1) The Grape Vine & Prosperity

Recently the family has grown a vine, specifically, a grape vine. The vine was planted to replace a palm tree. Two aspects of the grape vine became immediately obvious. Unlike some plants such as the palm, the initial growth was rapid, also it very soon needed support. As the years passed another two aspects became evident. The grape vine in winter was dormant and leafless, as if dead, but, in summer it produced a beautiful show of leaves with abundant and fast growth. During each summer there was the expectation of fruit but for a few years there was no fruit and the fruit that was finally produced was small in quantity and bitter. It also became clear that to produce fruit the grape vine required active pruning and tending.

Israel as a nation on a number of occasions is associated with the vine in the scriptures. This should not be regarded specifically as remarkable. If we were to stand and look at the Israeli landscape in the ancient kingdom we would see, beside the suburbs, herb gardens, orchards and olive plants, then further out, fields of grain and vineyards, and beyond that sheep and goats grazing. The fields of grain and the vineyards have a large area to yield ratio. A single olive tree would feed a family, whereas, a number of vines are required to produce one bottle of wine. The vineyard would be a dominant part of the landscape.

The presence of high yielding grape vines indicates a prosperous and happy land, and the converse is also true:

The field is wasted, the land mourns; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languishes. Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished. The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languishes; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men. (Joel 1:10-12 KJV).

There is a link between the appearance of the landscape and the happiness and prosperity of the people. A prosperous land is summarised as one flowing with milk and honey. But the sign of that prosperity was a large cluster of grapes.

And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes And they returned ... and shewed them the fruit of the land. And they said, We came unto the land whither thou sent us, and surely it flows with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. (Num. 13:23-27 KJV)

Milk came from sheep and goats which required significant areas of green grass, or in other words consistent rainfall. The by-product of honey is the pollination of grain crops and fruit trees. The grape vine may not be reliant on pollination by bees. A single vine may be planted without concern for pollination because grapes may be self-fruitful. However, in ancient times the bee may have been more essential as the modern grape vine has been inter-crossed and selected for self-fertility. If bees are nearby they will visit grape flowers between 9:30 and 11:30. Bees rather like grape flowers, as they prefer white flowers as they see UV not colour. Even with a self-fertile crop there seems evidence that honey bees increase the yield and weight of grape clusters and improve the quality of grapes. Also production decreases with increasing distance from a bee hive. Such a large cluster of grapes as the spies brought back could only be due to pollination by bees.

It is an aside that perhaps science is now discovering what was well known in ancient Egypt, for the spies as evidence that the land flowed with honey did not bring back any honey, but rather they brought back fruit, something pollinated by bees in the process of making honey. Not only fruit, but, specifically a very large cluster of grapes.

2) Israel's symbol is a Grape Vine

Israel as a nation is not specifically related to the grape vine in its early history. The patriarch Israel did, however, associate the grape vine with Judah when blessing his sons. This indicates that even though Abraham and Isaac had been herdsmen, Israel's expectation was that his son's descendants would be possessors of land to allow them to work of vineyards.

Judah is a lion's whelp: ...The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk. (Gen 49:9-12 KJV)

Judah's inheritance was not to be one of milk and honey, but rather of wine and milk. Plentiful wine is likely to result in plenteous honey in any case. The relationship between wine and the lawgiver from Judah will be returned to later, firstly the association of the vine with the houses in Israel will be explored.

For the commercial production of wine a large number of grape vines must be maintained occupying a large area and it tends to be away from the house, yet in the following passages grape vines are closely associated with the Israeli dwelling.

And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. (1Ki 4:25 KJV)

Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus said the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern: (2Ki 18:31 KJV)

And in the future the prediction is they will repeat this pattern:

But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it. (Micah 4:4 KJV)

In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree. (Zech. 3:10 KJV)

The perfect and ideal dwelling of the person blessed by Yahweh is one with a fruitful vine by the house and and olive trees nearby.

