Sheaf

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

After the feast of the passover the Jews brought a sheaf into the temple, as the first fruits of the barley harvest,  Leviticus 23:10;  Leviticus 23:12; and these were the ceremonies that were then performed. On the 16th of the month Nisan, in the evening, when the feast day of the passover was ended, and the second day was begun, which was a working day, the house of judgment deputed three men to go in solemnity, and gather the sheaf of barley. The inhabitants of the neighbouring cities came together, to be present at the ceremony. The barley was gathered in the territory of Jerusalem. The deputies demanded three times successively if the sun was set; and were as often answered that it was. Then they demanded three times if they might be permitted to cut the sheaf, and permission was as often granted. They reaped it out of three different fields, with three different sickles, and put the ears into three boxes to carry to the temple. This sheaf was threshed in the court; and of the grain they took a full omer, and after it had been winnowed, parched, and bruised, they sprinkled oil over it, and added a handful of incense; then the priest who received the offering, waved it before the Lord to the four quarters of the world, crosswise; he cast part of it upon the altar, and the rest was his own. After this every one might begin to reap the harvest.

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

The sheaf of the first fruits to be offered unto the Lord had much of Christ in it. ( Leviticus 23:10-12) Christ is the first in every thing. But as the first fruits of the harvest, Christ was eminently so here, for by his resurrection from the dead, we are told that he thereby became the first fruits of them that slept. ( 1 Corinthians 15:20) The sheaf was to be waved before the Lord, not only to acknowledge him as the Lord, proprietor of all the earth, but also to have an eye to the Lord in Christ, as sanctifying and blessing all our enjoyments. Hence, the Priest was to receive the first fruits of the sheaf, and to wave it before the Lord: and then and not before, the people had liberty to use it. Sweetly teaching us that Christ is first to be eyed in the blessing and then he will be enjoyed in the blessing; so that both law and gospel hold forth the same blessed teaching; "Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase; so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine." ( Proverbs 3:9-10)

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( v. t.) To gather and bind into a sheaf; to make into sheaves; as, to sheaf wheat.

(2): ( n.) A quantity of the stalks and ears of wheat, rye, or other grain, bound together; a bundle of grain or straw.

(3): ( n.) Any collection of things bound together; a bundle; specifically, a bundle of arrows sufficient to fill a quiver, or the allowance of each archer, - usually twenty-four.

(4): ( v. i.) To collect and bind cut grain, or the like; to make sheaves.

(5): ( n.) A sheave.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Genesis 37:7 Leviticus 23:10-15 Deuteronomy 24:19 Ruth 2:7 Jeremiah 9:22 Amos 2:13 Micah 4:12 Zechariah 12:6AgricultureGleaningGrainHarvest

King James Dictionary

Sheaf n. plu. sheaves. L. scopa, scopo.

1. A quantity of the stalks of wheat, rye, oats or barley bound together a bundle of stalks or straw.

-The reaper fills his greedy hands,

And binds the golden sheaves in brittle bands. Dryden.

2. Any bundle or collection as a sheaf of arrows.

SHEAF, To collect and bind to make sheaves.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

is the rendering in the A.V. of the following words in the original:

1. אֲלֻמּה , Alummah, prop. A Bundle ("sheaf,"  Genesis 27:7;  Psalms 19:6);

2. עָמַיר , Amir, prop. A Handful (as rendered in  Jeremiah 9:22); hence A Sheaf ( Amos 2:13;  Micah 4:12;  Zechariah 12:6); and the equivalent עֹמֶר , Omer ("sheaf,"  Leviticus 23:10-12;  Leviticus 23:15;  Deuteronomy 24:19;  Ruth 2:7;  Ruth 2:15;  Job 24:10), as well as the cognate verb עָמִר , to bind sheaves ( Psalms 129:7); 3. עֲרֵמָה , Aremah, prop. A Heap (as rendered in  Ruth 3:7, etc.); hence A Sheaf (as rendered in  Nehemiah 13:15; improperly "heap" in  Song of Solomon 7:2).

The Mosaic statutes contained two prescriptions respecting the sheaves of harvest: 1. One accidentally dropped or left upon the field was not to be taken up, but remained for the benefit of the poor ( Deuteronomy 24:19). (See Glean). 2. The day after the feast of the Passover, the Hebrews brought into the Temple a sheaf of corn as the first fruits of the barley harvest, with accompanying ceremonies ( Leviticus 18:10-12). On the fifteenth of Nisan, in the evening, when the feast of the first day of the Passover was ended and the second day begun, the house of judgment deputed three men to go in solemnity and gather the sheaf of barley. The inhabitants of the neighboring cities assembled to witness the ceremony, and the barley was gathered into the territory of Jerusalem. The deputies demanded three times if the sun were set, and they were as often answered, It is. They afterwards demanded as many times if they might have leave to cut the sheaf, and leave was as often granted. They reaped it out of three different fields with three different sickles, and put the ears into three boxes to carry them to the Temple. The sheaf, or rather the three sheaves, being brought into the Temple, were threshed in the court. From this they took a full omer, that is, about three pints of the grain; and after it had been well winnowed, parched, and bruised, they sprinkled over it a log of oil, to which they added a handful of incense; and the priest who received this offering waved it before the Lord towards the four quarters of the world, and cast part of it on the altar. After this every one might begin his harvest. (See Passover).