VINTAGE. We have reserved this Place, to speak of the Vintages of the Hebrews. This Season was accompanied with Feasts and great Rejoicings. Isaiah says, In Isai. xxv. 6.this mountain shall the Lord of Hosts make unto all people, a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees, well refined. The Hebrew says, literally, a Feast of Fatness, a Feast of Lees, of marrowy Fatnesses, of clarified Lees. And elsewhere; Gladness is taken away, and joy out Isaiah of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards xvi. 10. there shall be no singing, neither shall there be shouting; the treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses: I have made their vintageshouting to cease. The Hebrew says, out of Carmel. Now Carmel signifies an excellent Vineyard. And Jeremiah says, Joy and Jerem. gladness is taken from the plentiful field xlviii. (from the Carmel) and from the land of 33. Moab, (which was fruitful in Vines) and I Psal.
lxxx. have caused wine to fail from the wine press- 13. es, none shall tread with shouting, their shouting shall be no shouting. The Hebrew says, literally, they shall no longer tread the Grape, and he that crys Hedad, shall no more cry Hedad, Hedad. This last Term is the Cry of the Vintagers, from whence is formed, Heth, and de Heth, a way of speaking which is as much as to say, with Vigor, with Courage, chearfully.
In a figurative Sense, Vintager is often taken for one that ravages a Country, or carries on a bloody War in it. The Prophets frequently make use of this Metaphor, to express the Vengeance which the Lord takes of his Enemies. Thou hast planted thy People as a Vine, and now all that pass by partake of the Vintage: Et vindemiant eam omnes qui prætergrediuntur viam. And Jeremiah, in his Lamentations, makes Jerusalem speak Lam. i. 12. Isai. lxiii. 2.in this manner; Vindemiavit me sicut locutus est Dominus, in die furoris sui. To which is added, Deal with them, O Lord, as thou hast dealt with me; tread them in a Wine-press as thou hast trod me, because of my Iniquities. And Isaiah, speaking of a Conqueror returning from a great Expedition, having his Cloaths all besmeared with Blood, describes him thus: 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 wine-fat? I have trodden the wine-press 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 raiments. See also the Lamentations of Jeremiah, l. 15. Revelations, xiv. 20. xix. 15, &c. See WINE.