And they shall be left together to the birds of the mountains, and the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall be upon them all the summer, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.
יֵעָזְב֤וּ יַחְדָּו֙ לְעֵ֣יט הָרִ֔ים וּֽלְבֶהֱמַ֖ת הָאָ֑רֶץ וְקָ֤ץ עָלָיו֙ הָעַ֔יִט וְכָל־בֶּהֱמַ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ עָלָ֥יו תֶּחֱרָֽף׃
4 Church Fathers comment on this verse
The Israelites beheld the lifeless bodies of their adversaries along the coastline, cast from the ocean. Those they had feared and dreaded were now exposed, stripped of their armor and left unburied. This served as a shared spectacle, where they observed not injuries or bruises, but merely the lifeless forms left to languish.
When the harvest is ripe and the vine produces its early flowers, the farmer will harvest the small clusters using his sickle, cutting the vines and leaving them for the birds of the air and the beasts of the field. The birds will gather around, and the beasts will come to partake. The meaning and structure of this narrative are complex and shrouded in ambiguity; nonetheless, I will endeavor to provide clarity. This account is presented as if drawn from the experience of farmers. They typically trim away the surplus vines and small clusters that hang excessively among the larger ones, using their tools to ensure that the more substantial clusters receive ample nourishment to produce mature fruit.
This is analogous to what the Almighty did, whether referring to the Assyrians or the Egyptians, as it is somewhat unclear which instance is more relevant. If one were to consider the Assyrian army that besieged the sacred city as represented by one vine, it follows that the significant vine symbolizes the one who maintained his rule and did not perish alongside the rest, while the remainder of the army was obliterated, likened to small clusters cut away by a gardener’s instrument—the sharpest sword of the Lord. They fell, as noted, at the hand of the angel, and their remains became a source of sustenance for the beasts and birds. Conversely, if one interprets this as referring to the Egyptians, it suggests that the Assyrians, who pillaged Egypt, did not bring about total destruction; rather, they targeted specific clusters, representing settlements here and there. Their fury was tempered by the compassion of God, who administers justice to those who err but often lessens the severity of the punishment, ensuring that the punished do not face total annihilation.
And the birds will be gathered upon them; in other words, all the avian and terrestrial creatures will afflict the Syrians as if in wrath.
The Lord communicates to me, stating that He will rest and observe from His designated place. His message to the prophet conveys that until His predetermined purposes come to fruition, He will dwell in His sanctuary—interpreted by some as the temple and by others as heaven. He will keep watch over the outcome of all things. The brilliance of midday light is as evident as the refreshing dew during harvest season. Just as noon brings clarity and warmth, providing illumination to the earth, so too does the Lord intend to shower His kindness upon all who have faith in Him.
Before the completion of the harvest, everything appears as blossoms and unripe fruits, but the branches will be pruned with knives, leaving only what is unfruitful to be removed. The remnants will be offered up to the birds of the mountains and the beasts of the earth, who will find shelter in this desolation throughout the summer and winter seasons. Referencing the time of noon and the nourishing dew, He highlights the destruction faced by Egypt and the plight of His people, conveying that the nations will end up like worthless branches, stripped away entirely. Rather than referring to vineyards superficially, He clarifies that these corpses will feed the predators of the land. The prophetic words regarding the widespread devastation echo those found in Ezekiel’s prophecies against Pharaoh and Egypt, illustrating the certainty of this demise. The phrase about the birds in summer and beasts in winter suggests both the literal multitude of the slain and the metaphorical desolation that will encompass all nations.
At that time, a tribute will be presented to the Lord of Hosts from a destroyed and ravaged populace, a terrifying nation devoid of hope, whose territories have been divided by their own rivers. This offering will be directed towards the name of the Lord of Hosts, specifically to Mount Zion. Following Egypt's ruin and the collapse of its power, Israel will no longer depend on false idols but will turn to the Lord, bringing their offerings to Him and praying for true and eternal help. This is recognized as having been fulfilled during the era of Zerubbabel, Joshua, Ezra, and Nehemiah. The Septuagint uses a different expression, implying despair rather than hope, which has led some to believe that this may refer more to the Gentiles—who lack hope, a covenant with God, and prophetic insight—rather than the Jews. Consequently, these Gentiles will offer gifts to the exalted Church and present spiritual sacrifices to God.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS