barley

a grain much cultivated in Egypt (Exodus 9:31) and in Israel (Leviticus 27:16; Deuteronomy 8:8)

It was usually the food of horses (1 Kings 4:28).

Barley bread was used by the poorer people (Judges 7:13; 2 Kings 4:42).

Barley of the first crop was ready for the harvest by the time of the Passover, in the middle of April (Ruth 1:22; 2 Samuel 21:9).

Mention is made of barley-meal (Numbers 5:15).

Our Lord fed five thousand with “five barley loaves and two small fishes” (John 6:9).

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