fruit, like a town shut in by armies.

Isaiah 1:8 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 1:8

And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in the
vineyard
The Targum is,

``after they have got in the vintage.''

A cottage in the vineyard was a booth, as the word ^F5 signifies, which was erected in the middle of the vineyard for the keeper of the vineyard to watch in night and day, that the fruit might not be hurt by birds, or stolen by thieves, and was a very, lonely place; and when the clusters of the vine were gathered, this cottage or booth was left by the keeper himself: and such it is suggested Jerusalem should be, not only stand alone, the cities all around being destroyed by the besiegers, but empty of inhabitants itself, when taken. As a lodge in a garden of cucumbers:
the Targum adds here also,

``after they have gathered them out of it.''

A lodge in a garden of cucumbers was built up for the gardener to watch in at night, that nobody came and stole away the cucumbers, and this was also a lonely place; but when the cucumbers were gathered, the gardener left his lodge entirely; and such a forsaken place would Jerusalem be at the time of its destruction; see ( Luke 19:43 Luke 19:44 ) as a besieged city;
which is in great distress, and none care to come near it, and as many as can make their escape out of it; or "as a city kept"; so Gussetius ^F6, who understands this, and all the above clauses, of some places preserved from the sword in the common desolation.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F5 (hkok) (wv skhnh) , Sept.
F6 (hrwun ryek) "ut urbs custodita", Gusset. Comment. Ling. Ebr. p. 529. "Observata vel observanda", Forerius.

Isaiah 1:8 In-Context

6 The body, from head to foot, is all diseased; it is a mass of open wounds, marks of blows, and broken flesh: the flow of blood has not been stopped, and no oil has been put on the wounds.

7 Your country has become waste; your towns are burned with fire; as for your land, it is overturned before your eyes, made waste and overcome by men from strange lands.

8 And the daughter of Zion has become like a tent in a vine-garden, like a watchman's house in a field of fruit, like a town shut in by armies.

9 If the Lord of armies had not kept some at least of us safe, we would have been like Sodom, and the fate of Gomorrah would have been ours.

10 Give ear to the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; let your hearts be turned to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah.