December is when seeds lie dormant in the soil, obscuring any anticipation of the eventual harvest. He asks, is there not a seed within the sprout? This nuance is better captured in Hebrew with the term meaning enclosed grain, representing where the seed is sown. Do the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree exhibit any signs of ripeness? Indeed they do not! For in December, as previously noted, indications of future fruit are absent. You might argue that I am making predictions based on observations, such as the hues of the trees and the verdancy of the fields, yet there are no signs to support such forecasts. Nonetheless, I assure you of a fruitful harvest in accordance with my blessing.
As we have noted, this aligns with the Hebrew text, while the interpretation based on the LXX differs broadly. We first need to clarify the literal meaning to understand its figurative implications rightly. Direct your hearts towards the future from this day on, when the temple's foundations are established, and you will witness an astonishing yield. From all fields, your harvest will be so abundant that the storages will barely recognize their contents; barns will overflow, and the sheer abundance will blur the lines between individual stores throughout the land. The vine, fig tree, pomegranate, and olive tree, which previously bore no fruit due to your transgressions, will now be laden with such an overwhelming supply of produce that it will unmistakably reveal the blessings poured upon them.
The negative connotation of the ninth month is further illustrated in the fourth book of Kings and the accounts of Jeremiah. However, since the foundations of the temple are laid at the close of the ninth month, we interpret this as the establishment of the Lord's house only beginning after the wicked deeds have concluded. As a result, the foundation is established on the twenty-fourth day, a number representing two dozen, three sets of eight, and four sets of six, a detail we have expounded previously. Anyone who commits to God’s service and shuns indifference—represented by the careless ruler who, as noted in Ezra, impedes the temple's construction—will witness a generous outpouring of fruitfulness and blessings.
Furthermore, understanding the phrase "Is there still a storehouse on earth?" pertains to those who sow in the Spirit and reap eternal life, as stated in Galatians; they will not accumulate earthly treasures, but their deeds and rewards align with heavenly promises. The vine symbolizes the Word of God, cultivated by the Father within each believer; the fig tree represents the sweetest gifts of the Holy Spirit; the pomegranate tree signifies the Church's teachings and Scriptural wisdom, paralleled in the Song of Songs with the bride's palms. The olive tree symbolizes peace and enlightenment for those who embark on the task of constructing God's temple.
The vine, fig tree, and olive tree relate to the face of the Savior, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit; while the pomegranate tree is temporarily set aside. This relationship is expounded upon in the Book of Judges, where barren trees gather to appoint a king and invite the vine, fig tree, and olive tree to lead them. Yet, all three refuse such authority and decline to acknowledge the barren trees in positions of power. Consequently, they seek out the blackthorn, emblematic of their own barrenness, a thorny plant that ensnares all who stalk it, inflicting wounds and drawing blood from the injured while also consuming nearby trees through its fiery influence. We liken this thorn to the devil and will analyze its essence according to the attributes of this formidable shrub.
Thus, the vine, fig tree, and olive tree shall ascend where the pomegranate tree exists; it symbolizes the Church with its multitude of seeds, woven together while encompassed by a single shell.
THEOSIS