|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE
THROUGH UNDERSTANDING THE CUSTOMS AND CULTURE OF BIBLE TIMES Class #7 FARMING IN BIBLE TIMES By Don LaRose Copyright (C) 2011 All Rights Reserved In this session we are going to look at farming in Bible times; specifically the growing of grain, the tending of vineyards and the raising and harvesting of olive orchards. Moses, in his writings, made many references to the fact that once the Israelites would occupy the Promised Land, they would become an agricultural people. In addition, God said He would prosper their crops if they obeyed Him; and would withhold the rain if they departed from God's way. THE GROWING AND HARVESTING OF GRAINS In the Bible we read of "the early and the latter rains" in the Holy Land. The early rains come in October and November. The latter rains come in the winter. Psalm 65 (a Psalm of David), David writes, "Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly; thou settlest the furrows thereof; thou makest it soft with showers; that blessest the springing thereof" (verse 10). He is speaking of the fact that the farmer cannot plow until the ground is softened by the early rains. When God withheld the rains in judgment, the Prophet Jeremiah described it this way: "There was no rain in the earth, the ploughmen were ashamed, they covered their heads" (Jeremiah 14:4). The body of the plow was made of wood and was pulled by work animals (oxen most often, occasionally a cow or mule; but almost never by a horse). The tip of the plow was made of iron. Yes, there was iron in those days; and iron ore was found in southern Israel near the arm of the Red Sea known as the Gulf of Aqaba. Plowing was very difficult work, and each time across the field would dig a furrow only about four to six inches wide. It is interesting to note that the Prophet Joel says that ploughshares will be beat into swords; while the Prophets Isaiah and Micah, both referring to the time Messiah will reign over the entire earth, speak of just the opposite - swords being beaten into ploughshares. In order to plow, the farmer must first put the work animals (normally oxen in Bible times) in the yoke. The biblical "yoke" was made of wood, although a wealthy farmer might have parts of the yoke made of iron. The yoke was used for two purposes. First, the yoke would connect the animals to the piece of farm equipment they were pulling. Second, it would insure that the animals would work together and remain under control. Jesus told His disciples, "My yoke is easy..." Jesus indicated that all people are yoked. There are two yokes. Either you are in Jesus' yoke; or the yoke of the Prince of this World (Satan). The Apostle Paul used the picture of the farmer with his animals yoked together, to speak of our relationships with people who are not followers of the Lord Jesus. He wrote, "Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers." Most people believe Paul was referring to marriage. He certainly was; but the implications of his statement go much farther, including any kind of legal relationship such as business partnerships and more. The next thing the farmer uses, which we want to consider, is "the goad." The biblical goad was a wooden rod five to seven feet in length, with a sharp point at one end. The farmer would use the goad to make the oxen decide that they wanted to move forward, pulling their load behind them. Notice, the goad did not make them go. It simply made them willing to go. When they would feel the point of the goad on their rear quarters, they would step forward with the idea that they would step beyond the reach of the goad. As long as they moved forward, there was no need for the farmer to "goad them on." There are several references to the goad in the Bible. In Judges 3:31, the third judge of Israel (Shamgar), is said to have slain 600 Philistines with an oxgoad, thereby delivering Israel from the control and oppression of the Philistines who had conquered them. In Acts 26, Paul is standing before King Agrippa, giving the testimony as to how he became a follower of "The Way." In verses 13 and 14 he tells of traveling the road to Damascus to arrest Christians and bring them back to Jerusalem for trail before the Sanhedrin. He told the King that at midday, "...a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun shown round about me and them who journied with me. And when we were fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goads." In this passage Paul (Shaul in Hebrew) says that the convicting power of the Holy Spirit is like the farmer's goad; pricking us on to do what He (the Lord) wants us to do. In Paul's case, that was to see that Jesus was and is the promised and long awaited Messiah of Israel. The oxen had two choices: they could move forward, and end the goading; or they could kick and buck, making themselves miserable and increasing those pesky pricks from the goad. The farmer also had to plant the seed if he expected a harvest. Jesus used the illustration of the farmer sowing seed often in His parables. In the Bible (especially the King James Version) we read the word "corn," or in several cases "a corn of wheat." We must first understand that in Bible times there was no such thing as the kind of corn we understand today. They knew nothing of tall stalks which grew large cobs which had to be shucked to get to the kernels inside, which then had to be stripped from the cob. The Europeans first discovered our kind of corn when they came to the New World, and were introduced to it by the Indians. There were primarily two types of grain in Bible times. There was wheat and barley. In