Topical Encyclopedia A threshing-place, also known as a threshing floor, is a significant agricultural and symbolic location in biblical times. It is a flat, hard surface where grain is separated from the chaff, typically by beating or trampling. Threshing floors were often located on elevated ground to take advantage of the wind, which would carry away the lighter chaff when the grain was tossed into the air.Biblical Significance Threshing floors hold considerable importance in the Bible, both as practical sites for agriculture and as places of divine encounter and judgment. They are mentioned numerous times throughout Scripture, serving as settings for pivotal events and metaphors for spiritual truths. 1. Agricultural Use: The primary function of a threshing-place was to process harvested grain. In the Book of Ruth, Ruth is found gleaning in the fields and later visits Boaz at the threshing floor (Ruth 3:2-6). This setting underscores the agricultural backdrop of the narrative and highlights the provision and protection themes central to the account. 2. Divine Encounter: Threshing floors are also depicted as places where God interacts with His people. One of the most notable instances is the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, where King David built an altar to the Lord to stop a plague on Israel (2 Samuel 24:18-25). This site later became the location for Solomon's Temple, emphasizing its sacred significance. 3. Symbol of Judgment: Threshing floors symbolize judgment and purification in the Bible. The process of separating wheat from chaff is used metaphorically to describe God's judgment. In Matthew 3:12, John the Baptist speaks of Jesus, saying, "His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." This imagery conveys the idea of divine discernment and the ultimate separation of the righteous from the wicked. 4. Prophetic Imagery: The prophets often used the imagery of threshing floors to convey messages of judgment and hope. In Hosea 9:1-2, the unfaithfulness of Israel is likened to a barren threshing floor: "Do not rejoice, O Israel, with exultation like the nations! For you have been unfaithful to your God; you love the wages of a prostitute at every threshing floor. The threshing floor and winepress will not feed them, and the new wine will fail them." 5. Place of Worship and Sacrifice: Threshing floors were sometimes used as places of worship and sacrifice. In 1 Chronicles 21:18-26, David purchases the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite to build an altar to the Lord, offering burnt offerings and peace offerings. This act of worship and sacrifice underscores the threshing floor's role as a place of reconciliation and divine favor. Cultural Context In ancient Israel, threshing floors were communal spaces, often shared by multiple families or communities. They were typically located outside the city gates or in rural areas, serving as gathering places during the harvest season. The communal nature of threshing floors is reflected in biblical narratives, where they are settings for social interaction, legal transactions, and significant life events. Threshing floors also held legal and economic importance. They were places where debts could be settled, and transactions were made, as seen in the account of Ruth and Boaz. The legal and economic activities associated with threshing floors highlight their role as centers of community life and governance. In summary, the threshing-place in biblical times was a multifaceted location, serving practical, spiritual, and communal purposes. Its recurring presence in Scripture underscores its importance in the agricultural, religious, and social life of ancient Israel. Strong's Hebrew 2982. Yebus -- an early name of Jer.... NASB Word Usage Jebus (4). Jebus. From buwc; trodden, ie Threshing-place; Jebus, the aboriginal name of Jerusalem -- Jebus. see HEBREW buwc. 2981, 2982. ... /hebrew/2982.htm - 6k Library Joseph the Dreamer. David and Araunah. On Turning the First Page of the Review which Follows... Thesaurus Threshingplace (1 Occurrence)... Multi-Version Concordance Threshingplace (1 Occurrence). ... And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite. (KJV). ... /t/threshingplace.htm - 6k Threshing-place (1 Occurrence) Threshing-instruments (1 Occurrence) Threshing-sledge (2 Occurrences) Repented (49 Occurrences) Resources What is the significance of high places in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Dome of the Rock? | GotQuestions.org Who will go to hell? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Threshing-place (1 Occurrence)2 Samuel 24:16 Subtopics Related Terms Threshing-place (1 Occurrence) |
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