Topical Bible: Threshing: The Place For: Called the Barn-Floor

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Topical Encyclopedia

Threshing is an agricultural process mentioned frequently in the Bible, integral to the agrarian society of ancient Israel. It involves the separation of grain from the husks and straw, a necessary step in preparing harvested crops for consumption and storage. The location where this process takes place is often referred to as the "barn-floor" or "threshing floor."

Biblical Significance

The threshing floor holds significant symbolic and practical importance in the biblical narrative. It is a place of separation and purification, where the valuable grain is distinguished from the worthless chaff. This imagery is often used metaphorically in Scripture to describe God's judgment and the separation of the righteous from the wicked.

Scriptural References

One of the earliest mentions of a threshing floor is found in the account of Ruth and Boaz. Ruth, a Moabite widow, goes to the threshing floor to seek Boaz's protection and provision, as described in Ruth 3:6-9 : "So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed her to do. After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Then Ruth came in quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. In the middle of the night, something startled the man, and he turned and discovered a woman lying at his feet. 'Who are you?' he asked. 'I am your servant Ruth,' she replied. 'Spread the corner of your garment over me, for you are a kinsman-redeemer.'"

The threshing floor is also the site of significant divine encounters. In 2 Samuel 24:18-25, King David purchases the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite to build an altar to the Lord, halting a plague on Israel. This site later becomes the location for Solomon's Temple, underscoring its sacred significance.

Symbolism and Imagery

The imagery of threshing is used throughout the Bible to convey themes of judgment and purification. 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 passage highlights the role of the threshing floor as a place of divine sorting and judgment.

Cultural and Historical Context

In ancient Israel, threshing floors were typically located on elevated, open spaces to take advantage of the wind, which helped separate the grain from the chaff. The process involved spreading the harvested stalks on the floor and using oxen or other animals to tread over them, or employing tools like the threshing sledge. The separated grain was then winnowed, allowing the wind to blow away the lighter chaff.

Threshing floors were communal spaces, often shared by multiple families or communities. They were places of labor but also of social interaction and community gathering, reflecting the interconnectedness of agricultural life in biblical times.

Conclusion

The threshing floor, as depicted in the Bible, is more than just a physical location for agricultural processing. It is a rich symbol of divine judgment, redemption, and the transformative power of God's presence. Through its various mentions in Scripture, the threshing floor serves as a reminder of the spiritual truths embedded in the everyday life of ancient Israel.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 6:27
And he said, If the LORD do not help you, from where shall I help you? out of the barn floor, or out of the wine press?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

A Sermon for the Time Present
... upon earth, there will be upon the threshing floor of ... of revelation, we have philosophy,
falsely so-called; instead of ... In many a place the sheep look up and ...
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