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JACS: Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically Dependent Persons, and Significant Others

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ATTRIBUTES OF ALCOHOL IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

by John Maxwell O'Brien & Sheldon C. Seller
THE DRINKING AND DRUG PRACTICES - SURVEYOR ,
Number 18 August 1982

This table catalogues and categorizes references to alcohol in the Old Testament. To enable researchers to locate references to alcohol in the texts, a four-step methodological procedure has been adopted.

  • First, references have been separated into two major divisions, positive and negative.
  • Second, references are assigned to an appropriate realm: physical, psychological, social, religious, or economic.
  • Third, within a specific realm, references are then assigned to a category and a single, major reference exemplifies each category.
  • Finally, additional examples within each category are included under "others" and are arranged in the order in which they appear in The New English Bible, Oxford Study Edition, New York: Oxford University Press, 1972.
  • An asterisk (*) indicates that the Hebrew text implicitly refers to alcohol but is untranslated as such in the Oxford edition. Readers are cautioned, owing to differences of translation and original context, that any given passage may lend itself to a substantially different categorization than that which we have employed.

    The authors wish to acknowledge the generous assistance of Dr. Jason Jacobowitz of Queens College in the composition of this table. His expertise in Hebrew was of inestimable value in our work.

    THE DRINKING AND DRUG PRACTICES

    POSITIVE

    I. PHYSICAL

    A. was met by Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth, who had with him a pair of asses saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves, a hundred cluster of raisins, a hundred bunches of summer fruit, and a flagon on wine. The king said to him, 'What are you doing with these?' Ziba answered, 'The asses are for the king's family to ride on, the bread and the summer fruit are for the servants to eat, and the wine for anyone who becomes exhausted in the wilderness.' 2 Sam.16:1-2

    B. Accompaniment to food Then Isaac said, 'Bring me some of your venison to eat, my son, so that I may give you my blessing.' Then Jacob brought it to him, and he ate it; he brought wine also and he drank it. Gen.27:25 Others: There are over 45 additional explicit and implicit references related to this category.

    C. Pleasing taste Then he said to them, 'You may go now: refresh yourselves with rich food and sweet drink*, and send a share to all who cannot provide for themselves; for this day is holy to our Lord.' Neh.8:10

    D. Pleasant aroma Your love is more fragrant than wine, fragrant is the scent of your perfume, and your name like perfume poured out; for this the maidens love you. S.of S. 8:2

    II. PSYCHOLOGICAL

    A. Brings joy and cheer 'So the trees said to the vine: Then will you come and be kind over us? But the vine answered: What, leave my new wine which gladdens gods and men, to come and hold sway over the trees? . . . .' Judg.9:12-13 Others: Gen.43:34*, 1 Kgs. 4:20; Ps.104:15; Prov.15:15*; Eccles.9:7; Eccles.10:19

    B. Alleviates despair Give strong drink to the desperate and wine to the embittered; such men will drink and forget their poverty and remember their trouble no longer. Pro v.31:6-7 Others: Jer.16:7*

    C. Stimulates imagination So I sought to stimulate myself with wine, in the hope of finding out what was good for men to do under heaven throughout the brief span of their lives. Eccles.2:3

    D. Engenders love . . .I have eaten my honey and my syrup, I have drunk my wine and my milk. Eat, friends, and drink, until you are drunk with love. S.of S. 5:1 Others: S.of S. 8:2

    III. SOCIAL

    A. Conducive to merriment On the seventh day, when he was merry with wine, the king ordered . . . the seven eunuchs who were in attendance on the king's person, to bring Queen Vashti before him wearing her royal crown. . . . . Esther 1:10 Others: Gen. 43:34*; 2 Sam.13:28; 1 Kgs.20:12*; 1 Chr.12:40; Isa.22:13

    B. Hospitality for guests They spent three days there with David, eating and drinking*, for their kinsmen made provisions for them. Their neighbours also round about, as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, brought food on asses and camels, on mules and oxen, supplies of meal, fig-cakes, raisin-cakes, wine and oil, oxen and sheep, in plenty; for there was rejoicing in Israel. 1 Chr.12:39-40 Others: Gen.14:18; Judg.19:6-9; Judg.19:20-21;2 Sam.11:13; 2 Kgs.6:23; Neh.5:18; Esther 1:7-8; Job 1:4; Dan.5:1

    C. Makes one more agreeable Over the wine the king said to Esther, 'Whatever you ask of me shall be given to you. Whatever you request of me, up to help my kingdom, it shall be done.' Esther 5:6 Others: Esther 5:12; Dan.5:2

