THE VINE. 277 



for the poor, the orphan, and the stranger. A traveller was permit- 

 ted to gather and cat grapes in a vineyard, as he passed along, but 

 was not permitted to carry any away. Deut. xxiii. 24. 



In John xv. our Lord declares himself to be the * true vine.' 

 Doddridge has supposed that the idea might be suggested by the 

 sight of a vine, either from a window, or in some court by the side 

 of the house; but this is controverted by Harmer, who remarks, 

 that there were no gardens in Jerusalem, and that it is not likely 

 there were vines about the sides of the houses. Harmer's assertion, 

 however, is set aside by Dr. Russell, who states that it is very com- 

 mon to cover the stairs leading to the upper apartments of the harem 

 with vines. This fully explains the beautiful metaphor in Psalm 

 cxxviii. * Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine 

 house.' with* which Mr. Harmer is so much embarrassed. But 

 whether such a vine gave rise to our Saviour's discourse, is a mat- 

 ter of great doubt. 



In the TEMPLE at Jerusalem, above and around the gate seventy 

 cubits high, which led from the porch to the holy place, a richly 

 carved vine was extended, as a border and decoration. The 

 branches, tendrils, and leaves, were of the finest gold : the stalks of 

 the hunches were of the length of the human form, and the bunch- 

 es hanging upon them were of costly jewels. Herod first placed it 

 there; rich and patriotic Jews from time to time added to its em- 

 bellishment, one contributing a new grape, another a leaf, and a 

 third even a bunch of the same precious materials. If to compute 

 its value at more than 12,000,000 of dollars be an exaggeration, it is 

 nevertheless indisputable that this vine must have had an uncommon 

 importance and a sacred meaning in the eyes of the Jews. With 

 what majestic splendor must it have likewise appeared in the even- 

 ing, when it was illuminated by tapers! 



If then Jesus in the evening, after having celebrated the Passover, 

 again betook himself to the temple with his disciples, what is more 

 natural, than, as they wandered in it to and fro, that above every- 

 thing this vine, blazing with gold and jewels, should have attracted 

 their attention ; that, rivetted by the gorgeous magnificence of the 

 sight, they were absorbed in wonder and contemplation respecting 

 the real import of this work of art? Let us now conceive, that Je- 

 sus at this moment, referring to this vine, said to his disciples, ' I am 

 the true vine' how correct and striking must his words then have 

 appeared! How clearly and determinately must then the import of 

 them have been seen ! 



The Jews accounted the vine the most noble of plants, and a type 

 of all that was excellent, powerful, fruitful, and fortunate. The 

 prophets, therefore, compared the Jewish nation and the Jewish 

 church to a great vine, adorned with beautiful fruit, planted, tended, 

 and guarded by God, Jer. ii. 21. Ezek. xix. 10 Seq. Psal. Ixxx. 9, 

 15 Seq. God was the DRESSER OF THE VINEYARD, Israel was the 

 VINEYARD and VINE, Isa. v. 1 Seq. xxvii. 2 Seq. Hos. x. 1. every 

 true Israelite, especially the heads and chiefs of the people, were th 



