National Republican., 1874-05-07
THE TEMPERANCE CAUSE.
TEE SCRIPTURAL SIGNIFICATION OF
VINE.

u. BAKER TO ''NlNNU UM - INbLA G-NOLHNA
ORDER OF GOOD TEMPLARs.
To tAs Editor Of the National Republican:
SIR: A friend recently placed in my hands
COPY OF the Washington Sentinel of May 2, tnyit-
ing my attention to an article headed "a Jew
Defending Christ Against. our Christian Rev.
erends" purporting 70 De transferred to its COL
umns from the Chicago Tribune. The original
article would appear TO have been written by and
is signed by Q Jewist rabbi. That the learned
rabbi, In common with some pgoiessed Christians
Of to-day, may and does labor under nisappre-
hension and mistake In attempting to elucidate
and inculcate from the Bible the meaning and
substance Of the term wine Gs translated into our
English version, e Gpparent and manifest in the
article before me-
1t is not my design nor even my province to
criticize the article hole, but shall content
myself with offering some plain suggestions
founded upon the authority Of Hebrew scholars
and Biblical writer's to rebut the learned doctors
dietum, that i'ths Scriptures nowhere mako dis
tinetIon between fermented and unfermented
wine; and in most-aye, in nearly all-cases the
wine Of the Bible is fermented wine-wine Of an
Intoxicating nature"
II will premise by stating that there are nine
Hebrew words made useof IN the Old Testament
TO denote wine. appeal to common rel IN, is it
likely is It probable, that all these words were
used to designate wine Of the same nature, or
uaNlDg Qudlilles4 OQ l0e contrary, Is ~
not morally certain that each term denoted o
different species, whose quality was defined by
its name7
The "Encyclopadia Britannica" well remarks
that lone Of the greatest faults Of our otherwise
admirable version OF the Bible is that the trans
lation OF the same original is often improperly
varied at the expense Of perspieuity, while, on
the other hand, ambiguity is sometimes occa-
stoned by the rendering OF two original words In
ha hNro oply ma word.
which, however is used in different meaning"
Now, II the first rule for translation, as laid
down By that learned and eminent man, DIR. Leo
Campbell, be ooTrect-that the translation should
give o complete transcript Of the idea Of the
Original-our common version must, on thai point,
be deemed exceedingly defective.
But we have the authority Of Scripture itself
for maintaining that there were in the lands of
the Bible different wines used, and may, there
fore certainly infer that these are denoted by the
several terms indicated. Nehemiah, 8, Is, speaks
of "stones Of al sorts Of wine" provided for his
large household while governor of Jerusalem.
This paragraph itself would seem to indicate be-
yond all doubt that those nine Hebrew words de-
note different kinds of wine
Go to the Hebrew Bible, and there hnd what are
the facts in the usage Of these terms, and learn
whether the things which they respectively de-
note are always spoken Of in the same way, and
you will find they are not. On the contrary, the
thing denoted by the word yGyiH, cited and largely
commented upon by the rabbi in his communica-
tion, is used, and occurs one hundred and forty
one times in the Scripture. 1t occurs in the wri-
tings Of nearly all the sacred penmen, and is used
in every diversity OF circumstances, thus afford.
ing abundant means for recording facts and for
noting testimony respecting this wine In the Bible.
Upon a careful analysis of the several uses Of
this term it has been found that in In thirtythree
Of the texts where It is used its meaning is doubt
full neutral thirty y-four are marked, as pointing
out promised or permitted enjoyment; while
Eeventy-four texts are marked, as branding It
with notes Of warning, both by admonition and
example, OF its intoxicating power. Tho rest of
the Passages merely refer to 1t as used in religious
obs6rvanc6s.
Careful examination Of this subject (which has
esePFied my mind for years. shows that for one |
text IN Scripture Fi.iu sIvSS 99T q WIN approval
thSS1se are three that point to 1t with warning.
These are facts. What are we to make Of them?
Shall we say they have no meaning, or shall we
dismiss the question with the thOughtless re-
mark at is matter; wine is wine, and there
was o kiGi (yayin) then used which made Noah
drunken"
Again, the thing denoted by another Of these |
Hebrew words (shechGr) is almost with uniformity |
represented as q curse, and is spoken Of as en-
evil, only evil, and that continually.