    D. Drinking not compulsory Wine was served in golden cups of various patterns: the king's wine flowed freely as befitted a king, and the law of the drinking was that there should be no compulsion, for the king had laid it down that all the stewards of his palace should respect each man's wishes. Esther 1:7-8

    F. Celebrate victory So he led him down, and there they were scattered everywhere, eating and drinking* and celebrating the capture of the great mass of spoil taken from Philistine and Judaean territory. 1 Sam.30:16 Others: Judg.9:27; Esther 3:15; Esther 8:17*; Esther 9:17-22*

    G. Serves as a gift Give to him lavishly from your flock, from your threshing-floor and your wine-press. Be generous to him, because the LORD your God has blessed you. D eut.15:14 Others: Gen.27:37; Lev.19:10; 1 Sam.25:18

    H. Reward for work There is nothing better for a man to do than to eat and drink* and enjoy himself in return for his labours. Eccles.2:24 Others: Eccles.3:13-14; Eccles.5:18; Eccles.8:15; Isa.62:8-9

    I. An honor to serve the exalted a drink '. . . Now I had Pharaoh's cup in my hand, and I plucked the grapes, crushed them into Pharaoh's cup and put the cup into Pharaoh's hand.' Gen.40: 11 Others: 1 Kgs.10:5; 2 Chr.9:4; Neh.2:1

    J. Weapon against enemy These were the words of the LORD the God of Israel to me: Take from my hand this cup of fiery wine and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. When they have drunk it they will vomit and go mad; such is the sword which I am sending among them. Jer.25:15-16 Others: 2 Sam.13:28; Jer.25:28*

    IV. RELIGIOUS

    A. Offering to God On the day you present the sheaf, you shall prepare a perfect yearling ram for a whole-offering to the LORD, with the proper grain-offering, two tenths of an ephah of flour mixed with oil, as a food-offering to the LORD, of soothing odour, and also with the proper drink-offering, a quarter of a hin of wine. Lev.23:12-13 Others: There are over 45 explicit and implicit references related to this category.

    B. God's share You shall eat it in the presence of the LORD your God in the place which he will choose as a dwelling for his Name - the tithe of your corn and new wine and oil, and the first-born of your cattle and sheep, so that for all time you may learn to fear the LORD your God. Deut.14:23 Others: Deut.12:17; Neh.10:37, Neh.10:39; Neh.13:5-6

    C. Gift from God Moreover, that a man should eat and drink* and enjoy himself, in return for all his labours, is a gift of God. Eccles.3:13-14 Others: Num.18:12; Isa.25:6; Joel 2:19; Joel 2:24; Amos 9:13, Zech.8:12; Zech.9:17

    D. Reward from God God give you dew from heaven and the richness of the earth, corn and new wine in plenty! Gen.27:28 Others: Lev.26:5; Deut.11:13-14; Deut.14:22-26; Prov.3:9-10; Eccles.8:15; Jer.31:25

    E. Compensation for Priesthood This shall be the customary due of the priests from those of the people who offer sacrifice, whether a bull or a sheep: the shoulders, the cheeks, and the stomach shall be given to the priest. You shall give him also the first fruits of your corn and new wine and oil, and the first fleeces at the shearing of your flocks. Deut.18:3-5 Others: Num.18:30-31; 2 Chr.31:4-5; Neh.13:5-6

    F. Purification through abstention . . .; you ate no bread and drank no wine or strong drink, in order that you might learn that I am the LORD your God. Deut.29:6 Others: Num.6:20; Judg.13:3-14; Esther 4:16

    G. Temporary abstention a virtue in holy man The LORD spoke to Moses and said, Speak to the Israelites in these words: When anyone, man or woman, makes a special vow dedicating himself to the LORD as a Nazirite, he shall abstain from wine and strong drink. These he shall not drink, nor anything made from the juice of grapes; nor shall he eat grapes, fresh or dried. During the whole term of his vow he shall eat nothing that comes from the vine, nothing whatever, shoot or berry. Num.6:1-5

    H. Ritualistic component This is what you shall offer on the altar: . . . a quarter of a hin of wine for the first ram. Exod.29:38-40 Others: Deut.14:22-26 I. Divination ". . . Why have you stolen the silver goblet? Is it the one from which my lord drinks*, and which he uses for divination. You have done a wicked thing." Gen.44:5

