Isaiah 1:8

8 Daughter Zion is left like a small shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a cucumber field, like a city besieged.^[a]

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 From head to toe, none are well— only bruises, cuts, and raw wounds, not treated, not bandaged, not soothed with oil.

7 Your country is deserted, your cities burned with fire; your land—strangers are devouring it in plain sight. It's a wasteland, as when foreigners raid.

8 Daughter Zion is left like a small shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a cucumber field, like a city besieged.

9 If the LORD of heavenly forces had not spared a few of us, we would be like Sodom; we would resemble Gomorrah.

10 Hear the LORD's word, you leaders of Sodom. Listen to our God's teaching, people of Gomorrah!

Footnotes

• [a]. LXX, Vulg; MT spared