Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may dwell alone in the midst of the earth!
All Commentaries on Isaiah 5:8 Go To Isaiah 5
Ambrose of Milan
AD 397
Because your soul is a priceless thing, poor man, be on your guard. The soul is everlasting, although the flesh is mortal. Although you may lack money, you are not therefore devoid of grace. Although your house is not commodious, your possessions are not scattered. The sky is open, and the expanse of the world is free. The elements have been granted to all for their common use. Rich and poor alike enjoy the splendid ornaments of the universe.
Are the paneled ceilings decked with gold in the homes of the very wealthy more beautiful than the face of the heavens decorated with glistening stars? Are the estates of the rich more extensive than the surface of the world? Hence it was said of those who join house to house and estate to estate: “Shall you alone dwell in the midst of the earth?” You have actually a larger house, you man of low estate—a house wherein your call is heard and heeded.… The house of God is common to rich and poor.