    J. Sacred drinking vessels You have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. The vessels of his temple have been brought to your table; and you, your nobles, your concubines, and your courtesans have drunk* from them. You have praised the golds of silver and gold, of bronze and iron, of wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor know, and you have not given glory to God, in whose charge; your very breath and in whose hands are all your ways. Dan.5:23

    K. Purifier To the vine he tethers his ass, and the colt of his ass to the red vine; he washes his cloak in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. Gen.49:11

    L. Symbolic equation with blood I will force your oppressors to feed on their own flesh and make them drunk with their own blood as if with fresh wine, and all mankind shall know that it is I, the LORD, who save you, I your ransomer, the Mighty One of Jacob. Isa.49:26 Others: Gen.49:111; Deut.32:14; Isa.63:2-3; Jer.26:10; Ezek.39:19

    M. Contains blessing These are the words of the Lord: As there is new wine in a cluster of grapes and men say, 'Do not destroy it; there is a blessing in it', so will I do for my servants' sake: I will not destroy the whole nation. Isa. 65:8 Others: Deut. 7:13

    N. Messianic age will have flowing wine A time is coming, says the LORD, when . . . The mountains shall run with fresh wine, . . . . Amos 9:13 Others: Joel 3:17-18

    O. Mourning component No one shall give the mourner . . . the cup* of consolation, . . . . Jer. 16:7

    V. ECONOMIC

    A. MEDIUM OF EXCHANGE So I got her back for fifteen pieces of silver, barley and a measure of wine; and I said to her, Many a long day you shall live in my house with a man, and not play the wanton, and have no intercourse with a man, nor I with you. Hos. 3:2-3 Others: Exod.22:29; Deut.14:24-26; 2 Chr.2:10; 2 Chr. 2:15; Ezra 3:7; Neh.5:15; Hos.2:12

    B. Community resource (valuable) I give you all the choicest of the oil, then choicest of the new wine and the corn, . . . . Num. 18:12 Others: There are over 80 implicit and explicit references related to this category.

    C. Drinking vessels and jars valuable All Solomon's drinking* vessels were of gold, and all the plate in the House of the Forest of Lebanon was of red gold; no silver was used for it was reckoned of no value in the days of Solomon. 1 Kgs.10:21 Others: Gen. 44:5; 2 Chr. 9:20;Esther 1:7; Dan. 5:2-4

    NEGATIVE

    VI. PHYSICAL

    A. Affects speech Do not gulp down the wine, the strong red wine, when the droplets form on the side of the cup; in the end it will bite like a snake and sting like a cobra. Then your eyes see strange sights, your wits and your speech are confused; you become like a man tossing out at sea, . . . . Prov. 23:31-34

    B. Makes you stagger Thou hast made thy people drunk with a bitter draught, thou hast given us wine that makes us stagger. Ps. 60:3 Others: Ps. 107:27; Isa. 24:20; Isa. 29:9; Hab. 2:16

    C. Results in loss of bearings . . . they grope in the darkness without light and are left to wander like a drunkard. Job 12:25 Others: Prov. 23:30-34

    D. Bloats stomach My stomach is distended as if with wine, bulging like a blacksmith's bellows; . . . . Job 32:19

    E. Can be an emetic These too are addicted to wine, clamouring in their cups: priest and prophet are addicted to strong drink and bemused with wine; clamouring in their cups, confirmed topers, hiccuping in drunken stupor; every table is covered with vomit, filth that leaves no clean spot. Isa. 28:7-8 Others: Isa. 19:14; Jer,25:15-16; Jer. 48:26

    F. Hiccups . . . hiccuping in drunken stupor; . . . . Isa. 28:7

    G. Results in bloodshot eyes Whose eyes are bloodshot? Those who linger late over their wine, those who are always trying some new spiced liquor. Prov. 23:29-30

    H. Gets you drunk On her return she found Nabal holding a banquet . . . fit for a king. He grew merry and became very drunk, so drunk that his wife said nothing to him, trivial or serious, till daybreak. In the morning, when the wine had worn off, she told him everything, and he had a seizure and lay there like a stone. 1 Sam. 25:36-37 Others: 1 Sam. 1:13-16; 2 Sam. 11:13; 1 Kgs. 16:9; 1 Kgs. 20:16-17; Isa. 28:1; Isa. 29:9; Isa. 49:26; Isa. 51:21; Jer. 13:13; Jer. 23:9; Joel 1:5; Zech. 9:15

