Topical Encyclopedia Barley, a staple grain in ancient Israel, holds significant agricultural and economic importance in the biblical narrative. It is frequently mentioned in the context of offerings, trade, and sustenance. The valuation of barley by priests is particularly noteworthy in the context of vows and offerings, as outlined in the Mosaic Law.In Leviticus 27, the Bible provides specific instructions regarding the valuation of persons, animals, and property dedicated to the Lord. When a person made a vow involving the dedication of land, the value was estimated based on the amount of seed required to sow the land. Leviticus 27:16 states, "If a man consecrates to the LORD a parcel of his land, then your valuation shall be proportionate to the seed required for it—fifty shekels of silver for every homer of barley seed." This passage highlights the role of barley as a standard measure for determining the value of land dedicated to God. The priests, acting as mediators of the Law, were responsible for assessing this value. The use of barley as a unit of measure underscores its significance in the agrarian society of ancient Israel, where it was a primary crop alongside wheat. Barley was also used in the context of offerings. In Numbers 5:15 , the law concerning the jealousy offering specifies, "Then he is to bring his wife to the priest, and he must also bring an offering of a tenth of an ephah of barley flour on her behalf. He is not to pour oil over it or put frankincense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy, a reminder offering to draw attention to iniquity." Here, barley flour is used in a specific type of grain offering, indicating its role in religious rituals and its accessibility as a common grain. The valuation of barley by priests reflects its economic value and its role in religious observance. As a crop that was widely cultivated and consumed, barley served as a practical measure for assessing the worth of land and offerings. This practice illustrates the integration of agricultural life with religious duties, as the priests were tasked with ensuring that vows and dedications were fulfilled according to the standards set forth in the Law. In summary, barley's valuation by priests in the Bible is a testament to its importance in the daily and spiritual life of ancient Israel. It served as a measure for land dedication and was integral to various offerings, highlighting its dual role as both a staple food and a religious commodity. Nave's Topical Index Leviticus 27:16And if a man shall sanctify to the LORD some part of a field of his possession, then your estimation shall be according to the seed thereof: an homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver. Nave's Topical Index 2 Kings 7:1 Revelation 6:6 Library Pagan Shrines and Temples. The Nile and Egypt The Political Constitution of Egypt Sermons on Selected Lessons of the Gospels. The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty The Last Days of the Old Eastern World The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire Resources What can we learn from Jesus' feeding of the 5,000? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is a grain offering? | GotQuestions.org What is the significance of Egypt in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Barley: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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