Topical Encyclopedia In biblical times, bread was a staple food and a symbol of sustenance and life. The public sale of bread is not explicitly detailed in the Scriptures, but the concept can be inferred from various passages that describe the economic and social practices of ancient Israel and surrounding regions.Economic Context The sale of bread in public markets would have been a common practice in ancient cities, where bakers and merchants sold their goods to the populace. The Bible provides glimpses into the marketplace activities, such as in the book of Nehemiah, where the buying and selling of goods, including food, is mentioned: "In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain, loading it on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of goods. They were bringing all this into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them against selling food on that day" (Nehemiah 13:15). This passage indicates that food, likely including bread, was sold in public markets. Social and Religious Implications Bread, as a fundamental part of the diet, held significant social and religious importance. The public sale of bread would have been subject to the laws and customs of the time, including those related to the Sabbath and fair trade. The Law of Moses emphasized honest weights and measures, which would have applied to the sale of bread: "You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt" (Leviticus 19:36). Prophetic and Wisdom Literature The prophets and wisdom literature of the Bible often use bread as a metaphor for spiritual nourishment and divine provision. In Isaiah, the prophet speaks of buying without money, highlighting the spiritual sustenance that God provides: "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk, without money and without cost" (Isaiah 55:1). This metaphorical language underscores the idea that while bread is sold publicly, true sustenance comes from God. New Testament Context In the New Testament, bread continues to play a central role, particularly in the teachings of Jesus. While the Gospels do not specifically mention the public sale of bread, they do reflect the everyday life of the people, where buying and selling were routine activities. Jesus' feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21) and His teaching on being the "bread of life" (John 6:35) emphasize the spiritual significance of bread beyond its physical sale and consumption. Conclusion The public sale of bread in biblical times, while not explicitly detailed, can be understood within the broader context of ancient economic practices and the cultural significance of bread. It served as a vital part of daily life, reflecting both the physical and spiritual sustenance that God provides to His people. Torrey's Topical Textbook Matthew 14:15And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. Torrey's Topical Textbook Matthew 15:33 Library How a Great Many of the People Earnestly Endeavored to Desert to ... John Chapter viii. 31-36 The Morning-Meal in the Pharisee's House - Meals and Feasts among ... Chapter xlvii What Injunctions Caesar Gave when He was Come Within the City. The ... Festus Succeeds Felix who is Succeeded by Albinus as He is by ... Critical Conventions. Loyal to the Core The Seven Ecumenical Councils The Great Confession - the Great Commission - the Great ... 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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