Plant Metaphors in Prophetic Condemnations of Israel and Judah

Tina M. Sherman offers a first-of-its-kind, detailed analysis of prophetic passages that depict people as plants-from grasses and grains to fruit trees and grapevines-examining how the biblical authors exploited these metaphors to portray the condemnation and punishment of Israel and Judah in terms of the everyday work of crop farming and plant husbandry. Additionally, she illustrates how the prophetic authors employed plant imagery to construct national identities that emphasize the people's collective responsibility for the kingdoms' fate.