III. The situation of this vineyard, at Baal-hamon
III. The situation of this vineyard, at Baal-hamon
Perhaps the same with Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon (Joshua 11:17, 13:5), since they are of the same signification, the master of a multitude, or of a troop. By which may he meant, either, 1. The city of Jerusalem;[4306] which may be called "Baal-hamon, or the master of a multitude," because it was a very populous city; as it is said, in Lamentations 1:1. "How doth the city sit solitary that was full of people?" where was the principal seat of the Jewish church-state; the letting out of which to keepers, the priests and Levites, may seem to suit well with the legal and mercenary spirit which much attended the Old-Testament dispensation. Though, 2. I rather think the Gentile world is here intended; among the nations of which Christ has a gospel church planted; whereby the promise is fulfilled to Abraham, that he should be a "father of many nations;" which his name signified, and is of much the same import with this in our text. Unless, 3. It should be thought only to intend in general, the fruitfulness of the soil in which Christ's vineyard was planted; at "Baal-hamon," the Lord or master of a multitude,[4307] that is, where a multitude of vines grow. Thus it is said, in Isaiah 5:2, "My well beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:" the church of Christ, and so all believers, are planted in a very fruitful soil, being "rooted and built up" in Christ, and watered with the continual dews of divine grace; the believer is like to "a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doth shall prosper," (Psalm 1:3).