In biblical times, the term "corn" as used in the Bible typically refers to grain in general, rather than the specific maize known as corn in modern English. In the context of Palestine, the primary grains were wheat and barley, which were staple foods in the ancient Near East. These grains played a significant role in the diet, economy, and religious practices of the people.

Biblical References:

1. Wheat and Barley: Wheat and barley were the most common grains grown in Palestine. The Bible frequently mentions these grains in various contexts, highlighting their importance. For instance, in the account of Ruth, Boaz instructs his workers to allow Ruth to glean among the sheaves of barley (Ruth 2:15-17). This narrative underscores the significance of barley harvests in sustaining the community.

2. Harvest and Festivals: The agricultural cycle, including the sowing and harvesting of grain, was central to the Israelites' way of life. The Feast of Weeks, also known as Pentecost, was a harvest festival celebrating the firstfruits of the wheat harvest (Exodus 34:22). This festival was a time of thanksgiving and offering to God, reflecting the dependence of the people on His provision.

3. Symbolism and Parables: Grain is often used symbolically in the Bible. Jesus frequently employed agricultural imagery in His parables. In the Parable of the Sower, He describes different types of soil and their ability to produce grain, illustrating the varied responses to the Word of God (Matthew 13:3-9). This parable emphasizes the importance of spiritual receptivity and growth.

4. Economic and Social Aspects: Grain was not only a food source but also a measure of wealth and a medium of exchange. Joseph's management of grain during the famine in Egypt (Genesis 41:47-49) demonstrates the economic significance of grain storage and distribution. Additionally, the Law provided for the poor and the foreigner by allowing them to glean in the fields (Leviticus 19:9-10), highlighting the social responsibility tied to grain production.

5. Divine Provision and Judgment: The abundance or scarcity of grain was often seen as a sign of God's blessing or judgment. In Deuteronomy 28, blessings for obedience include plentiful harvests, while curses for disobedience include famine and crop failure (Deuteronomy 28:1-5, 15-18). This reflects the belief that agricultural success was directly linked to the covenant relationship with God.

Agricultural Practices:

The cultivation of grain in ancient Palestine involved several stages, including plowing, sowing, reaping, and threshing. The land was prepared using simple tools, and sowing was done by hand. Harvesting was a communal activity, often involving the entire family and hired laborers. Threshing floors were used to separate the grain from the chaff, a process that is frequently mentioned in the Bible (e.g., 2 Samuel 24:18).

Conclusion:

Grain, referred to as "corn" in the biblical sense, was a vital component of life in ancient Palestine. Its cultivation and harvest were deeply intertwined with the religious, economic, and social fabric of the society. The biblical references to grain underscore its significance as a symbol of God's provision and a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and His people.Deuteronomy 33:28
Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be on a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.
Nave's Topical Index

Ezekiel 27:17
Judah, and the land of Israel, they were your merchants: they traded in your market wheat of Minnith, and Pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm.
Nave's Topical Index

2048. eremos -- solitary, desolate
... deserted, desolate, waste; hence: the desert, to the east and south of Palestine;
of a ... on the hillsides, grade on grade, you observe a patch of corn, a clump ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2048.htm - 8k

Palestine Eighteen Centuries Ago
... anything in it.'" Nor were such statements unwarranted; for Palestine combined every ...
upland valleys, park-like forests, and almost boundless corn and pasture ...
/.../sketches of jewish social life/chapter 1 palestine eighteen centuries.htm

The Pharisees Attack the Disciples for Plucking Corn on the ...
... the first sheaf of corn was presented in the Temple. [455] A customary way of appeasing
hunger in those lands, even to this day; cf. Robinson, Palestine, ii.. ...
/.../section 172 the pharisees attack.htm

A Revival Sermon
... so much corn, that they could export through the Phoenicians both corn, and wine,
and oil, even to the pillars of Hercules, so that Palestine became, like Egypt ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/a revival sermon.htm

Travelling in Palestine --Roads, Inns, Hospitality, Custom-House ...
... [14] In the ancient Latin Itineraries of Palestine, journeys are ... alone (exclusive
of Egypt) furnished Rome, by way of taxation, with sufficient corn to last ...
/.../sketches of jewish social life/chapter 4 travelling in palestineroads.htm

The Two Sabbath-Controversies - the Plucking of the Ears of Corn ...
... on the same day as the plucking of the ears of corn, but St ... but as designedly chosen
by the Evangelist to indicate something well understood in Palestine at the ...
/.../chapter xxxv the two sabbath-controversies.htm

Concerning Rehoboam, and How God Inflicted Punishment Upon Him for ...
... put garrisons in them all, and captains, and a great deal of corn, and wine ... made
war upon many other nations also, and brought Syria of Palestine into subjection ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 10 concerning rehoboam and.htm

Six Cities
... southern hills, nestling amid olive-groves and terebinths, and looking down on one
of the most fertile valleys in Palestine, with its orchards and corn-fields. ...
/.../macduff/the cities of refuge or the name of jesus/ii six cities.htm

Israel Returning
... thinks of yet another of the characteristic growths of Palestine, the olive ... same
class of images, and expressing fruitfulness, abundant as the corn and precious ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/israel returning.htm

The Locust-Swarms
... the clods, the granaries empty, the barns broken down, for the corn was withered ...
Most probably, too, these locusts were not bred in Palestine at all; but came ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xx the locust-swarms.htm

Commerce
... of the public, agriculturists were forbidden to sell in Palestine wine diluted ... Purchases
of corn could not be concluded till the general market-price had been ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 12 commerce.htm

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