TheOne writes:
Isaiah says that the "friut" will fill the world, not Jews.
Is this how you believe the ancient Israelites interpreted Isaiah 27? Not that their descendents would fill the world, not that they would become the world's fruit merchants, but that their ideas and philosophy would fill the world? I don't think they interpreted this passage that way. And of what value is a prophecy whose meaning isn't understood except with hindsight. In fact, vagueness is a necessity with prophecy. The best prophecy is that which is correct no matter what happens.
If you read all of Isaiah 27, including the song beginning at 27:2, it is clear that a metaphor is in use:
Isaiah 27:2-3 writes:
In that day--
"Sing about a fruitful vineyard;
I, the Lord, watch over it;
I water it continually.
I guard it day and night
so that no one may harm it.
etc...
This song is immediately followed by Isaiah 27:6:
In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit.
Clearly fruit is a metaphor for progeny, and certainly the ancient Israelites would have interpreted it that way.
--Percy