Isaiah 5:17

Then; when God shall have finished that work of judgment upon the ungodly, he will extend mercy to a remainder. This is very usual in this prophet, in the midst of his threatenings, to insert something for the support of believers.

The lambs; the poor and harmless people, who shall be left in the land when the rich are carried into captivity, as it fell out, 2 Kings 25:12.

Feed after their manner; or, by their fold, as this word is manifestly used, Micah 2:12, the only place of Scripture, except this, in which this word is found. The waste places; the lands left by their owners, who were either slain or carried into captivity.

Of the fat ones; of the rich and great men, so called Psalms 22:29; Psalms 78:31; Isaiah 10:16.

Strangers; the poor Israelites, who were left to be vine-dressers and husbandmen, 2 Kings 25:12, who are called strangers, because they were so in reference to that land, not being the proper owners of it, nor related to them; as the Israelites of other tribes are called strangers, in opposition to the Levites, as Numbers 1:51, and elsewhere; yea, and the Levites are so called, in opposition to the seed of Aaron, Numbers 16:40.