In Jacob 5,
olive trees are said to grow in a “vineyard.” This might seem unusual to modern
readers, but such fits antiquity. In his article Vineyard
or Olive Orchard?, the late John A. Tvedtnes wrote:
There are some biblical passages, however,
that imply that a kerem is not restricted to viticulture. For example, Ahab
requested of Naboth, “Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of
herbs” (1 Kings 21:2). The Hebrew word rendered “herbs” in KJV is yrq, which
denotes green vegetables.
Similarly, in Song of Solomon 8:11–13, the
vineyard appears to be considered a garden. One chapter earlier, we read of
pomegranates growing in the vineyard alongside grapes: “Let us go up early to
the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grapes
appear, and the pomegranates bud forth” (Song of Solomon 7:12).
In the Mishnah (Zeraim 4:1–8:1), we read that
the rabbis argued about what else could be planted in a vineyard without
breaking the law of diverse kinds.[8] Most agreed that vegetables, grains, and
flowers could be planted in a vineyard, provided there was adequate spacing
between the various species. They also discussed the question of training vines
over non-fruit trees and fruit trees, and both the olive and fig tree are mentioned.[9]
The sages concluded that if a vine was trained over only part of a fruit tree,
the ground under the rest of the tree could be sown with other seeds. Clearly,
to the rabbis of two millennia ago, there was no problem with having olive
trees in vineyards. This, however, may not reflect the situation at the time of
Zenos.
In the New Testament, we read of a fig tree
planted in a vineyard, in a passage which has similarities of language with the
account in Jacob 5:
He spake also this parable; A certain man had
a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and
found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three
years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why
cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone
this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit,
well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. (Luke 13:6–9.)
Notes for the Above
8. “Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers
seeds: lest the fruit of the seed, which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy
vineyard, be defiled” (Deuteronomy 22:9).
9. Cf. Hermas’ Similitudes 2, where he wrote
of the unfruitful elm tree as a support for the vine, enabling the vine to
produce more abundantly.
