“‘Is there a man here who has planted a vineyard, but hasn’t yet made use of its fruit? He should go back home; otherwise he may die fighting, and another man will use it.'”-Deuteronomy 20:6
Today let’s deal with the second reason given in Deuteronomy 20 that would allow a soldier in the Israelite army to be exempt from fighting in the Holy War to take the Promised Land.
We’re told if a soldier “has planted a vineyard, but hasn’t yet made use of its fruit”, he will be given a deferment.
Other English Bible translations will say…
…“but he hasn’t harvested it”…
…or…
…“he hasn’t eaten of it”.
This statement alone reveals that the Holy War to subjugate the land of Canaan is going to be anything but an overnight process.
We’re talking about a war that’s going to stretch out over many, many years.
Actually, let me rephrase that.
The war to take the Promised Land was going to take so long that it’s still going on to this very day.
However, these verses are speaking of a time right around the corner for this second generation of ancient Israelites.
Once they’ve settled in the land, not only are they going to automatically inherit already planted vineyards but they’re going to add to their numbers.
Here’s where possessing a solid understanding of the Law of Moses and the original Hebrew is going to put you head and shoulders above everyone else when it comes to grasping what’s really being addressed here.
The Hebrew word normally translated into “eaten” or “harvested” is HILLELO.
What does this word really mean?
It means “to desacralize”.
Don’t be intimidated by this big word.
To sacralize something simply means to take something and make it holy.
To desacralize something is to take something and de-holify it.
In other words, to take something that was originally HOLY and change it into something that is COMMON.
Remember, when I say COMMON, I’m not referring to something bad or unclean.
I just mean something that’s no longer set apart for God.
So let’s apply what we’ve just learned to the example of a young man who has planted a new vineyard but has not yet made it HOLY.
According to the Torah, for the 1st three years starting after the vine or tree has been planted, one is NOT allowed to eat of its fruit.
It doesn’t matter if we’re dealing with the fruit of the vine or the fruit of the orchard.
During the first three years, the fruit is NOT to be picked and/or eaten.
In the 4th year, the fruit shall be considered HOLY, an offering of praise to the Lord.
Yet, one is still not to eat it (obviously because it is now HOLY).
However, in the 5th year, one may finally reap the rewards of his efforts and eat the fruit of the tree.
Here’s the Torah Scripture reference of everything I’ve just explained.
“‘When you enter the land and plant various kinds of fruit trees, you are to regard its fruit as forbidden — for three years it will be forbidden to you and not eaten. In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, for praising Adonai. But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit, so that it will produce even more for you; I am Adonai your God.”-Leviticus 19:23-25
So let’s wrap things up and come to the conclusion of the matter.
THE FIRST THREE YEARS:
The fruit is forbidden because it hasn’t yet ripened (physically or spiritually) and thus it can’t be used for any purpose and neither can it be offered up to the Lord.
THE FOURTH YEAR:
The fruit is declared HOLY or as I just explained, it is now sacralized (set apart for God). Because it is holy, ALL of the harvest is to go to God.
THE FIFTH YEAR:
By this time, the fruit has been de-sacralized. It is no longer holy and thus it is now ripe for human consumption.
To conclude, what Deuteronomy 20:6 is telling us is that if a certain vineyard a soldier has planted is in its 5th year whereby the produce may be eaten, the soldier can choose not to fight the holy war during that time and enjoy the fruits of his labor.
Again, this instruction informs us that the battle to conquer the Promised Land is something that is going to take years and years and during that time many new fields, vineyards, and orchards will be planted, mature and reach their peak ripeness.
Leave a Reply