    I. Gulping especially harmful Do not gulp down the wine, the strong red wine . . . in the end it will bite like a snake and sting like a cobra. Prov. 23:31-32 Others: Obad. 1:16

    J. Drains your strength On the prophets. Deep within me my heart is broken, there is no strength in my bones; because of the LORD, because of his dread words I have become like a drunken man, like a man overcome with wine. Chr. 23:9

    K. Weakens defenses Zimri, who was in his service commanding half the chariotry, plotted against him. The king was in Tirzah drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, comptroller of the household there, when Zimri broke in and attacked him, assassinated him and made himself king. This took place in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah. 1 Kgs. 16:9-10

    L. Makes you sick . . . , These are the words of the LORD of Hosts the God of Israel: Drink this, get drunk and be sick; fall to rise no more, before the sword which I am sending among you. Jer. 25:27

    M. Enchances susceptibility to critical illness On her return she found Nabal holding a banquet . . . fit for a king. He grew merry and became very drunk, so drunk that his wife said nothing to him, trivial or serious, till daybreak. In the morning, when the wine had worn off, she told him everything, and he had a seizure and lay there like a stone. Ten days later the LORD struck him again and he died. 1 Sam. 25:36-38

    N. Spiced drinks more harmful Whose is the misery? whose the remorse? Whose are the quarrels and the anxiety? Who gets the bruises without knowing why? Whose eyes are bloodshot? Those who linger late over their wine, those who are always trying some new spiced liquor. Do not gulp down the wine, the strong red wine, when the droplets form on the side of the cup; in the end it will bite like a snake and sting like a cobra. Then your eyes see strange sights, your wits and your speech are confused; . . . . Prov. 23:29-33

    O. Leads to dependency Shame on you! you who rise early in the morning and go in pursuit of liquor and draw out the evening inflamed with wine, . . . Isa. 5:11 Others: Prov. 23:25

    P. Results in addiction These too are addicted to wine, clamouring in their cups: priest and prophet are addicted to strong drink and bemused with wine; clamouring in their cups, confirmed topers, hiccuping in drunken stupor; . . . . Isa. 28:7 Others: Prov. 20:1

    Q. Causes fever, delirium and death I will cause their drinking bouts to end in fever and make them so drunk that they will writhe and toss, then sink into unending sleep, never to wake. This is the very word of the LORD. Jer. 51:39

    R. Evokes violence Then the lord awoke as a sleeper awakes, like a warrior heated with wine; . . . . Ps. 78:65 Others: Prov. 20:1; Prov. 23:29-30

    S. May cause personal injury Who gets the bruises without knowing why? . . . . Those who linger late over their wine, those who are always trying some new spiced liquor. Prov. 23:29-30

    VII. PSYCHOLOGICAL

    A. Provides escape from reality . . . but instead there was joy and merry-making, slaughtering of cattle and killing of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine, as you thought, let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die. Isa. 22:13

    B. Makes you irresponsible Like an archer who shoots at any passerby is one who hires a stupid man or a drunkard. Prov. 26:10 Others: Amos 6:6

    C. Instrument of seduction The elder daughter said to the younger, 'Our father is old and there is not a man in the country to come to us in the usual way. Come now, let us make our father drink wine and then lie with him and in this way keep the family alive through our father.' So that night they gave him wine to drink, and the elder daughter came and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down and when she got up. Gen.9:31-34

    D. Leads to lust Woe betide you who make your companions drink* the outpouring of your wrath, making them drunk, that you may watch their naked orgies! Hab. 2:15 Others: Gen. 19:31-36; Hos. 4:12; Hos. 4:18; Hos. 7:5-6

    E. Fogs your mind Loiter and be dazed, enjoy yourselves and be blinded, be drunk but not with wine, reel but not with strong drink; for the LORD has poured upon you a spirit of deep stupor; . . . Isa. 29:9 Others: 1 Sam. 1:13; Prov. 23:30-35; Isa. 28:7

    F. Affects reasoning New wine and old steal my people's wits: they ask advice from a block of wood and take their orders from a fetish; for a spirit of wantonness has led them astray and in their lusts they are unfaithful to their God. Hos. 4:12 Others: Prov. 20:1

    G. Affects your brain (memory) . . . if they drink, they will forget rights and customs . . . . Prov. 31:5

    H. Brings misery Whose is the misery? . . . Those . . . who linger late over their wine, those who are always trying some new spiced liquor. Prov. 23:29-30

