The Precious in the Midst of the Abominable (Isa. 1:8 - Part 3)

Isaiah now moves on the describe in vivid terms the condition of Israel as she is left by the Lord. He chooses imagery that would be very familiar to the Israelites, that of the vineyard.

So the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, As a hut in a garden of cucumbers, As a besieged city

The “vineyard” is, of course, a cultivated and tended plot of land for the growing and harvesting of grapes. Grapes in the Bible were a luscious fruit cultivated on vines. Large clusters of grapes weighing about five kilograms (12 pounds) each (Num. 13:23) have been reported in Palestine. This is yet another reminded to Israel of how far their land had fallen.

Grapes were used in a variety of ways. They were eaten fresh or dried and were made into wine or vinegar. Dried grapes were (and are) called raisins. The first suggestion of grapes in Scripture was in connection with Noah’s vineyard (Gen. 9:20) where, after the flood Noah “…began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard.”.

The soil and climate of Palestine was well suited for vineyards, where grapes were grown. They were cultivated here long before the Israelites occupied the land. Gen. 14:18 tells us that Melchizedek used bread and “wine” to bless Abram. When the spies went into the land, they reported that the vineyards of Palestine produced immense clusters of grapes (Num. 13:20, 23–24)

20 whether the land is rich or poor; and whether there are forests there or not. Be of good courage. And bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes. 23 Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs. 24 The place was called the Valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster which the men of Israel cut down there.

Vineyards were almost always hedged or fenced as protection from wild animals (Song 2:15). In each vineyard a tower was also erected and a guard placed to protect the vines from robbers (Matt. 21:33).

Vinedressers (often traveling groups, unless the landowner had a lot of property) were hired to care for the vines and prune them yearly (Lev. 25:3; Is. 61:5). The grapes were gathered in baskets in September and October with much festivity (Judg. 9:27; Is. 16:10). Provision was made for the poor to glean the fields (Lev. 19:10; Deut. 24:21). The choicest grapes were dried (raisins) or eaten fresh and the rest were placed in presses to extract the juice (Is. 61:5; Hos. 9:2–4). This was drunk fresh or fermented (wine).

There were a number of uses in the Bible for this wine, and we’ll get to those uses next time!