Texts in Conversation
Isaiah 5 warns of judgment through ruined homes and failed crops. The Aramaic translation in the Targum explains the loss as punishment for not giving tithes, reshaping the narrative from a national crisis into a direct result of not obeying the Torah.
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Isaiah 5:10
Hebrew Bible
9 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies told me this: “Many houses will certainly become desolate, large, impressive houses will have no one living in them. 10 Indeed, a large vineyard will produce just a few gallons, and enough seed to yield several bushels will produce less than a bushel.” 11 Beware, those who get up early to drink beer, those who keep drinking long after dark until they are intoxicated with wine.
Date: 7th-5th Centuries B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Jonathan Isaiah 5:10
Targum
The prophet said, With mine ears I have heard when this was decreed from before the Lord of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even the great and the fair, without inhabitant. Because of the sin of not giving tithes, the place of ten acres of vineyard shall produce one bath; and the place where a cor of seed was sown shall produce three measures. Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, chasing after drink of old wine, delaying to separate; tarrying upon their couches till the dawn of the morning. The wine of oppression inflames them!
Date: 200-300 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... The passage is introduced as a speech of “the prophet” (verse 1), but it quickly becomes clear he speaks on God’s behalf (v. 3). He voices the complaint that the gift of the “sanctuary,” and particularly the “altar,” is abused by Israel’s misdeeds (verses 1, 2, 4). They refused to repent (verse 3), and the result is that God will remove his Shekhinah and leave them for spoil (verse 5). The references to the destruction of “sanctuaries” is both unusual and surprising in the plural. Contextually, the term should probably be taken in respect of synagogues, which could be thought of as associated with the Temple. The rebellious people will be forsaken, not only physically, but spiritually as well (verse 6): the hiatus of prophecy as associated with the departure of the Shekhinah is a well-known rabbinic motif. For the interpretation of rain as prophecy, compare Targum Micah 2:6. The remainder of the paragraph is notable for its explicit reference to the economic oppression (verses 7, 8) and failure to give “the tithes” (verse 10) of those whose punishment is sure (verse 9). In both regards, they have ignored the law (verses 12, 13), and suffer accordingly (verses 13–15) ..."
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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