Foraging, the act of searching for and gathering wild food resources, is a practice that can be traced back to biblical times. In the Scriptures, foraging is often depicted as a means of sustenance, particularly for the poor and those in need. The Bible provides several instances and laws that reflect the importance and practice of foraging within the context of ancient Israelite society.

Biblical Instances of Foraging:

1. Gleaning in the Fields:
The practice of gleaning is one of the most notable forms of foraging mentioned in the Bible. Gleaning allowed the poor and the foreigner to gather leftover crops from the fields after the harvest. This practice is rooted in the Mosaic Law, which commanded landowners to leave the edges of their fields unharvested and not to pick up what was dropped, so that the needy could gather food. Leviticus 19:9-10 states, "When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You must not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God."

2. Ruth and Boaz:
The Book of Ruth provides a poignant example of foraging through gleaning. Ruth, a Moabite widow, gleaned in the fields of Boaz to provide for herself and her mother-in-law, Naomi. Boaz, a man of noble character, ensured that Ruth was able to glean safely and abundantly. Ruth 2:2-3 recounts, "And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, 'Please let me go into the fields and glean heads of grain after someone in whose sight I may find favor.' 'Go ahead, my daughter,' Naomi replied. So Ruth departed and went out into the field and gleaned after the harvesters."

3. Provision in the Wilderness:
During the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, God provided manna, a miraculous food source, which the people gathered daily. This divine provision required the Israelites to forage for their sustenance each morning. Exodus 16:4 records, "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions.'"

4. Locusts and Wild Honey:
John the Baptist, a key figure in the New Testament, is described as living a life of simplicity and foraging in the wilderness. His diet consisted of locusts and wild honey, as noted in Matthew 3:4 : "John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey."

Theological and Social Implications:

Foraging, as depicted in the Bible, underscores themes of divine provision, community responsibility, and care for the marginalized. The laws concerning gleaning reflect God's concern for justice and compassion, ensuring that even the most vulnerable members of society have access to food. This practice also highlights the importance of stewardship and generosity among those who have been blessed with abundance.

In the broader biblical narrative, foraging serves as a reminder of humanity's dependence on God's creation and the sustenance it provides. It calls believers to recognize the value of the natural world and to act as caretakers of the resources entrusted to them.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Forage.

Of the Death of the Emperor Julian in Persia.
... A further proof of his incompetence was his failure to fulfil the duty of foraging
in all directions and providing his troops with supplies. ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter xx of the death of.htm

The Mutiny of 1857-58.
... were under native rulers; but they have been subjected to strict discipline, and
they have been cut off from the much-prized privilege of foraging, or rather ...
/.../life and work in benares and kumaon 1839-1877/chapter xvi the mutiny of.htm

Events During the War
... the Southern army. One time while he was out foraging, he went into a
Union woman's house and asked for a pie. Finding out that ...
/.../cole/trials and triumphs of faith/chapter iv events during the.htm

The Story of a Cup of Water
... While here, the Philistines came on a foraging expedition as far as Bethlehem, and
with so large a force that David and his few followers were shut up in their ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the story of a cup.htm

How Titus Gave Orders to Demolish the Tower of Antonia and Then ...
... some of their horsemen, when they went out to gather wood or hay, let their horses
feed without having their bridles on during the time of foraging; upon which ...
/.../chapter 2 how titus gave.htm

The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty --(Continued)
... We find in the Annals, in addition to the enumeration of the tributes, the mention
of the foraging arrangements which the chiefs were compelled to make for ...
/.../chapter ithe eighteenth theban dynastycontinued.htm

Waiting Only Upon God
... evil, for his trust was in God; and that though his neighbors, on the right hand
and on the left, had fled from their habitations, and by foraging parties had ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/waiting only upon god.htm

A Solemn Deprival
... You who are doubting, desponding, and cast down, do not get foraging up the mouldy
bread of yesterday, but go and get the manna which falls fresh today at the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 61 1915/a solemn deprival.htm

The First Theban Empire
... others less. Two small parties marched along the banks, and foraging to
the right and left, drove the booty down to the river. The ...
/.../chapter iiithe first theban empire.htm

Foraging (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Forage. Multi-Version
Concordance Foraging (1 Occurrence). Job 24:5 Behold, as wild ...
/f/foraging.htm - 6k

For (102061 Occurrences)

/f/for.htm - 9k

Shepherd (76 Occurrences)
... The flocks are not fed in pens or folds, but, summer and winter, must depend upon
foraging for their sustenance (Psalm 23:2). In the winter of 1910-11 an ...
/s/shepherd.htm - 42k

Warfare (18 Occurrences)
... such as the Philistines made into the Valley of Rephaim (1 Chronicles 14:9), the
foray, the object of which was plunder (2 Samuel 3:22), the foraging to secure ...
/w/warfare.htm - 34k

Forasmuch (64 Occurrences)

/f/forasmuch.htm - 28k

War (529 Occurrences)
... such as the Philistines made into the Valley of Rephaim (1 Chronicles 14:9), the
foray, the object of which was plunder (2 Samuel 3:22), the foraging to secure ...
/w/war.htm - 64k

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