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Tilling the ground (GenI. SOWING TIME. 2[[Text:15; 4EBD:2Tisri|Tisri]], 3, 12) and rearing cattle were latter half (beginning about the chief employments in ancient timesautumnal equinox. The Egyptians excelled in agriculture) Marchesvan. And after the Israelites entered into the possession of the Promised LandKisleu, their circumstances favoured in the highest degree a remarkable development of this artformer half. Agriculture became indeed the basis Early rain due = first showers of the Mosaic commonwealthautumn.

The year in Palestine was divided into six agricultural periodsII. UNRIPE TIME. Kisleu, latter half. Tebet. [[Text:-EBD:Sebat|Sebat]], former half.

IIII. SOWING TIMECOLD SEASON. TisriSebat, latter half (beginning about the autumnal equinox.) Marchesvan[[Text:EBD:Adar|Adar]]. [Veadar. Kisleu] Nisan, former half. Early Latter rain due = first showers of autumn(Deut. 11:14; Jer. 5:24; Hos. 6:3; Zech. 10:1; James 5:7; Job 29:23).

IIIV. UNRIPE HARVEST TIME. KisleuNisan, latter half. Tebet(Beginning about vernal equinox. SebatBarley green. [[Text:EBD:Passover|Passover]].) Ijar. [[Text:EBD:Sivan|Sivan]], former half., Wheat ripe. [[Text:EBD:Pentecost|Pentecost]].

IIIV. COLD SEASON. SebatSUMMER (total absence of rain) Sivan, latter half. Adar. [Veadar[Text:EBD:Tammuz|Tammuz]].] NisanAb, former half. Latter rain due (Deut. 11:14; Jer. 5:24; Hos. 6:3; Zech. 10:1; James 5:7; Job 29:23).

IVVI. HARVEST TIME. NisanSULTRY SEASON Ab, latter half. (Beginning about vernal equinox[[Text:EBD:Elul|Elul]]. Barley green. Passover.) Ijar. SivanTisri, former half., Wheat ripe. PentecostIngathering of fruits.

V. SUMMER (total absence of rain) Sivan, latter half. Tammuz. Ab, former half. VI. SULTRY SEASON Ab, latter half. Elul. Tisri, former half., Ingathering of fruits. The six [[Text:EBD:Month|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 Palestine richly productive (Ps. 1:3; 65:10; Prov. 21:1; Isa. 30:25; 32:2, 20; Hos. 12:11), and the appliances of careful cultivation and of manure increased its fertility to such an extent that in the days of [[Text:EBD:Solomon|Solomon]], when there was an abundant population, "20,000 measures of wheat year by year" were sent to [[Text:EBD:Hiram |Hiram]] in exchange for timber (1 Kings 5:11), and in large quantities also wheat was sent to the Tyrians Tyrian for the merchandise in which they traded (Ezek. 27:17). The wheat sometimes produced an hundredfold (Gen. 26:12; Matt. 13:23). [[Text:EBD:Fig|Figs ]] and [[Text:EBD:Pomegranate|pomegranates ]] were very plentiful (Num. 13:23), and the [[Text:EBD:Vine|vine ]] and the [[Text:EBD:Olive|olive ]] grew luxuriantly and produced abundant [[Text:EBD:Fruit|fruit ]] (Deut. 33:24).

It was forbidden to sow a [[Text:EBD:Field|field ]] with divers seeds (Deut. 22:9). A passer-by was at liberty to eat any quantity of [[Text:EBD:Corn|corn ]] or [[Text:EBD:Grape|grapes]], but he was not permitted to carry away any (Deut. 23:24, 25; Matt. 12:1). The [[Text:EBD:Poor|poor ]] were permitted to claim the corners of the fields and the [[Text:EBD:Glean|gleanings]]. A forgotten sheaf in the field was to be left also for the poor. (See Lev. 19:9, 10; Deut. 24:19.)

