Hi! I’m Abijah. I live in Gezer, and Iām a farmerās kid.
Farming isnāt just workāitās the oldest job ever!Ā
God planted a gardenĀ and told Adam to cultivate it and care for it. Cain, Noah, and Isaac were farmers. Even KingĀ Uzziah loved farming, too!
Our year begins with the first rain.
6 months of rain ā
6 months of sunshine āļø
The rain softens the earthāwe plow, sow wheat and barley, harrow or gently cover the seeds with dirt, so birds donāt find them and eat them, and weed to help the little shoots grow. Later itās peas, chickpeas, and vegetables. The land stays green and wet. The almond trees bloom, hinting that spring is near!
We pull and dry flax stalksājust like Rahab, who hid spies on her roof. Once processed, flax gives us linen for clothes, tents, lamp wicks, and more. Itās not tasty, but itās useful!
First, barley – then, wheat.
We cut the grain with my sickle ā thatās reaping!Ā Then we tie it into neat bundles ā thatās binding.Ā After that,Ā threshingĀ āĀ we spread the stalks on a hard surface, and oxen pull a heavy sledge over them. The stalks are crushed into small pieces, releasing the grain. Next,Ā winnowing.Ā Using a shovel, we toss everything into the air so that the wind carries away the chaff, while the grain falls back to the ground.Ā Finally, we sift it all to get nice, clean grain ready for eating!
Grapes and other fruits are growing ā they need sunlight to ripen. But many are hidden in the shade of the leaves. The farmer has to remove some leaves, so the fruits get enough sunlight. This is called pruning.Ā
Remember the story of the giant grapes carried by two men?
When the farmer finishes pruning, itās the best time of the year. Summer fruits are ready ā figs, dates, pomegranates, grapes, and more. Theyāre everywhere!
Some figs are made into cakes or used to help people feel better ā like when King Hezekiahās sore was healed with a fig. And did you know Amos took care of fig trees before he became a prophet?
We also beat the olive trees and collect the olives. Then we make oil ā for cooking, for lamps, and for healing.
Soon, the early rains will come, and everything will start all over again.
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Did You Know?
In Bible times, people had 3 festivals every year. Each one came after a harvest ā barley, wheat, and fruits.. These were joyful times full of food, music, and gratitude!
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It is a God-given ability to enjoy what one has.
āEcclesiastes :22; 5:19ā
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Genesis 2:8,15; 4:2; 9:20; 26:12; Exodus 34:22; Leviticus 23:10,11; Numbers 13:23; Deuteronomy 16:15; Joshua 2:6; 2 Kings 20:7; 2 Chronicles 26:10; Isaiah 18:5; 38:21; Amos 7:14