<A Song of degrees.> Blessed is every one that fears the LORD; that walks in his ways. .. happy shalt thou be... Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. (Psa 128:1-4 KJV)

In all of these pictures the grape vines are not in a distant field, but growing against or over the house. Why in a temperate climate is there an advantage to having a grapevine on or over the house? In summer the abundant and fast growing foliage contains moisture and the large leaves provide shade to the occupants and the house. It would work best planted to the equator facing side of the house. In winter the same vine would be leafless and provide the maximum solar access. The grape vine, apart from being a source of fruit, had a very practical advantage of providing welcome climate control and much needed summer shade. The climate of Israel is much like the temperate zone of Australia. It says of Yahweh that he is their 'shade'.

The LORD is thy keeper.. thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day....... (Psalm 121:5-6 KJV)

This indicates the importance of shade. It is likely the advantages of the grape vine, including its thermal benefits, were the reason it became inextricably associated with the Israeli dwelling by the time of David and Solomon. It seems it was a saying that they dwelt 'under a vine' as shown above reference in 1Kings 4:25. By the time of Hezekiah even their enemies knew the saying.

There seems corroborative evidence of the prevalence of grape vines for eating in a saying reported by Jeremiah.

In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge. (Jer. 31:29 KJV)

Solomon features the grape and the vineyard as a thing of beauty in his song.

This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes. I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples; And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak. I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves. (Son 7:6-12 KJV)

This song shows two things. That grapes were considered something sweet close to the heart and that wine was associated with love. It shows also how close the grape vine was intertwined in the Israeli culture of the time of Solomon.

The psalmist takes this inevitable association of the Israeli with the grape vine and likens the nation of Israel to a vine.

Psalm of Asaph: Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it. Thou prepared room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land. The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars. She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river. Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her? .. and the wild beast of the field doth devour it. Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: ...., and visit this vine; And the vineyard which thy right hand has planted, and the branch that thou made strong for thyself. It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance. Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou made strong for thyself.(Psa80:7-17 KJV)

If this was the first instance where Israel as a nation is likened to a grape vine, there is a remarkable outcome, in that Yahweh seems to respond to this association and uses it to address Israel through the prophets. Isaiah reports a lengthy passage where Yahweh talks to Israel calling them his vineyard.

Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well beloved has a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.

And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?

And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgement, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. (Isa 5:1-7)

Jeremiah continues this theme. Note that in all cases the association is an analogy.

I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? (Jer 2:21)

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall throughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back thine hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets. (Jer 6:9)

I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them. (Jeremiah 8:13).

Ezekiel uses the image of Israel as a vine in a number of parables. The first is damning. For the first time the vine has a less than positive characteristic. The timber of the vine is useless.

Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest? Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon? Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devours both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work? Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned? Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem. (Ezekiel 15:2-6)

In Ezekiel 17:2-10 Israel features as a vine searching for the wrong water in a parable styled a riddle. By Ezekiel chapter 19 the vine is first a great plant but is destroyed, having lost its fruit and its strength which is its “sceptre to rule”. Israel before Babylon was great among the nations.

Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters. And she had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and her stature was exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her branches.

But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken and withered; the fire consumed them. And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground. And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation. (Eze 19:10-14)

Hosea also uses this image and writes:

Israel is an empty vine, he brings forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images. (Hos 10:1).

Interestingly a vine that is left unpruned or unkempt produces heavily for a few years, but gradually the size and quantity of fruit is greatly reduced.

Joel and Nahum both also use the image of Israel as a vine that is stripped to describe the effect of invaders.

For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion,.. He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white. (Joe 1:6-7 KJV)

For the LORD hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches. (Nah 2:2 KJV)

3) The support structure?

In all this there is something that is not said explicitly. Lebanon is associated with a cedar tree, and the nations are likened to trees.

Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature;..Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field. (Eze 31:3-5 KJV)

However, Ezekiel here speaking of the nations as trees on three occasions likens Israel to a grape vine. Israel as a vine, is possibly a self chosen image due to national association, like Canada has the Maple or Australia the Wattle. There is one aspect to this image that is not mentioned. Yahweh planted Israel, tends it and waters the vineyard. Israel, as the vine, grows to fill the land and shade it, but what is this vine supported by or growing on? The trees don't need support, however, grape vines do.

