In biblical times, mills were essential tools for daily life, primarily used for grinding grain into flour, a staple in the ancient diet. The process of milling was a common and necessary task, often carried out by women in the household. Mills are mentioned in various contexts throughout the Bible, highlighting their importance in both domestic and economic activities.

Types of Mills

1. Hand Mills: The most basic form of mill was the hand mill, which consisted of two stones. The lower stone, or "nether stone," was stationary, while the upper stone, or "rider," was turned by hand. This type of mill is referenced in several biblical passages. For example, in Exodus 11:5, the hand mill is mentioned in the context of the Egyptian plagues: "and every firstborn son in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the servant girl who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle."

2. Millstones: Millstones were large, heavy stones used in larger mills, often powered by animals. These stones are mentioned in the context of judgment and destruction. In Matthew 18:6, Jesus uses the imagery of a millstone to convey the severity of causing others to sin: "But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea."

Symbolism and Metaphors

Mills and millstones are used metaphorically in the Bible to convey various spiritual truths and judgments. In Revelation 18:21, the fall of Babylon is depicted with the imagery of a millstone: "Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying: 'With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be seen again.'"

Cultural and Economic Significance

Mills were not only vital for food production but also held economic significance. They were often communal, with villagers bringing their grain to a central location for milling. This communal aspect is reflected in the biblical narrative, where mills are sometimes associated with social and economic interactions.

In Deuteronomy 24:6, the law protects the livelihood of individuals by prohibiting the taking of millstones as a pledge: "Do not take a pair of millstones, or even the upper one, as security for a debt, because that would be taking a man's livelihood as security." This underscores the essential role mills played in sustaining life and the economy.

Judgment and Punishment

The imagery of mills and millstones is also used in the context of judgment and punishment. In Judges 16:21, Samson is captured by the Philistines and forced to grind grain in prison, symbolizing his downfall and humiliation: "Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes, and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison."

Conclusion

Mills in the Bible serve as a powerful symbol of daily sustenance, economic activity, and divine judgment. They reflect the agrarian lifestyle of ancient times and provide rich metaphors for understanding spiritual truths and moral teachings.

Mills
... Mills. Mills, Henry, a Presbyterian preacher and professor of theology,
was born at Morristown, NJ, March 12, 1786. He was educated ...
//christianbookshelf.org/nutter/hymn writers of the church/mills.htm

The Consistories of More Note: Out of the Babylonian Talmud ...
... A tradition; The sound of mills in Burni. The sons' week, the sons' week. A candle
in Beror Chel. ... That which follows, "A tradition, the sound of mills," &c. ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 96 the consistories of.htm

Shakers, or the United Society of Believers.
... Our privilege for mills is very small; consequently our machinery cannot be extensive. ...
We have three saw-mills, two grist-mills, and some other machinery. ...
/.../hayward/the book of religions/shakers or the united society.htm

Letter M
... Milligan, James P. "Received 1822, Located 1825 * Milligan, Moses A. "Received 1834 *
Milligan, Thomas "Received 1798, Located 1809 * Mills, Andrew C ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bangs/an alphabetical list of m e preachers/letter m.htm

Organized Beneficence.
... Samuel J. Mills came to Williams College in i8o6 from the parsonage of "Father Mills"
of Torringford, concerning whom quaint traditions and even memories still ...
/.../bacon/a history of american christianity/chapter xv organized beneficence.htm

Thankfulness to God.
... The air he makes use of also, it is his servant to turn the sails of his wind-mills,
to grind his corn, it fills out the sails of his ships to carry his ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/lxiii thankfulness to god.htm

Such is Our Doctrine of Punishment; and the Inculcation of this ...
... It is this: "The mills of the gods grind slowly." [4925] Another describes punishment
as reaching "to children's children, and to those who came after them ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen against celsus/chapter xl such is our.htm

Of Removing Tithes.
... Abrid.596. Mills."Tithes are payable of all mills not as ancient as 9 Ed.2. but
such ancient mills are discharged by articuli cleri, c.5.1 Gwill.130 in not. ...
/.../prideaux/directions to church-wardens/8 of removing tithes.htm

Note a the Following Extract of a Letter I Received from the Rev. ...
... His parents, I think, live east of Connecticut River ... We were then conducted
to the remains of Col. Mills, of the Albany volunteers. ...
/.../note a the following extract.htm

Drunkenness.
... By the help of God I will never spend another dime for drink.'" South Milwaukee
has five thousand inhabitants. Three large mills operate there. ...
/.../judy/questionable amusements and worthy substitutes/ii drunkenness.htm

Mills (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Mills (1 Occurrence). Numbers 11:8 The people
went around, gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat ...
/m/mills.htm - 6k

Mill (9 Occurrences)
... it as a handle. There were then no public mills, and thus each family required
to be provided with a hand-mill. The corn was ground ...
/m/mill.htm - 18k

Millstone (9 Occurrences)
... The same writer, however, describes some mills belonging to the 3rd and 4th Sere
periods which are much like the present rotary quern, except smaller (4 inches ...
/m/millstone.htm - 15k

Zoroastrianism
... The Avesta is in SBE, IV, 23, 31, but the Gathas are best studied in LH Mills, The
Gathas of Zarathushtra (1900); Pahlavi texts in SBE, V, 18, 24, 37, 47. ...
/z/zoroastrianism.htm - 17k

Millo (9 Occurrences)

/m/millo.htm - 14k

Hand-mills (1 Occurrence)
Hand-mills. Hand-mill, Hand-mills. Hand-mirrors . Multi-Version
Concordance Hand-mills (1 Occurrence). Numbers 11:8 ...
/h/hand-mills.htm - 6k

Olive (61 Occurrences)
... It is an old custom to tread them by foot (Micah 6:15). 3. Olive Oil: Oil is obtained
on a larger scale in one of the many varieties of oil mills. ...
/o/olive.htm - 37k

Samaritan (8 Occurrences)
... examined. Dr. Mills, who spent three months in the Samaritan community, was
able to make a careful though interrupted study of it. His ...
/s/samaritan.htm - 42k

Oil-cakes (1 Occurrence)
... Numbers 11:8 The people went about, and gathered it, and ground it with hand-mills,
or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it; and the ...
/o/oil-cakes.htm - 6k

Land (19790 Occurrences)
... a conduit cut in the rock. It was used to drive certain mills, and also to
refresh the neighboring land. This seems to be the fountain ...
/l/land.htm - 21k

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