Difference between revisions of "Straw"

<p> Straw. Both wheat and barley straw were used by the ancient Hebrews, chiefly as fodder for the horses cattle and camels. [[Genesis]] 24:25; 1 Kings 4:28; Isaiah 11:7; Isaiah 66:25. There is no intimation that straw was used for litter. It was employed by the [[Egyptians]] for making bricks, Exodus 5:7; Exodus 5:16, being chopped up and mixed with the clay, to make them more compact, and to prevent their cracking. See [[Brick]]. </p> <p> The ancient Egyptians reaped their corn close to the ear, and, afterward, cut the straw close to the ground and laid it by. This was the straw that [[Pharaoh]] refused to give to the Israelites, who were, therefore, compelled to gather "stubble" instead - a matter of considerable difficulty, seeing that the straw itself had been cut off near to the ground. </p>

<p> STRAW, n. G., L. See Strew. </p> 1. The stalk or stem of certain species of grain, pulse, &c. [[Chiefly]] of wheat, rye, oats, barley, buckwheat and peas. When used of single stalks, it admits of a plural, straws. Straws may show which way the wind blows. We say of grain while growing, the straw is large, or it is rusty. 2. A mass of the stalks of certain species of grain when cut, and after being thrashed as a bundle or a load of straw. In this sense, the word admits not the plural number. 3. Any thing proverbially worthless. I care not a straw for the play. I will not abate a straw. <p> STRAW, To spread or scatter. See [[Strew]] and Strow. </p>

<p> (1): (n.) [[Anything]] proverbially worthless; the least possible thing; a mere trifle. </p> <p> (2): (n.) The gathered and thrashed stalks of certain species of grain, etc.; as, a bundle, or a load, of rye straw. </p> <p> (3): (n.) A stalk or stem of certain species of grain, pulse, etc., especially of wheat, rye, oats, barley, more rarely of buckwheat, beans, and pease. </p> <p> (4): (v. t.) To spread or scatter. See Strew, and Strow. </p>

<p> This is spoken of as being eaten by the cattle, and it is foretold that it will be the food even of the lion in a future day. This agrees with the practice in the East where the straw is cut up or crushed, and used as food for cattle. 1 Kings 4:28; Isaiah 11:7 . It was used in [[Egypt]] for mixing with the clay in making bricks: in some of the ancient [[Egyptian]] bricks the straw can be seen. </p>

<p> teben . The [[Egyptians]] reaped grain close to the ear, afterward they cut the straw close to the ground and laid the straw by [[Pharaoh]] refused this straw to Israel, who therefore had to gather the short stubble left; translated Exodus 5:12, "gather (qash ) stubble for the straw," i.e. to be prepared as straw chopped small; so the old versions and [[Targum]] Onkelos. </p>

Exodus 5:7-18Job 41:27Isaiah 11:725:1065:25

Exodus 5:6-13[[Stubble]]

<p> (תֶּבֶן, teben [once "stubble," Job 21:18; once "chaff," Jeremiah 23:28]; once the cognate מַתְבֵּן, mithben, Isaiah 25:10; Sept. ἄχυρον; Vulg. palea). Both wheat and barley straw were used by the ancient Hebrews chiefly as fodder for their horses, cattle, and camels (Genesis 24:25; 1 Kings 4:28; Isaiah 11:7; 55:25). The straw was probably often chopped and mixed with barley, beans, etc., for provender (see Harmer, Obs. [Lond. 1797], 1, 423, 424; Wilkinson, [[Ancient]] Egypt. [ibid. 1854], 2, 48). There is no intimation that straw was used for litter; Harmer thinks it was not so employed. The litter the people now use in those countries is the animal's dung, dried in the sun and bruised between their hands which they heap up again in the morning, sprinkling it in the summer with fresh water to keep it from corrupting (Harmer, Obs. p. 424). [[Straw]] was employed by the [[Egyptians]] for making bricks (Exodus 5:7; Exodus 5:16); it was chopped up and mixed with the clay to make them more compact and to prevent their cracking (Wilkinson, Ancient Egypt. 2, 194). (See [[Brick]]). </p> <p> The ancient Egyptians reaped their corn close to the ear and afterwards cut the straw close to the ground (ibid. p. 48) and laid it by. This was the straw that [[Pharaoh]] refused to give to the Israelites, who were therefore compelled to gather "stubble" (קִשׁ, kash) instead, a matter of considerable difficulty, seeing that the straw itself had been cut off near to the ground. The stubble (q.v.) frequently alluded to in the [[Scriptures]] may denote either the short standing straw mentioned above, which was commonly set on fire (hence the allusions in Isaiah 5:24; Joel 2:5), or the small fragments that would be left behind after the reapings (hence the expression "as the kash before the wind" [Psalms 83:13; Isaiah 41:2; Jeremiah 13:24]). (See [[Agriculture]]). </p>