Experts will recommend grapes must be trellised for good fruit production. They write that the trellis systems needs to be installed prior to planting new vines to prevent damaging the roots. Trellising permits the sun to reach each flower cluster. Trellising also promotes good air circulation which cuts down on disease problems. Most importantly the trellis systems determines how the plants should be trained and pruned. In analogy, if Yahweh is planting the vine, and if before the vine is planted in the land a system needs to be in place to support this vine, what in actuality would that system be? I would suggest it is the Law.

It is never written directly but it is implied. Isaiah says Yahweh looked for righteousness. The 'fruit' that was encouraged by the 'structure' or good arrangement of the Law, was righteousness.

For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgement, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. (Isa 5:7 KJV)

No other nation has been given so complete a support as this. A law that even now is marvelled at in its advanced legislation covering most aspects of life including recognition of such things as basic hygiene, and its detailed system of justice. Moses made no boast when he said.

And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? (Deu 4:8)

How appropriate it is that Israel picked this image of themselves or that Yahweh used it to describe them! Unlike the other nations that had to make their system of laws and which grew of themselves from the earth as they required, the national system, or the structure that made the nation, was given, wholly and completely, before the nation was even 'planted' in the land.

Another aspect that is not mentioned is that proper pruning increases quality and quantity of the fruit. It also improves vine health, ensuring good production year after year. In the advice it says that pruning keeps vines at a manageable size for the trellis and maximizes exposure to sunlight. No analogy mentions this, but it so happens that this is appropriate. Right from the beginning of the nation Yahweh stated that he would actively be involved in their discipline.

And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the LORD: for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee. (Exo 34:10 KJV)

The trees may grow tall and strong with no help at all. The grape vine, of all the plants, must be pruned and worked with to be useful and produce.

The experts say of vines that disease management is necessary for long-term productivity and that good cultural practices help to limit disease development. Yahweh made it clear to his people if they listened to his word and absorbed his culture they would be disease free.

And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. (Exo 15:26 KJV)

In the future Israel will again be fruitful. And again if Hosea is read closely it appears he had in his mind Israel as a vine.

I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. (Hos 14:5-7 KJV)

And this fruitfulness in spiritual things will be equated in the natural environment.

Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. .. for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain .. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.(Joe 2:21-25 KJV)

Zechariah agrees

For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And it shall come to pass..O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: (Zec 8:11-13 KJV)

Malachi goes further saying that the abundance in Israel will be delightful for all nations

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. (Mal 3:10-12 KJV)

So for the past and the future Israel is associated with the analogy of the grape vine, with all the associations with the production of fruit and the hidden aspect of the support of the law. It is perhaps no accident that the Israel is noted now for its wines. Very heavy sweet red wine.

4) Yeshua and the image of the vine

Yeshua, therefore, delves deep into Israel's historical association when he talks to his disciples. He says

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that bears not fruit he takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. (Joh 15:1-8 KJV)

Yeshua was not using a new analogy, rather he was using one that was close to the hearts of his audience. For us there is a legacy of Israel's past, in that we, as the disciples of Yeshua, must see ourselves as branches of the vine. When we see how the vine has been used to refer to Israel there is an enormous scale to Yeshua's claim that he is the “true vine”. But there is something also to consider. Yeshua, just as the prophets of old, does not mention the support structure. Why did he not mention it? He was talking to people who lived within the structure of the law. He had no need to mention the structure. He had already said his coming did not destroy the Law.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (Mat 5:17)

However, the people subsequently gathered from the nations also become supported on this structure. Paul writes to the Romans to establish this point.

Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. (Rom 3:31 ).

So Yeshua in choosing to call himself the 'true vine' firmly equated his role with that of Israel. He was the law fulfilled. In him were all of the promises to Israel made manifest and through him was now to come the 'fruit' Yahweh desired. The fruit of righteousness.

5) Of Wine, War and Judgement

When we think of the fruit of a vine we also think of the product most associated with it: wine. This is another story. Wine is made by the cutting off of the grapes, which are then crushed. The 'fruit' is crushed, poured out, and then fermented to make something with a long shelf life that makes the drinker happy (in moderation). Small quantities of red wine are supposed to be healthy in releasing health giving anti-oxidants. As with any biblical analogy the use of that of wine in its various contexts seems appropriate.

