Topical Bible: Barley: Fed to Horses

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Topical Encyclopedia

Barley, a cereal grain, holds significant agricultural and economic importance in biblical times. It is frequently mentioned in the Scriptures as a staple food for both humans and animals. In the context of animal feed, barley was particularly used for feeding horses, which were valuable assets in ancient societies for transportation, agriculture, and warfare.

Biblical References

The use of barley as feed for horses is implicitly referenced in the Old Testament. In 1 Kings 4:28 , it is noted: "They also brought to the required place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and other horses." This passage highlights the logistical organization and provision for the royal stables during King Solomon's reign, indicating the importance of barley as a primary feed for horses.

Historical and Cultural Context

In ancient Israel and surrounding regions, horses were not native but were imported from Egypt and other neighboring countries. The maintenance of these animals required a steady supply of feed, and barley was a preferred choice due to its availability and nutritional value. The cultivation of barley was widespread, and it was one of the first grains to be harvested in the agricultural cycle, making it a reliable source of sustenance for livestock.

Barley was often grown alongside wheat, but it was more resilient to harsh conditions, such as poor soil and drought, which made it a dependable crop. This resilience ensured a consistent supply for feeding horses, which were essential for military and agricultural purposes.

Symbolic and Theological Significance

While the primary use of barley in the context of feeding horses is practical, it also carries symbolic weight in the biblical narrative. Horses, often associated with strength and power, were integral to the military might of a nation. The provision of barley for these animals underscores the importance of preparation and resource management in achieving and maintaining power.

Moreover, the use of barley as feed reflects the broader biblical theme of stewardship. The careful management of resources, including the feeding of animals, is a recurring principle in Scripture, emphasizing the responsibility of humans to care for God's creation.

Conclusion

The role of barley as feed for horses in biblical times illustrates the grain's versatility and significance in ancient economies. It served not only as a staple food for humans but also as a crucial component in the maintenance of horses, which were vital for transportation, agriculture, and military endeavors. The biblical references to barley feeding highlight the practical and symbolic importance of this grain in the life and culture of ancient Israel.

Nave's Topical Index

1 Kings 4:28
Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they to the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

To the Rev. A. Brandram
... to Cordova, I purchased one of the horses which had ... of fodder, at least two pecks
of barley in the ... is likewise very irksome, as they must be fed once every ...
/.../borrow/letters of george borrow/to the rev a brandram 19.htm

Heaven's Nurse Children
... come and taken the yoke away; and there they stood, as we see horses stand when ... You
can but be fed, and it matters not whether the barley loaves and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/heavens nurse children.htm

After the Terrible Siege of Samaria was Ended in Accordance with ...
... was troubled because these women seemed to have fed not merely on ... for a shekel, and
two measures of barley for a ... of chariots and a loud noise of horses and the ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xx after the terrible.htm

Spiritual Appetite
... the mass of the poor seldom tasted wheaten bread but fed on rye or barley cakes,
and ... manger," meaning that food which was only fit for horses was devoured ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/spiritual appetite.htm

The Lad's Loaves in the Lord's Hands
... wafers"and those of barley, more fit for horses than for men ... it did not matter; he
had the barley loaves and fishes upon which the people were to be fed. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/the lads loaves in the.htm

Of Removing Tithes.
... Barley and Oats are titheable in cocks and not in the ... tithe is not due for saddle
horses, or horses used for ... the owner of them lives; and, if fed in several ...
/.../prideaux/directions to church-wardens/8 of removing tithes.htm

To the Rev. Andrew Brandram
... Cavalier, proceed, but be careful, and your horses, if sure ... widened, and the brook
at its bottom, fed by a ... were yellow with little fields of barley, and we saw ...
/.../borrow/letters of george borrow/to the rev andrew brandram 2.htm

Book ii. Jerome Answers the Second, Third, and Fourth Propositions ...
... And as horses without a driver go at break-neck speed ... and asserts that they supported
life on barley, cress, salt ... with their heart: so the people well fed and fat ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/book ii jerome answers the.htm

Death of Martha Yeardley, and John Yeardley's Journey to Norway.
... The traveller drives himself, and the little horses are so brisk that ... the multitudes
to sit down on the grass, and fed them with five barley loaves and two ...
/.../chapter xviii death of martha.htm

Andromeda
... toils of the slow-footed oxen, Drowning the barley and flax ... cursed bride-bed of Cepheus,
Loving I fed thee and ... full of love; and the great sea-horses which bore ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/andromeda and other poems/andromeda.htm