In the previous blog post, we saw that the two rulers of Midian were captured and killed. Oreb was killed on the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb in the winepress of Zeeb. They were likely given these names after this event. Or might they have already borne these names as a foreshadowing of what was yet to come?
Judges 7
25 And they seized two of the rulers of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they killed in the winepress of Zeeb. And they pursued Midian. And they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon from beyond the Jordan.
Judgment
We saw earlier that the rock is a type of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4). The winepress speaks of the judgment that will come upon the nations. In the passage from Joel 3, which we quoted in the previous blog post, and which speaks of the judgment of the nations, the winepress is also mentioned.
Joel 3
12 The nations will be roused to go up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.
13 Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe! Come, tread, for the winepress is full; the vats overflow, for their sin is great.
14 Multitudes, multitudes, in the Valley of Decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the Valley of Decision.
winepress
The image of the Messiah coming to judge the nations and treading the winepress is a familiar one from the Hebrew prophets. Isaiah describes the Messiah as one coming from Edom, with garments sprinkled with blood, like one who has trodden the winepress. He has trampled the nations in His wrath (Isaiah 63:1-6).
Trampled
In prophecy, the winepress symbolizes the judgment of YAHWEH, in which the enemy nations are gathered like grapes and “treaded” by the Messiah. We also find this in passages in Revelation that speak of the Messiah coming to judge.
Revelation 14
18 And another messenger… cried with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.”
19 And the messenger thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vines of the earth, and threw them into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Revelation 19
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! And he who sat on him is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.
(…)
13 And he is clothed in garments dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God.
(…)
15 And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with a rod of iron, and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of God the Almighty.