The dregs of a cup of wine is often associated with wrath and war (Psalm 75:8 Jeremiah 25:15, 51:7, Isaiah 51:17-22, Zechariah 12:2, Rev 14:8-10, 16:19, 18:3). War is likened to the madness that is induced in drunkenness and certainly the war over Jerusalem predicted by Zechariah will be one of madness.

But closer to the image of Israel as a 'vine', is that of Yahweh as working a 'winepress' in an image of judgement. This is the picture of Revelation 14:

And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. (Rev 14:18-19 KJV).

A most interesting thing is that there are two harvests of Revelation chapter 14. The first is that of a crop. That of Armageddon, the heap of sheaves. The second is that of the vineyard.

In Revelation 14 the analogy has two facets. The harvesting of grain crops and the harvest of a vineyard. These were two features of a productive landscape. They are also instructive. Fruit is merely picked and eaten. The grain crop is cut down, winnowed, crushed with millstone, sifted then cooked in an oven. But the waste is burnt. The fruit of the vine is cut off, crushed and stepped on till the juice is poured out. It is then fermented. In both cases the final product is gained with much effort and involves crushing. In both cases there is waste that is destroyed. It seems bread and wine are associated.

The Bread and Wine

These two symbols have always been part of the Israeli service to Yahweh. They were on the shewbread table before Him and Israel in the tabernacle and temple, they are part of the Passover.

Yeshua chose them for a memorial of himself. He said the bread was his body given. The flesh being like 'bread' something that had been trialled or 'sifted' and enduring the heat of the work or 'oven'. But it was to be killed or 'broken off'. The blood was like 'wine' to signify a type of death where life departed as blood was 'poured out'. But this is not the end of the association of blood with wine.

The patriarch Israel spoke of a descendant of Judah who would be associated with 'the blood' of grapes.

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.... he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: His eyes shall be red with wine. (Gen 49:10-12)

Revelation speaks of the outpouring of blood in judgement as being like someone treading on a grape harvest in the winepress.

And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. (Rev 14:20)

Isaiah says the person treading the winepress is the one that speaks in righteousness and is mighty to save which links this person with the lawgiver who is the descendant of Judah.

Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. (Isa 63:1-4)

This is no accidental reference by Isaiah, as the the border of Judah is Edom (Joshua 15:1), indicating that the lawgiver of Judah will come to his own people first from Edom. And Edom is also called Seir (Genesis 36:8). Deborah and Barak speak of a time when Yahweh will “go out of Sier, out of the field of Edom” And at that time the mountain of Sinai would melt (Judges 5:3-5).

The prophet Balaam the son of Beor (not of Israel) also said:

I shall see him, but not now .. there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remains of the city. (Num 24:15-19)

Moses said:

The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them. Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words. (Deu 33:2-3 )

So the one walking in the 'winepress' in judgement is the king out of Jacob and out of Judah. If Israel linked themselves to a vine, it is appropriate their deliverance is spoken of as that coming from one walking the winepress. After all Yahweh identified himself as the Husbandman of that vineyard that was Israel. But the end product of the winepress is not just the wine as blood poured out but the wine resulting from this process. And wine, it says, makes glad the heart of man.

And wine that makes glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengthens man's heart. (Psa 104:15)

The judgement of mankind is to be horrible, like the cutting down in harvest of a crop, where the destruction and burning of the waste is complete, but the result is bread that 'strengthens the heart'. The judgement will be one of great blood-shed, but the result will be a remnant having endured and matured like wine that 'makes glad the heart'.

6) Analogy

The vine expressed some characteristics of Israel, that of verdant growth filling the land, the care of Yahweh and the support structure given by the law.

The lesson of Israel as the vine is that Yahweh's people are of little or no value to him unless they are producing 'fruit' or righteous works. And a vine produces fruit abundantly only when it is pollinated, cared for, pruned and when it has a well designed support structure.

An analogy is merely a picture to help us see characteristics of a situation. Therefore, Yeshua can be both the true vine and the one treading the winepress.

Modern Israel and the Grape Vine

Previously it was mentioned that Israel in the past was associated with the grape vine, in analogy. And that it also figures in future prophecy associated with the grape vine. To complete the picture Israel of the present is also seems inextricably linked with the grape vine.