addition, there is one Old Testament reference to millet; and one reference to "rye" which is translated "spelt" in some translations. In Bible times people of moderate to much wealth ate wheat. Poor to moderate income people ate barley. In Israel the grain most consumed changed from generation to generation as God allowed the people to be overpowered by their enemies because of their failure to follow Him as He had commanded. In such times they were only able to afford the poorman's grain - barley. Also, barley was used for determining the beginning of the religious New Year in the Bible. The biblical month was just 30 days long. That meant a year with just 360 days in it. How did God arrange for the extra 5-1/4 days? An offical barley field on the side of the Mount of Olives, across the Kidron Valley from Jerusalem determined the need for a 13th month. If, at the end of 12 months, the barley was not yet ripe (Aviv), that triggered a 13th month of 30 days. If, at the end of 12 months the barley was ripe and ready to harvest, there was no leap month. By the way, the first month on the religious calendar was Aviv, meaning "ripe." After planting the seed, the farmer then had to depend on the rain to see his crop come to fulfillment. Frequently in the Old Testament we read of "the early and the latter rains." Only one time do we read of "the winter rains." That one mention is found in Joel 2:23, where the early and the latter rains are also mentioned. The Early rains came in October and November. This is the time that the soil was softened so the plows could break it up so it could be planted. The winter rains came in December, January and February, and helped the plants to grow. Then the latter rains came in March and April, which would bring the crop to full maturity. Harvest would take place, with the first fruits offering made in the Temple from shocks of barley harvested from that official barley field on the side of the Mount of Olives. Christians remember that it was on the day of Firstfruits that Jesus rose from the grave, becoming, as the Apostle Paul put it, "our first fruits" offering. Grain has been handled the same way all through history up until recent generations when equipment was invented to do the entire process at one time. The grain would be gathered into bundles, cut and then tied into what were called "sheaves." Those sheaves were then transported from the field to the threshing floor. The threshing floor would be a level, hard surfaced area (many times a large flat rock), where oxen would be tethered to the center. The sheaves would be spread over the threshing floor. Then the oxen would pull a flat-bottomed sled, with the farmer standing on it, around the floor to separate the grain from the stalk and the chaff. When this was done, the farmer then had to winnow the grain. That involved using a wooden pitchfork to throw the stalk and chaff into the air on a windy day. The wind would blow the chaff away. The heavier grain would fall back on to the threshing floor, where it would be gathered and taken to be ground into flour and later baked into bread and cakes. In Ruth 3:2, Naomi tells Ruth to go to Boaz's threshing floor for, "Behold, he winnoweth barley tonight in the threshing floor." In Judges chapter 6 we have the beginning of the ususual story of Gideon, one of Israel's judges. Because of sin among the people of Israel, God had allowed the Midianites to conquer Israel, and Israel was brought to proverty. At the time God came to Gideon to call him to service, Gideon was winnowing wheat, not at a normal place, high and windy; but at a hidden place (at a winepress) where the Midianites would not spot him and take his grain. That made the job of winnowing much more difficult. In Jeremiah 15, God says that the people of Israel have "forsaken" him. He says He will "stretch out His hand against them," and will "winnow them with a fan in the gates of the land." The fan of God was designed to blow with such force it would drive away all that had moved His people away from Him, and leave only the bare grain. In Matthew 3 and in Luke 3, John the Baptist is chiding the Pharisees of his day for their insincerity. He speaks of One who will come and baptize His followers with the Holy Spirit and with fire (fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost). But John the Baptist goes on to liken judgment to the farmer separating the grain from the chaff on a threshing floor. He says that His (the Messiah's) "...fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor (His threshing floor), and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Here again we have the use of a "fan" in God's hand to accomplish the threshing process. This is not ordinary threshing. This is violent threshing - forced threshing. Notice that this threshing violently blows off the impure; but preserves the pure and the holy. Next the grain is scooped up from the threshing floor and taken to the women, who will sift it. There is still a small amount of chaff, stones and weed seeds mixed with the grain. They shake the sieve, removing anything impure. Do you remember what Jesus told Simon Peter after Peter had told the Master that he would die with Him rather than deny Him? Jesus said, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" (Luke 22:31). Once the grain has been purified, it is time to grind it. Normally this was done on the patio (the open central living area, behind the walls of the home). Once ground into flour, it was then ready to be baked into bread. THE RAISING AND CARE OF VINEYARDS Both the Old Testament Prophet Isaiah, and the Lord Jesus gave