Hands in grain field

Agriculture in biblical times

Introduction

Tilling the ground (Genesis 2:15; 4:2-3, 12) and rearing cattle were the main employments in ancient times. The Egyptians excelled in agriculture. After the Israelites gained possession of the Promised Land, their circumstances were ideal for a remarkable development of this art. Agriculture became the basis of the Mosaic commonwealth.

The 6 months from the middle of Tisri to the middle of Nisan were occupied with the work of cultivation, and the rest of the year mainly with the gathering in of the fruits.

The extensive and easily-arranged system of irrigation from the rills and streams from the mountains made the soil in every part of Israel richly productive (Psalm 1:3; 65:10; Proverbs 21:1; Isaiah 30:25; 32:2, 20; Hosea 12:11), and careful cultivation and application of manure increased its fertility to such an extent that in the days of Solomon, when there was an abundant population, “20,000 measures of wheat year by year” were sent to Hiram in exchange for timber (1 Kings 5:11).

Wheat was also sent in large quantities to the Tyrians for the merchandise in which they traded (Ezek. 27:17). The wheat sometimes produced hundredfold (Genesis 26:12; Matthew 13:23).

Figs and pomegranates were very plentiful (Numbers 13:23), and grapes and olives grew luxuriantly and produced abundant fruit (Deuteronomy 33:24).

ALSO SEE

Rules

Year divided into 6 agricultural periods

  1. SOWING TIME

    Tisri, latter half (beginning about the autumnal equinox.)
    Marchesvan.
    Kisleu, former half.
    Early rain due = first showers of autumn.

  2. NOT YET RIPE TIME

    Kisleu, latter half.
    Tebet.
    Sebat, former half.

  3. COLD SEASON

    Sebat, latter half.
    Adar. [Veadar]
    Nisan, former half.
    Latter rain due (Deuteronomy 11:14; Jeremiah 5:24; Hos. 6:3; Zechariah 10:1; James 5:7; Job 29:23).

  4. HARVEST TIME

    Nisan, latter half (Beginning about vernal equinox. Barley green. Passover.)
    Ijar.
    Sivan, former half., Wheat ripe. Pentecost.

  5. SUMMER (total absence of rain)

    Sivan, latter half.
    Tammuz.
    Ab, former half.

  6. SULTRY SEASON

    Ab, latter half.
    Elul.
    Tisri, former half., harvesting of fruits.

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Agricultural implements and operations

PLOWING—The sculptured monuments and painted tombs of Egypt and Assyria throw much light on this subject, and on the general operations of agriculture.

Simple plows were known in the time of Moses (Deuteronomy 22:10; compare Job 1:14). They were light, and required great attention to keep them in the ground (Luke 9:62). They were drawn by oxen (Job 1:14), cows (1 Samuel 6:7), and asses (Isaiah 30:24); but an ox and an ass must not be yoked together in the same plow (Deuteronomy 22:10).

Men sometimes followed the plow with a hoe to break the clods (Isaiah 28:24). The oxen were urged on by a “goad,” or long staff pointed at the end, so that if occasion arose it could be used as a spear also (Judges 3:31; 1 Samuel 13:21).

SEEDING—When the soil was prepared, the seed was sown broadcast over the field (Matthew 13:3-8). The “harrow” mentioned in Job 39:10 was not used to cover the seeds, but to break the clods, being little more than a thick block of wood. In highly irrigated spots the seed was trampled in by cattle (Isaiah 32:20); but doubtless there was some kind of harrow also for covering in the seed scattered in the furrows of the field.

REAPING—The reaping of the grain was performed either by pulling it up by the roots, or cutting it with a type of sickle, according to circumstances. The grain when cut was generally put up in sheaves (Genesis 37:7; Leviticus 23:10-15; Ruth 2:7, 15; Job 24:10; Jeremiah 9:22; Micah 4:12), which were afterwards gathered to the threshing-floor or stored in barns (Matthew 6:26).

THRESHING—The process of threshing was performed generally by spreading the sheaves on the threshing-floor and causing oxen and cattle to walk repeatedly over them (Deuteronomy 25:4; Isaiah 28:28). On occasions flails or sticks were used for this purpose (Ruth 2:17; Isaiah 28:27). There was also a “threshing instrument” (Isaiah 41:15; Amos 1:3) which was drawn over the grain. The Hebrews called this moreg, a threshing roller or sledge (2 Samuel 24:22; 1 Chronicles 21:23; Isaiah 3:15). It was somewhat like the Roman tribulum, or threshing tool.

WINNOWING—When the grain was threshed, it was winnowed by being thrown up against the wind (Jeremiah 4:11), and afterwards tossed with wooden scoops (Isaiah 30:24). The shovel and the fan for winnowing are mentioned in Psalm 35:5, Job 21:18, Isaiah 17:13. The refuse of straw and chaff was burned (Isaiah 5:24).

Freed from impurities, the grain was then stored in granaries till used (Deuteronomy 28:8; Proverbs 3:10; Matthew 6:26; 13:30; Luke 12:18).

More information

Agricultural practices

Agricultural workers

Agricultural products

Article Version: May 10, 2019