In the late 1800's the Jewish population was small and struggling and its agriculture a failure, until a specific year: 1882. In that year two remarkable things happened, the first major immigration wave of Jews arrived called the first Alijah or 'going up' (1882-1904) and Baron Edmond de Rothschild in that very year poured finances and expertise into helping the settlers drain the swamps and establish two crops: citrus and grapes. It just so happened that Edmond de Rothschild's main interest was not in banking but in philanthropy and he happened to be of the French branch, which had two family estates growing grape vines and making wine.

According to Wilkipedia, Nathaniel de Rothschild, (1812 -1870) moved to Paris in 1850 to work in the banking business owned by his uncle, James Mayer Rothschild, but in 1853 he acquired Château Brane Mouton, a vineyard in Pauillac in the Gironde département from a Paris banker named Thuret. Under Nathaniel's direction it became of the world's best known winemakers. In 1868, Nat's uncle James acquired the neighbouring Château Lafite vineyard. A prestigious winemaking property more than three times the size of Chateau Mouton. It seems an odd step to go from banking to wine making, from being merchants to agriculture. Due to laws Jews often could not own land and had no traditions of agriculture. One can only assume the opportunity presented itself. In any case by the 1870's the Rothschild's were expert winemakers. By 1882 it would seem logical to take this expertise to Israel. Therefore, one of the very first successful Jewish ventures into agriculture was with the grape vine! What a co-incidence that by a chance investment modern Israel is associated with the grape vine and with the growth of the vines came the growth of the nation itself.

As an aside, according to Wilkipedia in 1922 Philippe de Rothschild at twenty took over the operation of the Château Mouton Rothschild vineyards and two years later came up with the idea of bottling the vintage at the Château. To retain the quality of his label in 1932 he began to sell his lesser quality vintages as a low-cost Bordeaux "Mouton Cadet". It became so successful that he had to purchase grapes throughout the Bordeaux region to meet the demand. Today, Mouton Cadet is the number one selling red wine in the world. In 1933 Philippe expanded acquiring the neighboring Chateau d'Armailhacq. By the late 1930s, the wines of Mouton Rothschild were recognized as among the world's greatest and Philippe de Rothschild was one the most prolific wine producers in the world. Think how extraordinary this is! At the time of Israel's maximum growth from the from the 1930's to the present time the biggest producer of wine for the entire world is a Jew. Not only that but its largest output is a red wine. This is an aside, for the main action regarding the association of the grape vine with Israel occurs actually in Israel.

The following is an excerpt from a time line of wine production in Israel by Medovoy.

1516-1917 - During Ottoman rule, Muslim law prevented Jews and Christians from manufacturing wine. During this time, it was only permitted to make ‘house wine’ – which enabled non-Muslims to continue using wine during religious ceremonies etc.

1848 - First recorded winery opens in the Old City of Jerusalem, by Rabbi Schorr

1870 - Efrat Winery founded by Tepersers Family. Mikveh Israel Agricultural School established. They planted vines, taught viticulture, and built a winery and one of the largest wine cellars of the day. European varietals first used here.

1882 - Baron Edmond de Rothschild targeted Rishon LeZion and Zichron Ya’acov for the first viticulture settlements.

1890 - First harvest in Rishon Le Zion

1892 - Building of the Zichron Ya’acov winery commenced.

1906-At the behest of Rothschild, a growers’ cooperative is established. The wineries are deeded to the growers at a nominal price.

1957 - Israel Wine Institute established in Rehovot, Rothschild family sold the wineries at Rishon Le Zion & Zichron Ya’acov to Carmel Wine Growers Co-Op.

1972 - Prof. Cornelius Ough recommends the Golan Heights as a top growing region.

1976 - First planting of vines on Golan Heights

The start of the time-line is unexpected. It does not start with the date that wine was made but the period when it was not. This fulfils prophecy. As the land was to enjoy her Sabbaths (Lev. 26:34), it is logical that in that time vineyards would not be a feature of the landscape. In fact it was a law that was in place until 1917 that prevented the making of wine and therefore the commercial growing of grapes. The year 1917 was particularly significant as that was the year the proclamation went out from Britain supporting a Jewish state.

