2Ne Ch15

This chapter compares with Isaiah 5 and mentions the vineyard of The Lord which is the house of Israel. They are scattered and then gathered again unto The Lord.

This song that is spoken of in v1 is explained in the footnotes in Isaiah. The prophet has composed this song/poem to illustrate God's mercy and Israel's unresponsiveness through a vineyard parable. So this parable stats with a fenced in area with the choicest vine planted with a wine-press. Despite being provided and cared for there was only wild grapes brought forth (v2).

After He has done all He could for the vineyard, the walls are broken down and be infested with briers and thorns, given no rain (v3-6). He had looked for judgement from the men of Judah in the house of Israel but found oppression and a riotous or raucous outcry (v7).

The outcry starts in v8 with 'Wo' or 'Woe' because that means sorrow or suffering, it is also signifies what we should be wary of. The woes are as follows:

-them that join house to house (v8-10) meaning covetousness where the wealthy landowners absorb the small farms of the poor.

-them that rise early to drink all day and continue through the night (v11-12).

-them that entice iniquity and are vain and seek a sign to know things (v18-19).

-them that are backwards in their thinking of good and evil (v20).

-them that are wise to themselves and not humble (v21).

-them that drink, yes it's mentioned again, because they are seeking to mix drinks to make them stronger and justify their wickedness with bribery. But also that use this drink to deprive someone of his legal rights (v22-23).

The punishment of people who sin such as these examples will be punished with the anger of The Lord who will smite them because "his anger is not turned away, but his hand stretched out still" (v24-25). The hand will be stretched out by raising an ensign (flag or signal) to the nations that will gather them again if they follow and prepare themselves for the end of the earth (v26-30).

You may have noticed we skipped v13-17 but it's because it's in the middle of some woes. These explain how they are led into captivity and hell has opened to receive them. They will be chastened still which will save some but Christ is the judge for all mankind.