The sculptured monuments and painted [[Text:EBD:Tombs|tombs ]] of [[Text:EBD:Egypt|Egypt ]] and [[Text:EBD:Assyria |Assyria]] throw much light on this subject, and on the general operations of agriculture. [[Text:EBD:Plough|Ploughs ]] of a simple construction were known in the time of [[Text:EBD:Moses |Moses]] (Deut. 22:10; comp. Job 1:14). They were very light, and required great attention to keep them in the ground (Luke 9:62). They were drawn by oxen (Job 1:14), [[Text:EBD:Cow|cows ]] (1 Sam. 6:7), and asses (Isa. 30:24); but an [[Text:EBD:Ox|ox ]] and an [[Text:EBD:Ass|ass ]] must not be yoked together in the same plough (Deut. 22:10). [[Text:EBD:Man|Men ]] sometimes followed the plough with a hoe to break the clods (Isa. 28:24). The oxen were urged on by a "[[Text:EBD:Ox goad|goad]]," or long staff pointed at the end, so that if occasion arose it could be used as a spear also (Judg. 3:31; 1 Sam. 13:21). When the soil was prepared, the seed was sown broadcast over the field (Matt. 13:3-8). The "[[Text:EBD:Harrow|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 (Isa. 32:20); but doubtless there was some kind of harrow also for covering in the seed scattered in the furrows of the field.

When The reaping of the soil corn was preparedperformed either by pulling it up by the roots, the seed or cutting it with a species of [[Text:EBD:Sickle|sickle]], according to circumstances. The corn when cut was sown broadcast over the field generally put up in sheaves (MattGen. 37:7; Lev. 1323:310-8). The "harrow" mentioned in 15; Ruth 2:7, 15; Job 3924:10 was not used to cover the seeds; Jer. 9:22; Micah 4:12), but which were afterwards gathered to break the clods, being little more than a thick block of wood. In highly irrigated spots the seed was trampled [[Text:EBD:Threshing|threshing]]-floor or stored in by cattle [[Text:EBD:Barn|barns]] (IsaMatt. 326:2026); but doubtless there was some kind of harrow also for covering in the seed scattered in the furrows of the field.

The reaping process of the corn threshing was performed either by pulling it up generally by spreading the sheaves on the roots, or cutting it with a species of sickle, according threshing-floor and causing oxen and cattle to circumstances. The corn when cut was generally put up in sheaves tread repeatedly over them (GenDeut. 3725:74; LevIsa. 2328:10-15; 28). On occasions flails or sticks were used for this purpose (Ruth 2:7, 1517; Job 24Isa. 28:10; Jer27). There was also a "threshing instrument" (Isa. 941:2215; Micah 4Amos 1:123), which were afterwards gathered to was drawn over the corn. It was called by the [[Text:EBD:Hebrew|Hebrews]] a moreg, a threshing-floor roller or stored in barns sledge (Matt2 Sam. 24:22; 1 Chr. 621:2623; Isa. 3:15). It was somewhat like the Roman tribulum, or threshing instrument.

The process of threshing When the [[Text:EBD:Grain|grain]] was threshed, it was performed generally [[Text:EBD:Winnow|winnowed]] by spreading being thrown up against the sheaves on the threshing-floor and causing oxen and cattle to tread repeatedly over them wind (DeutJer. 254:4; 11), and afterwards tossed with wooden scoops (Isa. 2830:2824). On occasions flails or sticks were used The shovel and the [[Text:EBD:Fan|fan]] for this purpose (Ruth 2winnowing are mentioned in Ps. 35:5, Job 21:17; 18, Isa. 2817:27)13. There The refuse of [[Text:EBD:Straw|straw]] and [[Text:EBD:Chaff|chaff]] was also a "threshing instrument" burned (Isa. 415:15; Amos 1:324) which was drawn over . Freed from impurities, the corn. It grain was called by the Hebrews a moreg, a threshing roller or sledge then laid up in granaries till used (2 SamDeut. 2428:228; 1 ChrProv. 213:2310; IsaMatt. 36:26; 13:30; Luke 12:1518). It was somewhat like the Roman tribulum, or threshing instrument.

When the grain was threshed, it was winnowed by being thrown up against the wind (Jer. 4:11), and afterwards tossed with wooden scoops (Isa. 30:24). The shovel and the fan for winnowing are mentioned in Ps. 35:5, Job 21:18, Isa. 17:13. The refuse of straw and chaff was burned (Isa. 5:24). Freed from impurities, the grain was then laid up in granaries till used (Deut. 28:8; Prov. 3:10; Matt. 6:26; 13:30; Luke 12:18). {{returnto}} [[Easton's Bible Dictionary]]