However, despite the restriction a winery is opened in Jerusalem in 1848. It may be totally a co-incidence but, it was this year that three things that were to effect the Jewish nation occurred. Firstly the 1848 revolutions were supported by Jews and lead to edicts granting them some level of emancipation in Britain and many countries in Europe. Adding to this emancipation was the publication by Marx of his Communist Manifesto, expressing the ideals that would later be used to physically build the nation of Israel, specifically through the Kibbutz. The last one seems just an odd co-incidence. 1848 was the year J.A Balfour was born, the prime minister of Britain who would issue the proclamation of support for the nation. And it was precisely that year that they first made wine in Jerusalem. All co-incidence perhaps.

The very first co-ordinated Jewish venture into agriculture was in 1870. You would think they would focus on essential foods, but according to this time-line, from the very first they decided to grow grape vines and to produce wine!

Wilkipedia says of Edmond de Rothschild that he “was involved in the founding of Israel's wine industry when he helped Russian Jews flee pogroms in the 1880s and plant vineyards in their Palestine settlements”. This quote is extraordinary as it links as one event the founding of the wine industry and the first immigration wave. Commay(1963) goes further and writes of the settlement of Rishlon-le-Zion, “But things went hard with them until Baron de Rothschild helped them to find water, and to build the wine cellars”. By 'cellars' Commay meant the establishment of a wine business. Modern Israel and the grape vine cannot be separated.

To keep the parallel in 1892 another winery is built and that is the year Theodor Herzl calls for a return to Zion.

The next date is 1906. Perhaps any year we pick we could find a significant event. It so happens it was significant for two reasons. It is the year of the start of the second Aliyah and it is that very year of 1906 that David Ben-Gurion arrives in Israel. It was from this group that the Kibbutz movement grew. Perhaps this is co-incidence. Except that David Ben-Gurion is associated with the grape vine. He was a workers' leader in the Yekev (winery of Carmel Mizrahi) long before becoming Israel's first prime minister.

It seems to disprove the analogy that the next date of 1957 does not seem significant. This is the date that Israel became totally in control of its own wine industry. Well, perhaps! 1957 was a year of a markedly increased immigration to Israel resulting form the Suez war and an increase in new settlements again with orchards and vineyards, and for the first time they, as a nation, share expertise and offer assistance to other nations, specifically in Africa. A kind of coming of age, forty years after 1917.

The suggestion to plant vines in the Golan Heights in 1972 is not surprising. In that year under the Allon Plan they were expanding the settlements which had previously been threatened by Syria until its capture by Israel in 1967. And with the expansion of these settlements came the planting of more vines. This is in contrast to Gaza and the West Bank. They planted neither vines nor encouraged settlements there.

The new nation of Israel was associated by someone with the grape vine. The nation always from the first relied on its defence forces. The insignia on the shoulder of the Chief-of-staff and the Brigadier is an olive branch and two or one vine leaves. The rank on the shoulders of the Colonel, Lt Colonel and Major are signified by a descending number of grape vine leaves. It is on the shoulder that a burden is carried (Isa 22:22 KJV). Therefore, on the shoulders of the commanders of the defence force is the representation of the nation. First rank bears the olive, but at all levels they bear the grape vine. As the defence forces are everywhere evident, this symbol of association is evident.

There is a very pragmatic reason, of course, why early settlers in Israel would have wanted to plant vines to make wine. It could not be bought from the Moslems who lived nearby and it would have been expensive to import. And they needed it to keep the Holy feasts. Also according to Medovoy, the climate of Israel is very suitable to growing good red grapes because they have a lot of sun, and few clouds in the summer, and in certain places they have very cool winters and moderate summers which is very good for growing red grapes. Israel's climate is perfect for growing grapes, therefore, we would expect them to grow grapevines and therefore that they would dominate the landscape. And it is this dominance of the landscape by the planting that could cause the people to associate themselves with the grape vine.

