52 Researches on Wines and other Fermented Liquors. 
were, therefore, preferred by those addicted to drinking, and com- 
monly selected for the tables of Kings, (Paxton’s Illustrations.) 
The prophet Joel, accordingly, describes a state of great prosperity, 
by the figure of mountains, dropping down new, or more correctly, 
sweet wine, (c. 11, v.18.) Their inebriating quality, is alluded to 
by the prophet Isaiah. ‘I will feed them that oppress thee, with 
their own flesh ; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as 
with sweet wine,” (c. 49, v. 26.) And the privation of this enjoy- 
ment, is placed by the prophet Micah, among the judgments, which 
the Almighty threatened to bring upon his ancient people for their 
iniquity. ‘Thou shalt tread the vintage of sweet wine, but shalt 
not drink wine,” (c. 6, v. 16.) 
Thus the testimony of travellers, concerning the spirituous nature 
of the wines of Palestine, accords with that of the sacred writers. 
The ancient wines are said to have been mixed with water, for common 
use ; but it is evident, that this practice did not prevail among the 
Jews, for Isaiah, in mentioning a mixture of wine and water, evi- 
dently means to express, by the phrase, the degenerate state of his 
nation. ‘Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water,” 
(c. 1, v. 22.) It is observed, by Thevenot, that the people of the 
Levant, never mingle water with their wine at meals, but drink by 
itself, what water they think proper, for abating its strength. While 
the Greeks and Romans, by mixed wine, understood wine united 
and lowered with water, the Hebrews, on the contrary, meant by 
it, wine made strdnger and more inebriating, by the addition of pow- 
erful ingredients, as howdy, spices, &c.; o1 wine inspissated by boil- 
ing it down to two thirds or one half of the quantity, myrrh, opiates, 
and other strong drugs being added, ( Paxton’s Illustrations. ) 
severe denunciations against the use of this drink, are contained in 
various parts of the sacred scriptures. 
Moreover, the grapes of Palestine, were remarkable for their size 
and richness. The account given by Moses of the bunch of grapes, 
brought by the spies, to the Israelitish Camp, (Numbers xiii, 24,) 
is confirmed by the statements of several travellers. Doubdan as- 
sures us, that in the valley of Eshcol, were bunches of grapes, of ten 
or twelve pounds. Forster tells us, that he was informed, by a Re- 
ligious, who had lived many years in Palestine, that there were 
bunches of grapes, in the valley of Hebron so large, that two men 
could scarcely carry one, ( Calmet’s Dictionary.) Indeed, travel- 
lers, generally concur in their high commendation of the grapes of 
that country. 
