Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical context, bread serves as a fundamental staple and symbol of sustenance and provision. Among the various types of bread mentioned in the Scriptures, bread made of beans and millet is specifically noted in the book of Ezekiel. This type of bread is associated with a period of judgment and hardship, reflecting the dire circumstances faced by the people of Israel.Biblical Reference: The primary reference to bread made of beans and millet is found in Ezekiel 4:9-12. In this passage, God instructs the prophet Ezekiel to prepare a unique type of bread as part of a symbolic act to represent the impending siege of Jerusalem. The Berean Standard Bible renders the passage as follows: "Take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them in a single vessel and make them into bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the number of days you lie on your side—three hundred and ninety days. You are to weigh out twenty shekels of food to eat each day, and you are to eat it at set times. You are also to measure out a sixth of a hin of water to drink, and you are to drink it at set times. And you shall eat it as you would a barley cake; you are to bake it over human excrement in their sight." Symbolism and Significance: The ingredients for this bread—wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt—are indicative of a time of scarcity and rationing. The combination of these grains and legumes, typically not used together for bread, underscores the severity of the conditions that would befall Jerusalem. The use of beans and millet, in particular, suggests a departure from the more common wheat or barley bread, highlighting the desperation and lack of resources during the siege. The method of preparation, especially the instruction to bake the bread over human excrement, further emphasizes the defilement and distress that would accompany the siege. This act was meant to symbolize the unclean conditions and the degradation of the people due to their disobedience and the resulting divine judgment. Cultural and Historical Context: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, bread was a central part of the diet, and its preparation and consumption were deeply embedded in daily life. The inclusion of beans and millet in bread-making, as described in Ezekiel, reflects a departure from the norm, likely due to the unavailability of more desirable grains during times of crisis. Millet, a small-seeded cereal grain, and beans, a source of protein, would have been considered less desirable than wheat or barley. Their use in bread-making during the siege signifies the adaptation to available resources when traditional supplies were cut off. Theological Implications: From a theological perspective, the bread made of beans and millet serves as a tangible representation of God's judgment and the consequences of Israel's unfaithfulness. It is a reminder of the physical and spiritual sustenance that God provides, even in times of trial. The passage challenges believers to reflect on their reliance on God and the importance of obedience to His commands. In summary, bread made of beans and millet in the Bible is a poignant symbol of hardship and divine judgment, illustrating the severe conditions faced by the Israelites during the siege of Jerusalem. It serves as a reminder of the broader themes of sustenance, provision, and the consequences of disobedience found throughout Scripture. Torrey's Topical Textbook Ezekiel 4:9Take you also to you wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentils, and millet, and fitches, and put them in one vessel, and make you bread thereof, according to the number of the days that you shall lie on your side, three hundred and ninety days shall you eat thereof. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library The Nile and Egypt Ancient Chaldaea Resources What did Jesus mean when He said, “I am the Bread of Life” (John 6:35)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the bread of the Presence (Exodus 25:30)? | GotQuestions.org What does the Bible mean when it speaks of the breaking of bread? | GotQuestions.org Bread: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Bread in Times of Scarcity, Sold by Weight Bread was Baked: On Coals of Fire Bread with Water, the Food of Prisons Bread: (Eating Without Scarceness) of Plenty Bread: (Fulness of) of Abundance Bread: (Of Adversity) Heavy Affliction Bread: (Of Deceit) Unlawful Gain Bread: (Of Wickedness) Oppression Bread: (Partaking of) Communion of Saints Bread: (Seeking of Begging) Extreme Poverty Bread: (Want of) Extreme Poverty Bread: (When Broken) the Death of Christ Bread: Called the Staff of Life Bread: Crumb of, Used to Wipe the Fingers, Thrown Under the Table Bread: First Fruit of, offered to God Bread: How Prepared: Baked in Ovens Bread: How Prepared: Cracknels Bread: How Prepared: Made Into Loaves Bread: How Prepared: Mixed With Oil Bread: How Prepared: On Coals of Dung Bread: How Prepared: On Hearths Bread: Kinds of Bread of Affliction Bread: Kinds of Leavened (Made With Yeast) Bread: Kinds of Unleavened (Made Without Yeast) Bread: Made of Manna (In the Wilderness) Bread: Multitudes Miraculously Fed by Christ With Bread: Nutritious and Strengthening Bread: Offered With Sacrifices Bread: Often Given As a Present Bread: Often Put for the Whole Substance of Man Bread: Ordinary, Called Common Bread Bread: Placed on Table of Shew Bread Bread: Plenty of, Promised to the Obedient Bread: Sacred, Called Hallowed Bread Bread: Scarceness of, Sent As a Punishment Bread: Served Round After Funerals Bread: Symbolical of the Body of Christ Bread: The Principal Food Used by the Ancients Bread: Troughs Used for Kneading Bread: when Old, Dry and Mouldy Related Terms |
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