Lexical Summary macharesheth: Plowshare, tool for plowing Original Word: מַחֲרֶשֶׁת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance share From charash; probably a hoe -- share. see HEBREW charash NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe same as machareshah, q.v. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence The noun מַחֲרֶשֶׁת appears once, in 1 Samuel 13:20, where Saul’s subjects must descend to Philistine territory “to sharpen his plowshare, mattock, axe, or sickle” (Berean Standard Bible). The scene unfolds in the days before Israel’s confrontation with the Philistines at Michmash, highlighting both agricultural routine and national vulnerability. Historical and Cultural Context Ironworking remained in the hands of the Philistines, a deliberate policy to prevent Israel from forging weapons (1 Samuel 13:19). The Philistines’ technological edge paralyzed Israel’s military capacity; farmers’ implements became the sole objects of legal ironcraft. מַחֲרֶשֶׁת therefore symbolizes more than a common farm tool—it represents dependence on a hostile power and the suppression of Israel’s self-defense. Agricultural Significance Plowing lies at the heart of subsistence farming in the hill country. A dull plowshare means shallow furrows, poor seed-bed preparation, and meager harvests. Ancient farmers periodically filed the cutting edge on whetstones or at professional Smithies. The biblical reference assumes a cyclical need for maintenance, situating מַחֲרֶשֶׁת within the normal rhythms of sowing and reaping (compare Proverbs 20:4). Military and Political Dimensions The Philistines’ monopoly over iron points to a calculated strategy of domination. By regulating the sharpening of tools, they could monitor movement, collect fees (1 Samuel 13:21), and detect clandestine weapon production. Thus the humble plowshare becomes freighted with military overtones. Only when the Philistine garrison is routed by Saul and Jonathan (1 Samuel 14) does Israel regain limited autonomy in arms production. Theological Insights 1. Discipline and Dependence: The need to seek help from enemies underlines Israel’s chastening; self-reliance in disobedience leads to bondage (Deuteronomy 28:48). Prophetic Echoes Though מַחֲרֶשֶׁת itself occurs only in 1 Samuel 13:20, the motif of the plowshare resurfaces in the promise of eschatological peace: “They will beat their swords into plowshares” (Micah 4:3; Isaiah 2:4). Inverting the 1 Samuel scenario, the prophets envision a day when weapons are repurposed for cultivation, not the other way around. The earlier dependence on foreign smiths accentuates the future abundance and security wrought by the Messiah. Ministry Applications • Spiritual Readiness: Just as a plowshare requires periodic sharpening, Christian service demands continual renewal through prayer, Scripture, and fellowship (2 Timothy 2:15). Summary מַחֲרֶשֶׁת, though a single-occurrence term, opens a window onto Israel’s agrarian life, her political subjugation, and God’s redemptive purposes. The plowshare that once exposed national helplessness will, in the age to come, characterize universal peace—when the Lord of Hosts reigns, and the earth yields its harvest in righteousness. Forms and Transliterations מַחֲרַשְׁתּ֤וֹ מחרשתו ma·ḥă·raš·tōw macharashTo maḥăraštōwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 13:20 HEB: אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־ מַחֲרַשְׁתּ֤וֹ וְאֶת־ אֵתוֹ֙ KJV: every man his share, and his coulter, INT: to sharpen each his share his mattock his axe 1 Occurrence |
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