Vineyard

Grapes were grown in ancient Egypt and Canaan even before Abraham’s time. The hilly areas of Judea and Samaria were good for growing grapes. A vineyard was usually surrounded by a wall of stones or thorny hedges to keep out wild animals. Most vineyards had a tower for a watchman, a winepress hollowed out of rock, and a vat, which held the wine. Jesus once told a parable that described the planting of a vineyard. Grapevines needed much care. Each spring they had to be pruned and the dead branches burned. Jesus used this as a word picture of how God helps each Christian become a better person.

During the harvest, sometimes the whole family guarded the vineyard against thieves. The time of stamping out the juice was one of great happiness. The people sang as they crushed the grapes with their feet. The wine was kept in new goatskin bags.