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He pursues the same metaphor or comparison; for he says that all places would be laid waste and desolate, which before had been valuable and highly regarded on account of their fruitfulness. Cease then shall all rejoicing from the land of Moab, however fruitful it might have been. And then he adds, I will make the wine to cease from the presses; that is, no one shall press the grapes, that from them the wine may flow. And he adds, הידד הידד, eidad, eidad, shouting, shouting, for there will be no shouting Some render הידד, eidad, “signal, ”celeuma, (vel celeusma,) a Greek word, but used also in Latin: κέλευμα is said by the Greeks to be the shouting of sailors, especially when they drive to the shore; they then rouse one another in rowing, and also congratulate one another, because they are nigh to land; for to see the harbor is a cause of special joy to sailors, as though it were a restoration to life and safety. But this word κέλευμα is applied to other things, as it may be said that reapers sing aceleusma when they finish their work. The vine-dressers had also their songs; and they were sung by heathen nations, as Virgil says. “ the worn-out vine-dresser sings at the extreme rows of vines.” (18) By extreme rows or ranks he seems to mean the extreme parts of the vines; for extreme rows (antes) are properly prominences or overhanging stones. Now when they had come to the end, they sang and congratulated themselves as to the vintage. It was then a common custom among all nations.
The Prophet, now alluding to this, says, “ who shall tread in the winepress shall not be as usual joyful, so as to have their shouting, shouting, הידד הידד, eidad, eidad. ” He repeats the word, because men greatly exult at the vintage, and are excessive in their rejoicings. This is the reason why the Prophet mentions the word twice. He then adds, there shall be no shouting, לא הידד,la eidad, because there would be no vineyards. Isaiah uses other expressions, but the meaning is the same. It now follows, —
(18) Jam canit extremos effœ vinitor antes. — Geor. 2:417.