in pomorum custodiam

                I was rather confused by the phrase “Posuerunt Hierusalem in pomorum custodiam”. I was not entirely sure what it means that Jerusalem was set under the guard of apple trees. The surrounding context obviously shows that this is a list of evil events, but it caught me off guard seeing the phrase about apple trees. I thought that perhaps this was reference to the tree of knowledge and original sin and that by placing the holy city under guard of this symbol of sin would indicate the harm being done to the city. It also seems weird with the aggression of the surrounding statements such as “polluerunt templum sanctum tuum” or “posuerunt…carnes sanctorum tuorum bestiis terrae.” Or perhaps it is an oblique reference to Hesperides and the garden that is guarded by the dragon. I wasn’t sure and I couldn’t really find much in the way of information. But the oddity of the line struck me.