In biblical times, the concept of rations was integral to the sustenance and organization of communities, particularly in contexts of travel, warfare, and servitude. Rations refer to the allotted portions of food and provisions distributed to individuals, often in structured settings such as military campaigns or during periods of scarcity.

Old Testament Context

The distribution of rations is evident in several Old Testament narratives. In Genesis, Joseph's administration in Egypt during the years of famine is a prime example of rationing. Joseph, having interpreted Pharaoh's dreams, advised the collection and storage of grain during the seven years of abundance to prepare for the subsequent seven years of famine. Genesis 41:48-49 states, "During those seven years, Joseph collected all the excess food in the land of Egypt and stored it in the cities. In every city, he laid up the food gathered from the fields around it. So Joseph stored up grain in such abundance, like the sand of the sea, that he stopped keeping track of it; for it was beyond measure."

In the wilderness, the Israelites received manna from heaven as their daily ration. This miraculous provision underscored God's care and the importance of reliance on divine provision. Exodus 16:4 records, "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions.'"

Military Rations

Rations were also crucial in military contexts. In 1 Samuel 17:17-18 , Jesse instructs David to take provisions to his brothers on the battlefield: "Now Jesse said to his son David, 'Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. Take also these ten portions of cheese to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers are doing and bring back some assurance from them.'"

The need for organized rations is further highlighted in the account of King David's men. In 1 Samuel 25:18 , Abigail provides a generous supply of food to David and his men: "Abigail acted quickly. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins, and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of rations is less prominent but still present. The feeding of the five thousand, as recorded in the Gospels, illustrates the miraculous provision of food to a large crowd. In John 6:11 , it is written, "Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were seated, as much as they wanted; and He did the same with the fish."

The early Christian community also practiced a form of rationing through communal sharing. Acts 2:44-45 describes, "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need."

Symbolic and Spiritual Significance

Rations in the Bible often carry symbolic and spiritual significance. They represent God's provision and the importance of trust in His sustenance. The daily gathering of manna, for instance, was a test of obedience and faith, teaching the Israelites to rely on God for their daily needs.

Moreover, the concept of spiritual nourishment is echoed in Jesus' teaching. In John 6:35 , Jesus declares, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst." This statement emphasizes the spiritual sustenance that Christ provides, surpassing physical rations and pointing to eternal life.4620. sitometrion -- a measured portion of food
... Word Origin from a comp. of sitos and metreo Definition a measured portion
of food NASB Word Usage rations (1). ration, portion of meat. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4620.htm - 6k

5160. trophe -- nourishment, food
... food, meat. From trepho; nourishment (literally or figuratively); by implication,
rations (wages) -- food, meat. see GREEK trepho. (trophas) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5160.htm - 6k

3800. opsonion -- provisions, wages
... wages. Neuter of a presumed derivative of the same as opsarion; rations for a soldier,
ie (by extension) his stipend or pay -- wages. see GREEK opsarion. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3800.htm - 7k

2706. choq -- something prescribed or owed, a statute
... order (1), limit (2), limits (1), measure (1), necessary food (1), ordinance (4),
portion (3), portions (1), prescribed portion (1), rations (1), required ...
/hebrew/2706.htm - 6k

Three Necessary "Rations"
... TALK TWENTY-THREE. THREE NECESSARY "RATIONS". ... An army will have neither the
strength nor the courage to fight unless it has its rations. ...
/.../naylor/heart talks/talk twenty-three three necessary rations.htm

Monos
... But it was found better to give them for the first year (and now for the two first
years) part payment in daily rations: a pound of rice, four ounces of dholl ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter vi monos.htm

The Battle of Life
... amongst them this"that the soldier who devotes himself to the service of his country
is not expected to find his own equipment and his own rations, but he is ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/the battle of life.htm

Not Servants, but Friends.
... Men do not feel degraded by any amount of hardship, by going for months on short
rations or lying in frost without tents; but they do feel degraded when they ...
/.../xiii not servants but friends.htm

The Letter of the Church of Rome
... [18] Content with Christ's rations and mindful of them, you stored his words carefully
up in your hearts and held his sufferings before your eyes. ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/the letter of the church.htm

The Present Distress of Nations.
... bear. The "distress" caused by shortage of fuel and food-stuffs so that
one half of the world is living upon short rations. The ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/6 the present distress of.htm

Martin Rinkart
... Rinkart, with the burgomaster and one other citizen, did what could be done to organize
assistance, and gave away everything but the barest rations for his own ...
/.../winkworth/christian singers of germany/martin rinkart.htm

Song Stories.
... Atlanta towards the sea"through the Southern States"he left in the fort in the Kennesaw
Mountains a little handful of men to guard some rations that he ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/song stories.htm

Letter xi. --To Libanius.
... are some who disgrace themselves by deserting from the Greek language to the barbarian,
becoming mercenary soldiers and choosing a soldier's rations instead of ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/letter xi to libanius.htm

The Longing of the Heathen for a Saviour. --The Star of the Wise ...
... The notion of a Messiah, carried about by the Jews in then intercourse with different
rations, every where found a point of contact with the religious sense of ...
/.../section 19 the longing of.htm

Rations (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Rations (3 Occurrences). Matthew 24:45 "Who
therefore is the loyal and intelligent servant to whom his ...
/r/rations.htm - 7k

Intelligent (47 Occurrences)
... 24:45 "Who therefore is the loyal and intelligent servant to whom his master has
entrusted the control of his household to give them their rations at the ...
/i/intelligent.htm - 20k

Rats (5 Occurrences)

/r/rats.htm - 8k

Loyal (15 Occurrences)
... 24:45 "Who therefore is the loyal and intelligent servant to whom his master has
entrusted the control of his household to give them their rations at the ...
/l/loyal.htm - 11k

Wages (52 Occurrences)
... 2:15 has changed "wages" (the King James Version) to "hire," reading "who loved
the hire of wrongdoing." (7) Opsonion, meaning primarily "rations for soldiers ...
/w/wages.htm - 28k

Ration (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Hence, a certain portion or fixed amount dealt out; an allowance;
an allotment. 3. (vt) To supply with rations, as a regiment. ...
/r/ration.htm - 7k

Rationed (2 Occurrences)

/r/rationed.htm - 7k

Entrusted (55 Occurrences)
... 24:45 "Who therefore is the loyal and intelligent servant to whom his master has
entrusted the control of his household to give them their rations at the ...
/e/entrusted.htm - 23k

Control (88 Occurrences)
... 24:45 "Who therefore is the loyal and intelligent servant to whom his master has
entrusted the control of his household to give them their rations at the ...
/c/control.htm - 33k

Master (346 Occurrences)
... 24:45 "Who therefore is the loyal and intelligent servant to whom his master has
entrusted the control of his household to give them their rations at the ...
/m/master.htm - 40k

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