interesting descriptions of vineyards. Taken together, they give us an accurate picture of vineyards as they were in Bible times. Isaiah had a vision of the coming kingdom when Messiah would rule the earth from Jerusalem. Isaiah describes the kingdom from Israel's point of view, saying, "My well beloved had a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: and he digged it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also hewed out a winepress therein" (Isaiah 5:1-2). There is much more to the vision which begins in chapter 4. Jesus told a parable, in which He said, "There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard...and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: and when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that he mght receive the fruits of it" (Matthew 21:33-34). Notice eight interesting facts given in these verses: * The vineyards were located on a hillside. * A hedge or a fence was built around them. * The soil was cultivated by hoeing or spading. * Large stones were removed from the vineyard (often used in the fence). * Choice vines were planted. * A watchtower was built in the middle of the vineyard. * A winepress would be constructed in the vineyard. * Vineyards were often rented out to sharecroppers. There were two areas in Israel which were especially conducive to vineyards. In the south of Israel, around the Hebron area, there were many hillsides; and this was a big grape growing area long before the time that Israel left Egypt for the Promised Land. It was to this area that Moses sent the twelve spies. Remember the report? They brought back bunches of grapes so large they had to be carried on poles stretched between the shoulders of two men. The fact is that this area produced bunches of grapes that weighed in at over twenty pounds each. The other area was in the north part of Israel in the foothills of Lebanon and in the Golan Heights. More traditional types of grapes were grown in this area. Raising and marketing grapes was a labor-intensive occupation. King Solomon tells the Parable of the Sluggard: "I went by the field of the slothful, man and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down" (Proverbs 24:30-31). The sluggard failed to keep the wall in good repair; and he failed to keep the thorns and the weeds out of the vineyard. The result: few grapes of poor quality. Pruning of the vineyard was also required for a bountiful harvest. During the coldest months of the year, the superficial branches had to be removed. The branches closest to the vine produce the most and the best fruit. Jesus knew this when He used the illustration of the Vine and the Branches. He taught, "I am the real vine, and my Father is the cultivator. He cuts away any branch on me that stops bearing fruit, and He repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more. You are already pruned because of the teaching that I have given you" (John 15:1-3). At the end of the growing season comes the harvest. In September, the family moves out of town and camps out in their vineyard. They live in tents and lean-to's. They gather the bunches of grapes into large baskets. It is a happy time, with singing and great joy echoing across the hillsides. Isaiah used this well-known phenomenom to describe what it would be like when predicting God's hand of judgment coming upon the land because of sin. One of the descriptions he uses is that there will be no more "singing in the vineyards" (Isaiah 16:10). Next we want to look at some of the products that came from grapes during Bible times. This was a family business from the planting of the grapes to the production of the final product. Let's begin with the fresh grapes. They were eaten with bread as one of the principle foods during September and October. The remaining grapes were then put in sun dryers on a relatively level part of the vineyard. The result: raisins. The raisins would then be sprinkled with olive oil to keep the skin moist, and they would be stored for the winter. Under the Law of Moses, passersby, walking along the path next to the vineyard, were allowed to reach over the wall and grab a handful of grapes to eat as they walked along the road. But they were not allowed to take any more than they planned to eat in a short distance (Deuteronomy 23:24). Abigail brought David 100 clusters of raisins when he was hiding from Saul (I Samuel 25:18). Raisins were brought to David at Hebron in I Chronicles 12:40. And, again, late in David's life, as he was fleeing from his son Absalom, raisins were brought to him to eat (II Samuel 16:1). Another product from grapes was a grape syrup called "dibs." Dibs was obtained by boiling grape juice into a thick molasses type substance that was eaten with bread; or you could drink it with water. Jacob, when sending his sons to Egypt to get food during the famine, sent a gift of dibs to Joseph, the next in line under Pharaoh (Genesis 43:11). Three hundred pounds of grapes would boil down to about 100 pounds of dibs. The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, frequently uses the winepress as an example to teach spiritual lessons. The oriental winepress was hewn out of a fairly large rock. It had two depressions cut out: a large one higher up in the rock, and a smaller one at the bottom. The grapes would be put in the big depression and family members would trample on the grapes with their bare feet to squeeze out the juice. The juice would flow from the large depression, into the smaller depression at the bottom of the press. Treading the grapes was accompanied by shouts and the singing of songs of happiness. God uses the