Isaiah 16:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The enemy's people declared, "To your harvest and to the winnowing of the wine," as the text affirms, adding that all shall fall. The joy and gladness of your grapes will fade away. The Moabites cherished their festivals, conducted many sacred rituals in honor of idols, and spent countless nights at the altars, always finding reasons to rejoice. Now, however, they must weep, far removed from any delight of the soul; for they will not rejoice nor will the wine be released from the presses. There will be no fruit on the vine, for it will perish along with the grapes it bears. Regarding the grapes, should they be entirely cut down, this prophecy holds true. However, even if it serves as a reflection on human circumstances, it illustrates that with the loss of the parents, the offspring shall also perish, for even the most fruitful mothers will find no mercy from their adversaries. Jerusalem faced this during its conflict with the Romans, as the Savior foretold the calamities that would befall it, warning that it would be encircled by armies, with particular sorrow for those who were pregnant and for those unfit (Matt. 24:19).

Heshbon represents our thoughts, while Elialah symbolizes the elevation towards God. Hence, the grapes of foreigners and the trees not planted by the Heavenly Father are cultivated (cf. Matthew 15:13); the fruit of unrighteousness is consumed by righteous thoughts and ascents through good deeds that raise us towards God. Therefore, blessed is the man who has his watchful prayer directed to Thee, with Thy elevation in his heart (cf. Ps. 83:6). Thus, the individual who harbors the ascensions of God in his heart and diligently monitors his thoughts is equipped to dismantle the false teachings of the unorthodox, which are ill-rooted and bear destructive fruit. The Prophet then proclaims, ‘Regarding your harvest and the winnowing of the wine, I will plow it, and it all shall fall.’ The bread that gathers and the wine that collects stand in stark contrast to the bread that sustains man's heart and the wine that gladdens it (cf. Ps. 103:15). Therefore, as the Good One, God shall tread upon them, preventing them from serving as sustenance for those who partake thoughtlessly, oblivious to the damage they inflict. Hence, I will tread upon your harvest and your wine, and all shall come to ruin. This serves as a lesson for us concerning earthly matters, as many, having nearly secured the gathering of their fruits, have found themselves deprived of what they anticipated, for God has withheld these fruits due to the ingratitude and greed of humanity.

The region near Heshbon, previously mentioned, lies desolate, as does the vineyard of Shebaamah, which can signify both exaltation and conversion, for in the land of Moab, there is noted a portion of longing to serve the Lord. Thus, the rulers of the nations, including apostles and their successors, have pruned the vines and shoots of this vineyard of Sheba, fearing that one heresy might give rise to another until the multitude of the wayward becomes uncountable. They did not only cut back the shoots of Sheba but extended their reach to Jazer, meaning strength—representing the core doctrines of the heretics, crafted with skillful argumentation, bolstered by their own delusions. Their blade was so fierce that they roamed in the desert at the end of days with no one to strike. And while they may have cut down its vines, some shoots persisted, resilient through a deeply rooted corruption. The rulers of the nations traversed the sea, signifying the trials of this age, of which we read in the Psalms: I came into the depths of the sea, and the tempest drowned me (Psalm 68:3), and: They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep (Psalm 106:23-24). Thus, they crossed the sea to experience the Lord's work and His marvels amidst trials and ultimate deliverance from them. This prophetic lament highlights the dominion of the heretics—Jazer and the vineyard of Sheba, which stands in opposition to the will of God. I will swamp you with my tears, Heshbon—signifying their schemes—and Elealeh, denoting that which is uplifted. Why does Jazer lament for the vineyard of Sheba and drown Elealeh in tears? To instruct them in mourning; for he declares that when your grapes were harvested and at the time of reaping, the sound of trampling ceased. For the vineyard of the Moabites, due to its proximity, mirrors that of Sodom, concerning which it is written, Their grapes are the grapes of Sodom, and their clusters are bitter (Deuteronomy 32:32). In Psalm seventy-seven, we read of the vineyard of Egypt, which God struck with hail. The harvests of Moab are gathered in the valleys of Rephaim, while an illusory harvest occurs in that vineyard, as noted: The rulers of the nations have pruned its vines. They crush the most bitter clusters and trample them underfoot to prevent the venom of the serpent from being extracted, ensuring that those who consume it do not face destruction. The joy and rejoicing of the heretics will likewise be vanquished, so that when they repent, they might recognize this: Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted (Matthew 5:4). However, what comes from Carmel does not signify that heretics possess real knowledge of spiritual circumcision; rather, they boast vainly about it. When the vineyards are pruned and the joy of false knowledge is extinguished, there will be no former tramplers to crush the grapes they once trampled, and their voices will be silenced forever.

Therefore, I too will lament with the mourning of Jazer for you, O vineyard of Sheba; I will inundate you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh. The voice of the prophet expresses sorrow, and through the magnitude of his tears, he reveals the vastness of grief, mourning for the vineyard of Jazer, the vineyard of Sheba, Heshbon, and Elealeh—once powerful cities now diminished by the blade of the Assyrian king. At the time of your grape harvest, the voices of the treading have ceased. It is vital to understand that those who crush the grapes and the joyful gatherers are adversaries, and the season of captivity will arrive even amidst joy.

Joy and gladness will be removed from Carmel. This notable aspect of the scriptures illustrates that the fruitful and wooded Mount Carmel, located near Ptolemais and where Elijah prayed, symbolizes fruitfulness and abundance; thereby, the prophet indicates that all joy and bounty will be stripped from once prosperous cities. In the vineyards, mirth and celebration will be absent—the former grape gatherer, meaning the inhabitant of Moab, is implied. Following this, it states: The wine in the winepress will not be trodden by those accustomed to trample; I have silenced the voices of the treaders. During the grape-gathering, the joyful gatherer will not sing his kelema, but desolation from enemies shall reign, and the shouts of victors will resound.