(tirosh) is, without single exception, spoken OF
as q blessing, not a syllable OF disapproyal or |
OF caution is uttered against 1t in the whole Book
OF God. Yet all these several nine Hebrew words |
ydyin, SAechGr tirosh GSis, SObhe, chener DEesech
shemarin and sshiisich are rendered into our |
English version by the siuGlc word wine.
The late Rev. DR.. Mott remarks upon this sub |
jet as follows: 1.-THE term wine, as used in our |
English Bible, is to be regarded as Q genuine |
enFh hat-
and of very different qualities; some Of which |
kinds were good, some bad; some to be used fire. |
Quently and freely; some seldom and sparingly, |
and some TO bc uttg;ly ed Rt al times avoidedi
By mere c6DparisOn Of the passages in which |
the term wine occurs this will be rendered proba-
BILE. For it difficult to believe that the wine
by which Noah was dishonored; by which Lot was |
defled; the wine which caused prophets to err in
Judgment, and priests to tumble and fall; the |
wine which occasions woe and sorrow and wound |
without cause; wine of which he who is deceived |
thereby is not wise; wine which Solomon styles |
mocker, and which is alluded to by one who is |
greater than Solomon as a symbol Of wrath; the |
wine mingled by harlots and sought by lbertines, |
was the very wine which wisdom mingles, to |
which wisdom invites; wine which priests offered |
in sacrifice, cEangelists dispensed at communion |
tables, and which, making glad the heart Of man, |
was q fit emblem Of the mereies of God.
Ole other reference to the rabbits communica- |
tion demands attention as well ns refutation, and
clOse, reminded Of the value Of space in your |
papeE He says: what is said Of ydyiH is appli- |
cable to the Hebrew synonyms of the words she
char tirosh chemer &c. and even shechGr meaning,
literally Intoxicating drink, is permitted and rec
commended in tho Bible, (Deut., Iiv:25)" After |
carefuly reading this verse and its context it is
manifest that the Whole passage is directory for
q religious ordinance. The things to bo eaten and
drank were the tithes OF all the IeraeIites in
crease that his ielc brought forth. Those, II be
could not carry to the appointed place, he was re-
Quired to SELL and again, with the money thus
obtained, to purchase produce Of the same kinds,
to devote to q holy use. Then the t!thes thus pre-
sented werc to Be eaten "before the Lord" ip the
place-that is, o. his presence-in act OF divine
worship. along with priest and Levite appointed
to share in all the tithes in tS.- way brought TO
the holy shrine.
III the ti;he Of an Israelite's increase from the
field that is to be partaken Of, and it is to be par
taken of in the tabernacle Of God in o religious
ordinance. Therefore we may be we'll assured
from this that the shschor to be then freely en-
joyed was not intoxicating drink.
Now all readers of the Bible are aware that all
fermented things were excluded from sacrifices to
God. (Lev. ~ The conclusion is thus forced
upon the mind that fermented drink can on no &C
count be meant in this text.
To determine whether God in his word sane
tions the use Of intoxicating drink 1t is not enough
to find one passage Of Scripture where he approves
n thing called wine, then to observe in another
text that wine intoxcates, and lastly, to leap to
the conclusion that therefore God authorizes in
toxicating drinks to be used as beverage by
men.
As the columns Of a newspaper present the only
possible channel through which truth and error
can be sown broadcast over the land yet even yoIr
mammoth sheet could koid but 1.-THE ofthe hith-
erto successful refutatious Of the oftrepeated i'm
plOts dicium that the Bible sanctions the use Of
Intoxicating drinks q beverage. And, in offer
ing my humble tribute upon the altar Of truth, So
briefly, morality, and Bible teachings, simply
crave limited space in your widespread journal
that tho antidote may be wider spread than the
=ould-be ins:duOus poison Of this learned Chicago
pundit. = W. N' ~
WARRINGTON, May 4, 1874. ~
REPLY OF REV. G. G. BAKER TO
"VlNUN."
MAY 6, 174.
To The Editor Of the National Republican:
SIR: As your correspondent "Vinum" appears,
from his communication published in your issue
ofyesterday morning, to doubt the correctness Of
your reporters statements as to the sentiments
expressed by me at the Womens temperance
meeting, held on Monday night, relative to the
g. hat