Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, agriculture was a fundamental aspect of daily life and the economy, with many individuals engaged in farming and related activities. These individuals were commonly referred to as "husbandmen." The term "husbandman" is used throughout the Bible to describe those who cultivate the land, tend to vineyards, and manage agricultural resources.
Biblical References:1.
Genesis 9:20 · "Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard."
Noah is one of the earliest figures in the Bible associated with agriculture. After the flood, he is described as a "man of the soil," indicating his role as a husbandman who planted a vineyard.
2.
Genesis 4:2 · "Later she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the soil."
Cain, the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, is noted as a "tiller of the soil," highlighting his role as a husbandman. This distinction between Cain and Abel, who was a shepherd, underscores the early division of labor in agricultural and pastoral activities.
3.
2 Chronicles 26:10 · "He built towers in the wilderness and dug many cisterns, because he had much livestock; he also had farmers and vinedressers in the foothills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil."
King Uzziah of Judah is depicted as a ruler who valued agriculture, employing farmers and vinedressers. His love for the soil and investment in agricultural infrastructure reflect the importance of husbandmen in sustaining the kingdom.
4.
Isaiah 28:24-26 · "Does the plowman plow for planting every day? Does he continuously loosen and harrow the soil? When he has leveled its surface, does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin? Does he not plant wheat in rows, barley in plots, and spelt as their border? For his God instructs and teaches him properly."
This passage illustrates the wisdom and skill required of a husbandman. The prophet Isaiah uses the metaphor of a plowman to convey the divine guidance and instruction given to those engaged in agriculture.
5.
Matthew 21:33 · "Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey."
In this parable, Jesus speaks of tenants, or husbandmen, who are entrusted with the care of a vineyard. The parable highlights the responsibilities and expectations placed upon those who manage agricultural resources.
Role and Significance:Husbandmen played a crucial role in the sustenance and economic stability of ancient societies. Their work involved not only the physical labor of planting and harvesting but also the management and stewardship of the land. The Bible often uses agricultural metaphors to convey spiritual truths, emphasizing the diligence, patience, and faith required in both farming and spiritual life.
The vocation of a husbandman is portrayed as honorable and divinely ordained, with God providing wisdom and instruction for successful cultivation. This reflects the broader biblical theme of stewardship, where individuals are called to responsibly manage the resources entrusted to them by God.
Nave's Topical Index
2 Chronicles 26:10Also he built towers in the desert, and dig many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: farmers also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry.
Nave's Topical Index
Library
The Royal Marriage Feast.
... the character or social position of the persons whom they ... Christ because his heart
is pre-engaged to some ... was not an excessive zeal for agriculture and trade ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xii the royal marriage feast.htm
Chaldaean Civilization
... costume alone required almost as many persons as there ... and the pay of the workmen
engaged in executing ... For example, "god" was called ilu, and "heaven" called ...
/.../chapter iiichaldaean civilization.htm
Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
... them an army to protect their persons, or to ... which writers of the Greek period called
the Lake ... cultivators of the soil experts in irrigation and agriculture. ...
/.../chapter iisyria at the beginning.htm
The Temples and the Gods of Chaldaea
... and Ninib were the patrons of agriculture and protectors ... as we can distinguish her
from other persons to whom ... than Anat or Belit: she was called Damkina, the ...
/.../chapter iithe temples and the.htm
Resources
What is the significance of Galilee in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho are the Hutterites, and what do they believe? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Shemitah? | GotQuestions.orgAgriculture: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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