Storing Grain

STORING THE GRAIN Smaller quantities of grain are often stored away for future use by the family, in "barrels" made of a combination of clay and wickerwork. If there is a larger quantity of grain it is sometimes placed in a dry cistern under the ground, and the location of the place is kept a secret by covering over the opening. Actually there were no flour barrels in the homes of Old Testament characters. The word "barrel" speaks of a "jar." Earthenware jars were used to store grain or flour (see I Kings 17:12, 14, 16; 18:33). Both underground storage places for grain and buildings above ground have been in use in modern times. In the Bible, three words are used for grain storage places: the storehouse, the garner, and the barn (Deuteronomy 28:8; Matthew 3:12; Proverbs 3:10). These places were often located below the surface of the ground, but were sometimes above ground. The barns of the rich fool CHRIST told about, must have been of the latter type, because he said: "I will pull down my barns and build greater" (Luke 12:18). When excavators uncovered the city of Gezer, they discovered that granaries had been important buildings in ancient times. Some of them were connected with private homes, while others were evidently public storehouses. Most of them were circular in shape, like some that have been in use on the maritime plain of Israel in recent years. Their size varied greatly. [Manners And Customs of Bible Lands]

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