    I. Creates anxiety Whose is . . . the anxiety? . . . Those who linger late over their wine, those who are always trying some new spiced liquor. Prov. 23:29-30 J. Causes remorse Whose is . . . the remorse? . . . Those who linger late over their wine, those who are always trying some new spiced liquor. Prov. 23:29-30

    K. Leaves one totally apathetic Do not gulp down the wine, the strong red wine . . . you become like a man tossing out at sea, like one who clings to the top of the rigging; you say 'If it lays me flat, what do I care? If it brings me to the ground, what of it? As soon as I wake up, I shall turn to it again.' Prov. 23:34-35

    L. Causes blackouts Who gets the bruises without knowing why? . . . Those who linger late over their wine, those who are always trying some new spiced liquor. Prov. 23:29-30

    M. Stupefies Your sons are in stupor, they lie at the head of every street, like antelopes caught in the net, glutted with the wrath of the LORD, the rebuke of your God. Therefore listen to this, in your affliction, drunk that you are, but not with wine: . . . . Isa. 51:20-21 Others: Prov. 23:21; Isa. 28:7; Zeph. 1:12

    N. Makes you hallucinate Do not gulp down the wine, the strong red wine, when the droplets form on the side of the cup; in the end it will bite like a snake and sting like a cobra. Then your eyes see strange sights, your wits and your speech are confused; you become like a man tossing out at sea, . . . . Prov. 23:31-33

    O. Drives you mad Babylon has been a gold cup in the LORD's hand to make all the earth drunk; the nations have drunk of her wine, and that has made them mad. Jer. 51:7 Others: Jer. 25:15-16; Ezek. 23:34

    VIII. SOCIAL

    A. Drunkards lack self-control . . . princes feast at the right time of day, with self-control, and not as drunkards. Eccles. 10:17

    B. Drunkards drink at the wrong time of day . . . princes feast at the right time of day, with self-control, and not as drunkards. Eccles. 10:17

    C. Fools drink spiced wine Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn her seven pillars; she has killed a beast and spiced her wine, and she has spread her table. She has sent out her maidens to proclaim from the highest part of the town, 'Come in, you simpletons.' She says also to the fool, 'Come, dine with me and taste the wine that I have spiced. . . .' Prov. 9:1-5

    D. Degrading Ephraim, keeping company with idols, has held a drunken orgy, they have practiced sacred prostitution, they have preferred dishonour to glory. Hos. 4:17-18 Others: 1 Sam. 1:15-16; Joel 3:3

    E. Generates quarrels Whose are the quarrels and the anxiety? Those who linger late over their wine, those who are always trying some new spiced liquor. Prov. 23:29-30

    F. Inspires malevolent gossip Those who sit by the town gate talk about me; drunkards sing songs about me in their cups. Ps. 69:12

    G. Leads to shameful deportment Make Moab drunk - he has defied the Lord - until he overflows with his vomit and even he becomes a butt for derision. Jer. 48:26 Others: Gen. 9:21; Gen. 19:33-35; Exod. 32:6; Deut. 21:18-21; Prov. 20:1; Prov.23:30-35; Isa. 5:11-12; Isa. 5:22; Isa. 28:7-8; Jer. 25:15-18

    H. Morning drinking shameful Shame on you! you who rise early in the morning to go in pursuit of liquor and draw out the evening inflamed with wine, at whose feats there are harp and lute, tabor and pipe and wine, who have no eyes for the work of the LORD, and never see the things that he has done. Isa. 5:11-12

    I. Drunkenesss results in vulnerability The king was in Tirzah drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, . . ., when Zimri broke in and attacked him, . . . . 1 Kgs. 16:9-10 Others: 2 Sam. 13:28

    J. Can leave you in ruin At that time I will search Jerusalem with a lantern and punish all who sit in stupor over the dregs of their wine, who say to themselves, 'The LORD will do nothing, good or bad.' Their wealth shall be plundered, their houses laid waste; they shall build houses but not live in them, they shall plant vineyards but not drink the wine from them. Zeph. 1:12-13 Others: Ezek. 23:33

    K. Impairs royal judgment It is not for kings, . . . to drink wine . . . if they drink, they will forget rights and customs and twist the law against their wretched victimes. Prov. 31:4-5 L. Princes should be moderate It is not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings to drink wine nor for princes to crave strong drink; if they drink they will forget rights and customs and twist the law against their wretched victims. Prov. 31:4-5

    M. Kings should abstain It is not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings to drink wine . . . . Prov. 31:4