The later time line parallels I feel are weak, and are of interest only in that they seem to point to a possible continuance of the scriptural link between Israel and the grape vine. The pragmatic reasons, however, do not explain why Israeli's planted vines wherever they settled, as the collective ensured equitable distribution. It also does not explain why the initial settlements prospered after having planted vines. And in any case, the symbol of the nation borne on the shoulders of the leaders of the defence forces was selected before vineyards dominated the landscape of modern Israel.

7) Israel and the grape vine leaf.

One can think too much and see more meaning perhaps than there is intended. There is, for example, a whole field of study of the meaning of the number of Hebrew letters in the text of the scriptures. This may be the case regarding the minute study of the grape vine leaf.

When the leaf of a grape vine is examined, and laid flat its structure or ribs forms a figure with 6 divisions with a 60 degree angle between the ribs. The first branch of a rib in self similarity tends to also be at 60 degrees. Snowflakes have such a six sided structure. However there are five ribs to the leaf. The stem is attached to the back of the leaf just as a flower is, yet, the leaf is not divided into six ribs, instead the first and the fifth rib grow a more complete leaf to meet over the absent rib. A vine leaf is merely a flat collector of sunlight and moisture, there is no reason why it should have such a particular and complex structure. Why not evenly space the five ribs, like a flower?

In the scriptures six is the number of mankind.

Man was created in the sixth day, and six days were appointed for labour (Exodus 20:9). Cain's descendants are to 6 generations, Noah was 600 years old in the year of the flood (Gen 7:11). Pharoah took 600 chariots to follow Moses. The sixth commandment relates to murder of mankind. Six cities of refuge were appointed for manslaughter (Numbers 35:15). Goliath was recorded as having 6 pieces of armour. Revelation says that 666 is the number of a man (Rev 13:8).

Five is the number of grace.

There are five sacrifices in Genesis 15:9 for the covenant (Heifer, goat, ram, dove, pigeon). Yahweh changed Abram's name to Abraham by adding the 5^th letter of the alphabet with a numerical value of 5, the fifth book of bible is about grace. The fifth commandment is to honour one's father and mothers and is the first commandment with promise. When David met Goliath it was with 5 stones. The promise of Leviticus 26:8 is that five would chase a 1000, and Yeshua of five loaves produced 12 baskets of fragments.

And five was the number of redemption.

And for those that are to be redeemed...of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites; Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:) (Num 3:46-47 KJV)

Five was associated also with the grape vine. Those that would be left would be as 4 or 5 on the outer fruitful branches.

Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the LORD God of Israel. At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel. (Isa 17:6-7 KJV)

Time and time again the measurement of five or fifty or five hundred appears in the tabernacle and the temple. Five again appears in Ezekiel's temple measurements. This Designer likes five. But for the curtain in the forefront where people entered the tabernacle there are six curtains. Except the sixth is doubled, which means that the sixth is hidden behind the fifth.

And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle. (Exo 26:9 KJV)

The pattern of the vine leaf is exactly this. There is a place for six but we see five. The symbol Israel in modern times has chosen for itself has six sides. The symbol of the ancient nation and on the shoulders of the military also implies six sides. However, the sixth is absent in the symbol of the grape vine leaf.

Once man is taken away there is grace. And the grace comes through the death of a man, who used as a symbol of his death the fruit of the grape vine. He used the symbol of wine, as Yahweh's service seems to have always involved offerings of wine. Noah, of all the crops he could grow, first chose grape vines to make wine. And it says even before the law of Moses that Yahweh was served with bread and wine.

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. (Gen 14:18 KJV)

Certainly wine was offered with most sacrifices under the law pointing to an association. Bowls for the wine of the drink offering sat with the shewbread on the table in the first Tabernacle and later the Temple (Exodus 37:16).

The leaf of the grape vine producing the wine associated with redemption has a structure with five lobes, which are abundantly shown and a sixth which is implied but absent. On the basis that Yahweh knew He would provide a redeemer right from the foundation of the world, it is possible Yahweh designed the leaf of the plant that He made to show the principle of grace. Especially as He ordained the fruit to be the symbol for grace, as something poured out and given in His worship. He made that with a blood-like coloured juice. The grape vine is appropriate as a symbol of Israel as it is through Israel that grace or redemption is offered (John 4:22, Isa 49:6, Gal 3:16, Romans 11).

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