Albert Barnes Commentary Isaiah 7:23

"And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, shall be for briers and thorns." — Isaiah 7:23 (ASV)

The remainder of this chapter is a description of great desolation produced by the invasion of the Assyrians. Where there were a thousand vines—this means where there was a valuable vineyard; in every place, that is, that was well cultivated and valuable.

At a thousand silverlings—The word rendered ‘silverlings’ here, כסף (keseph), properly denotes silver of any amount. But it is also used to denote the silver coin that was in use among the Jews, the shekel. Perhaps this was the only silver coin they possessed in early times; hence, the word ‘shekel’ is omitted, and therefore ‘pieces of silver’ are mentioned. Thus, in Genesis 20:16, Abimelech says that he had given Abraham a thousand of silver—that is, a thousand shekels. The shekel was worth about two shillings of our money.

It is probable that a vineyard would be valued in proportion to the number of vines that could be raised on the smallest space. The meaning here is that the land that was most fertile and produced the most would be desolate and would produce only briers and thorns.

The land in Judea allows for a high state of cultivation and requires it to be productive. When neglected, it becomes remarkably sterile.

At present, it generally shows signs of great barrenness and sterility. It is under the oppression of Turkish power and exactions; consequently, to a traveler, it appears very barren. But, in the highly cultivated state to which the Jews brought it, it was eminently fertile and is still capable of becoming so, if it were placed under a government that would encourage agriculture and grant freedom. This is the account that all travelers give of it now.