The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines [with] the tender grape give a [good] smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
Ver. 13. The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grapes, &c.] These two trees put forth their fruits first, when other trees for the most part put forth first flowers, and then fruits a in their season. Pliny b numbers the fig tree among the trees of quick nature. And our Saviour Luk 21:29-30 makes the shooting forth of the fig tree to be a sign of summer's approaching. When himself came hungry to that fig tree, Mat 21:19 he thought to have found something on it more than leaves only; for though the time of figs was not yet (that is, of ripe figs, Mar 11:13), yet grossuli, green figs, at least, he looked for, those untimely figs that she casteth when she is shaken by a mighty wind; Rev 6:13 his hunger would have made somewhat of them. It was at Bethphage (that house of green figs, as the word c signifieth), or near unto it, that he cursed this barren fig tree, Mark 11:1 ; Mar 11:13 and therefore cursed it, because it answered not his expectation. It behoves us, therefore, not only to make a flourish of goodly words, with Naphtali, but to be fruitful boughs, with Joseph, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God. Php 1:11 Joseph is a fruitful bough, Gen 49:22 that is, of the vine, saith the Chaldee paraphrast there. But it may be Jacob meant it of the Egyptian fig tree, whereof Solinus reporteth that it beareth fruit seven times a year. d Pull off one fig, and another presently puts forth. e Now, if the fig tree slack not her duty, but laboureth quickly to bring forth her firstfruit, that so again and again she may be more fruitful, how much more should we hasten the fruits of holiness, break off our sins, and be abrupt in our repentance, Dan 4:27 cut the cart ropes of vanity, and cast away the deeds of darkness, Rom 13:12 bring forth fruits meet for repentance, parallel to it and tantamount, such as were to be seen in the penitent thief that suffered with our Saviour? Aaron's rod was not sooner changed from a withered stick into a flourishing tree, than he was from a barren malefactor into a fruitful professor; for see what a deal of fruit he bears in an instant; he confesseth his own sin, rebuketh his companion, giveth a good testimony unto Christ, and prays that Christ would remember him when he came into his kingdom. This encouragement, among many others we have, that Christ will bless our very buds f Isa 44:3 - see the Geneva translation. He will taste of our green figs, of our tender grapes, which, if not yet of a good taste, yet because they give a good smell, as this text hath it, they are well resented. Christ, when he comes into his garden, takes all he finds well aworth. He "gathereth his myrrh with his spice; he eats not only of his honey, but of his honeycomb; and drinks not only of his wine, but of his milk." Son 5:1
a Post flores fructus. After thye flowers, the fruit.
b Lib. xvii. cap. 13.
c פג, grossus. Hinc ficus, et fig. Hinc puto Bethphage dictum quasi locum grossorum. - Mercer.
d Uno anno septies fructus sufficit.
e Unde pomum decerpseris alterum protuberat.
f Una minutula. - R. David.