winepress as an illustration of His judgment. Isaiah 62 tells of the restoration of Israel at the end of the age. Then God goes on to tell of His judgment upon the nations which have opposed His elect. "I have trodden the winepress alone, and of the peoples there was none with me; for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come" (Isaiah 63:3-4). Similar wording about the same event is found in the last book of the New Testament. "And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; and his name is called The Word of God... And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the naions, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God" (Revelation 19:13 & 15). One last thought about vineyards before moving on: vineyards were often rented out to sharecroppers. In exchange for tending the vineyard, a family could keep half (and often less than half: 30% to 40%) of the crop. The owner would send servants at harvest time to collect his share of the grapes. In Matthew 21, Jesus told The Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen. In this case, the vineyard was a very large vineyard which the owner had let out to multiple families. However, most family vineyards were relatively small (one acre or less in size). OLIVE AND FIG TREE FARMING We'll begin with olive trees. Moses told Israel that the Promised Land was a land of olive trees (Deuteronomy 6:11). Olive trees play a huge part in the history of the land. Consider some of the characteristics of olive trees: * It takes seven years before the first crop is harvested. * It is 14 years before a full crop develops. * After that there is a full crop every other year. * A full crop would produce enough for about 20 gallons of olive oil. * Harvest comes in October. * An olive tree produces for many centuries. * Many shoots come out of one root. * The tree produces an unusual number of blossoms, but many fall without producing any fruit. In the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed, and where He was arrested, many of those olive trees have been there for over 1,000 years. Several have been there since several hundred years before the time of Christ; meaning that they were there when Jesus walked and prayed in the garden. We also noted that many shoots come out from one root. The Psalmist likened that to "Thy children like olive plants round about thy table" (Psalm 128:3). There are two kinds of olive trees spoken of in the Bible: the wild olive, and the domesticated olive tree. In the Bible, the wild olive tree is likened to the Gentile (non-Jewish) nations. The domesticated olive tree represents God's chosen people - Israel. The Bible speaks of cutting down the wild olive trees. However, it is possible to graft a domesticated olive branch into a wild olive root. On the other hand, it is impossible to successfully graft a wild olive branch into a domesticated olive tree. That is what makes the Apostle Paul's comments in Romans 11 so interesting. Paul says, in verse 24, that Messiah's sacrifice of Himself on the Tree of Sacrifice has made it possible for God to graft believing Gentiles (wild olive trees) into His chosen people (domesticated olive trees), in opposition to nature. It is a miracle. In other words, God grafts wild branches (gentiles) into good stock (the righteous of Israel). Paul calls this "a mystery." It is a mystery for at least two reasons: (1) It is against nature (wild into good), so it takes a miracle of God; and (2) It is incomprehensible; our minds can not logically process the subject because it is based in God's infinity and eternity; and we can't think on that level. Today, we would never think of harvesting the olive trees in the manner used in Bible times. They would beat the branches with sticks to make the olives fall to the ground. This beating would damage the branches and was partly responsible for the much smaller crop the following year. If that was true, why didn't they just get up in the trees and pick the olives? Why not change? Tradition is very hard to change. You know, and have certainly heard, "We've always done it that way!" Olive trees were beaten as far back as the time of Moses. For Moses wrote in the Law, "When thou beatest thine olive tree thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow" (Deuteronomy 24:20). There was no welfare system back in Bible times; or was there? Yes there was! God made provision in the Law for taking care of the poor through "gleaning." That is, when you harvested a field, a vineyard, or the fruit on trees, you were required to leave some for the poor to harvest after the family or workmen had left the area. But notice, it wasn't given to them. They had to work for it. They had to go out and harvest what had been left for them. Olives were used in a variety of ways. They were eaten raw (in season), dried, pickled, and frequently were eaten along with bread. Workmen usually brought olives to work with them. The largest portion of the olive crop, however, was used to make olive oil. Stone olive presses have been found throughout the Middle East in the ruins of ancient communities. The presses are similar to the grape presses, except that they are much smaller. A large olive holding bowl is carved in the top of the stone; with a narrow furrow connecting it to a catching bowl near the bottom of the rock. A pressing stone would fit in the top bowl to put pressure on the olives. It was connected to a lever system with three different weights. The first weight would press lightly and produce the very best oil used to fuel lights in the Temple and as anointing oil. The second weight would be