    N. Leads to corruption Shame on you! you might topers, valiant mixers of drink*, who for a bribe acquit the guilty and deny justice to those in the right. Isa. 5:22-23

    O. Diverts one from Lord's work Shame on you! you who rise early in the morning to go in pursuit of liquor and draw out the evening inflamed with wine, at whose feats there are harp and lute, tabor and pipe and wine, who have no eyes for the work of the LORD, and never see the things that he has done. Isa. 5:11-12

    P. May end in exile . . . you who drink wine by the bowlful . . . you shall head the column of exiles; that will be the end of sprawling and revelry. Amos. 6:6-7

    Q. Habitual drunkenness justification for stoning When a man has a son who is disobedient and out of control, and will not obey his father or his mother, or pay attention when they punish him, then his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of the town, at the town gate. They shall say to the elders of the town, 'This son of ours is disobedient and out of control; he will not obey us, he is a wastrel and a drunkard.' Then all the men of the town shall stone him to death, and you will thereby rid yourselves of this wickedness. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid. Deut. 21:18-21

    R. Set up for assassination Then Absalom prepared a feast fit for a king. He gave his servants these orders: 'Bide your time, and when Amnon is merry with wine I shall say to you, "Strike." Then kill Amnon. You have nothing to fear, these are my orders; be bold and resolute.' 2 Sam. 13:28

    IX. RELIGIOUS

    A. Carousing is ungodly I have never kept company with any gang of roisterers, or made merry with them; because I felt they hand upon me I have sat alone; for thou hast filled me with indignation. Jer. 15:17

    B. Habitual drunkenness violates commandments When a man has a son who is disobedient and out of control, and will not obey his father or his mother, or pay attention when they punish him, then his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of the town, at the town gate. They shall say to the elders of the town, 'This son of ours is disobedient and out of control; he will not obey us, he is a wastrel and a drunkard.' Then all the men of the town shall stone him to death, and you will thereby rid yourselves of this wickedness. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid. Deut. 21:18-21

    C. Libation to the gods . . . Where are the gods who ate the fat of your sacrifices and drank the wine of your drink-offerings? Let them rise to help you! Let them give you shelter! Deut. 32:38 Others: Isa. 57:6; Isa. 65:11; Jer. 7:18; Jer. 19:13; Jer. 44:17-20; J er. 44:25; Ezek. 20:28-29

    D. Can result in incest The elder daughter said to the younger, 'Our father is old and there is not a man in the country to come to us in the usual way. Come now, let us make our father drink wine and then lie with him and in this way keep the family alive through our father.' So that night they gave him wine to drink, and the elder daughter came and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down and when she got up. Gen.9:31-34

    E. Profane to tread wine on Sabbath In those days I saw men in Judah trading winepresses on the sabbath, collecting quantities of produce and piling it on asses--wine, grapes, figs, and every kind of load, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath; and I protested to them about selling food on that day. Tyrians living in Jerusalem also brought in fish and all kinds of merchandise and sold them on the sabbath to the people in Judah, even in Jerusalem. Neh. 13:15-16

    F. Profane to enter "Tent of the Presence" having drunk wine or strong drink THE LORD SPOKE TO AARON AND SAID: You and your sons with you shall not drink wine or strong drink when you are to enter the Tent of the Presence, lest you die. This is a rule binding on your descendants for all time, to make a distinction between sacred and profane, between clean and unclean, and to teach the Israelites all the decrees to which the LORD has spoken to them through Moses. Lev. 10:8-11

    G. Symbolic equation with blood This is the day of the Lord, the GOD of Hosts, a day of vengeance, vengeance on his enemies; the sword shall devour and be sated, drunk with their blood. . . . Jer. 46:10 Others: Ezek. 44:21

    H. God's wrath on vineyards He sent swarms of flies which devoured them, and frogs which brought devastation; he gave their harvest over to locusts and their prodce to the grubs; he killed their vines with hailstones and their figs with torrents of rain; Ps. 78:45-47

    I. Instrument of divine retribution He blasted their vines and their fig-trees and splintered the trees throughout the land. At his command came locuts, hoppers past all number. Ps . 105:33-34 Others: Ps. 75:8; Isa. 1:22; Isa, 16-6-12; Isa. 24:7-9; Jer. 5:9-10; Jer. 5:15-17; Jer. 25:15-30; Jer. 48:12; Jer. 51:39-57; Ezek. 23:32-34; Amos 5:11; Micah 6:15; Zeph. 1:13*; Haggai 1:11; Haggai 2:16-17

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