WINE of Incense which is mentioned by Hosea, xiv. under the Name of Wine of Libanus. For Lebanon, in Hebrew, either signifies Libanus or Frankincense. This is a perfumed Wine, in which aromatick Drugs were mixed. Such was the Wine that they gave to Criminals at their Execution, to take away their Sense of Pain; and such was that which was given to the Elephants of Ptolemy Philopator, to inebriate them, that they might squeeze under their Feet all the Jews of Egypt.
Convivium vini, a Feast of Wine, is that in which there is great plenty of Wine. See Ecclus. xxxi. 41. xxxii. 7. xlix. 2. Or else a Festival of Solemnity, a Banquet of Invitation: For usually they drank no Wine at their ordinary Meals. See also Isai. xxii. 13. Ecce gaudium & lætitia occidere vitulos, & jugulare arietes, comedere carnes & bibere vinum. The same, xxiv. 9, 11. Cum cantico non bibent vinum. Clamor erit super vino in plateis, &c.
Hosea ix. 2. Vinum mentietur eis; Their Wine shall fail them, their Vines shall not produce any Wine.
Vinum damnatorum bibent, Amos ii. 8. It may be understood of the Wine given to condemned Criminals; which is again mentioned, Proverbs xxxi. 6. Date siceram mœrentibus & vinum his qui amaro sunt animo. Diodorus Siculus1 speaks of a Wine found out in Egypt, to dispel Sorrow and to appease Anger. Homer says,2 it was in Egypt that Helen learned the Composition of Nepenthe, which procures Forgetfulness of all Evils. But another Interpretation may be commodiously given to this Passage of Amos.3 Vinum damnatorum bibent; they drink the Wine, they make themselves merry at the Expence of those they have unjustly condemned. The Septuagint say, They drink Wine earned by their Slanders. The Chaldee, The Wine of Rapine.
Vinum germinans Virgines. f The Hebrew says, Wine that gives Eloquence to the Virgins; that makes them talk, or makes them fruitful. It makes them speak, inspires them with Courage, fills them with an holy Enthusiasm, and makes them sound forth Songs of Praise. This is explained of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost, poured out upon the Faithful on the Day of Pentecost; or the Effects of the holy Eucharist.
New WINE, which is not to be put into old Bottles, of which the Gospel speaks,4 is meant of the Holy Ghost, with which the Apostles were to be replenished after our Saviour’s Ascension.
The ancient Jews had not the use of Vessels made of Wood, as we have at present. They preserved their Wines in subterraneous Cisterns, hardened and solid, whence they drew it out into into great Urns of Stone or Clay, well glazed or pitched. And when there was occasion to remove it to another place, they filled it into Leather-bottles, laid it upon Men’s Shoulders, or upon the Backs of Beasts, without any Danger that the Bottles should burst, or the Wine be spilt. We have treated of this Matter in its full Length, in our Commentary upon Jeremiah xlviii. 11. There are many Expressions in Scripture, which can hardly be understood as they ought, without we know these ancient Customs.
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