added to squeeze oil for use in lighting their homes. Then the final, heavy weight, would be added to squeeze out the rest of the oil used in cooking. Most Christians are familiar with "The Garden of Gethsemane." It was the garden just across the Kidron Valley from the City of Jerusalem. It was located on the side of the Mount of Olives. It was here that Jesus frequently went to pray, and where He was praying the night He was arrested just before His crucifixion. The name "Gethsemane" means Olive Press. Prior to the time of Jesus, more primitive olive presses were larger, and people would tread the oil out of the olives just as they did the grapes. However, over the centuries the process became somewhat modernized. We see the older version of the olive press in the Prophet Micah 6:15, where the prophet is warning of destruction to come because the people of the northern ten tribes (Israel) had departed from the God of their fathers, and were worshiping and serving the idol gods of their neighbors. Micah predicts, in a series of picture sentences, "Thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil." In other words, they will harvest the olives; they will press the oil; but they will not live to use it because of God's impending judgment. It is interesting to note how olive oil was used in Bible times. Olive oil was considered as a source of wealth. It was frequently used as payment for services or other products. Solomon paid Hiram 20,000 bathes of oil each year in return for the cedars of Lebanon used in the construction of his palace and the Temple (I Kings 5). One bathe was equal to 7-1/2 gallons, or a total of 150,000 gallons of olive oil that Solomon sent to King Hiram. Ezekiel and Hosea also indicate that olive oil was exported. It was used in cooking. It was made into a butter-like spread. It was used as fuel for lamps, and manufactured into soap. It was also used for anointing at religious ceremonies, anointing the sick, and, according to Ruth 3:3 it was used for health and cleansing. The olive tree is used as a symbol of peace in Genesis 8:11, where the dove brought an olive branch back to Noah as the flood was subsiding. In the New Testament olive oil is used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. In Deuteronomy 8:8 it is used as a symbol of abundance; and in Joel 1:10 the lack of olives and olive oil was used as a symbol of want and poverty. Another type of orchard farming in Bible times was the raising of fig trees. There were three types of figs: early figs (large figs ripening in July), a summer variety (coming in August); and winter figs (ready for harvest in late fall). In the Bible, fig trees were used in determining the seasons. Jesus, in telling the Parable of the fig tree, said, "...when his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh" (Matthew 24:32 & Mark 13:28). Jesus frequently referred to the fig tree in His teaching. In Mark chapter 11 He does something which at first reading might seem inexplicable. "And seeing a fig tree afar off, having leaves, He came, if perhaps He might find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves..." (Mark 11:13). Because the tree lacked fruit, Jesus condemned it, and some time later when they passed that way again, the disciples noted that the tree had withered and died. The fig tree is unique in that the leaves and the fruit develop at the same time. But here was a tree that had developed leaves, but no figs. It was only a pretender. Jesus likened fruitless fig trees to the Pharisees who professed to be religious but they had no fruit. Jesus called them hypocrites. Jesus told the Parable of the Barron Fig Tree. "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: and if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down" (Luke 13:6-9). Again, Jesus is talking about the Pharisees, and the religious hierarchy in Jerusalem that was not producing fruit. We wind up this particular portion of our study by noting that one of the Old Testament prophets used the fig tree as a symbom of peace during the still future millennial rule of Messiah on earth. The Prophet Micah prophesied, "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid" (Micah 4:3-4). Grains, grapes and orchards were all part of the lives of Bible time characters after the Jewish people left Egypt, spent forty years in the wilderness, and then entered the Promised Land. It was mainly an agricultural society. However, as time passed, various trades and professions developed; and that will be our subject in our next session. _____________________________ New Study Manual Now Available... Understanding the Bible By Understanding The Culture & Customs of Bible Times * Over 200 pages * 27 chapters * Illustrative drawings * Photos from the Holy Land * And much more Great for Bible Study groups, Sunday School classes, etc. Each chapter ends with "Review Questions," "Things to Remember" and "What Does This Mean to Me?" Send $12.95 plus $4.00 shipping and handling to: Don LaRose P. O. Box 95 Centerton, AR 72712 Order 7 or more books (one, or mixted titles from any page on this website) and take a 10% discount. One $4.00 S & H covers all books ordered at the same time. It is our purpose to get these books into the hands of as many people as will benefit from them. If you are unable to afford the cost of these books, please let us know. We trust the Lord to make up thecost of your books through gifts from God's children. _____________________________ Click here to continue on to Class #8 Click here to return to Home Page _________________________________________________________________ |
|||
 |
|||
| Site Map |