Vine: One of the most important products of Palestine. The first mention of
it is in the history of Noah
(Genesis 9:20) It is afterwards frequently
noticed both in the Old and New Testaments, and in the ruins of
terraced vineyards there are evidences that it was extensively
cultivated by the Jews. It was cultivated in Palestine before the
Israelites took possession of it. The men sent out by Moses brought
with them from the Valley of Eshcol a cluster of grapes so large that
"they bare it between two upon a staff"
(Numbers 13:23) The vineyards of
En-gedi
(The Song of Solomon 1:14) Heshbon, Sibmah, Jazer, Elealeh
(Isaiah 16:8-10)
(Jeremiah 48:32,34) and Helbon
(Ezekiel 27:18) as well as of Eshcol, were
celebrated. The Church is compared to a vine
(Psalms 80:8) and Christ
says of himself, "I am the vine"
(John 15:1) In one of his parables
also
(Matthew 21:33) our Lord compares his Church to a vineyard which "a
certain householder planted, and hedged round about," etc.
(Hosea 10:1) is rendered in the Revised Version, "Israel is a
luxuriant vine, which putteth forth his fruit," instead of "Israel is
an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself," of the
Authorized Version.
