Barley (Hastings' Dictionary)

Barley (.'\riib. iha'ir) is a well-known grain, of whidi several varieties are cultivated, Ilordeurn dis- tirhum, //. tetrastichum, and //. hcxa.itichu77i, the wild originals of which are not known. One of I he wild species of the genua Ifordcum in Pal., however, approaches the cultivated species near I'nough to make it possible that it may be the "lock, or a partial reversion of cultivated barley to tv])e. It is //. ith'ihuren.'ic, IJoiss (//.

spontancum, Koch), whidi grows aliTiiidantly in Galilee, in the region of Merj 'Ayftn, and in jilaces in the Syrian desert between I'aliiiyra and llamath. It ditfers from H. distiihiim by the smaller size of its spikes and grains, and the great length of its awns, which are sometimes a foot log. Barley is eultivatcil .-verywhere in Palestine, principally as provender foi horses (1 K 4**) and SiSaes.

It takes the place of oats in Eoiope and America, as the cut straw of barley and wheat takes the place of hay. It is also used among the poor for bread, as in ancient times (Jg 7", 2 K 4^", Jn C- ", and cakes Ezk 4"). It was mixed with other cheap grains for the same purpose (Ezk 4'). When any one wishes to express the extremity of his poverty, he will say, ' I have not barley bread to eat.' 'I'his fact illustrates several allusions to barley in Scripture.

Barley meal was the jealousy ofl'ering (Nu 5"); it is mentioned by EzLikiel as the fee paid to false prophetesses by people who consulted them (Ezk 13'") ; it was the symbol of the poverty of Gideon's family, and his own low estate in that family ; by a ' barley cake' Midian's great host was to be over- thrown (Jg 7'^). The barley harvest begins in April in the depth of the Jordan Valley, and continues to be later as we ascend to the higher mountains, till, at an altitude of 6500 ft.

, it takes place in July and August. It was probably the time of the barley harvest when the Israelites crossed the Jordan (Jos 3"). It is earlier than the wheat harvest (Ex Q^'-**). The barley harvest was a recognised date (Ru 1^, 2 S 2i». ii>)_ varying, of course, with the altitude. Barley is sown in Oct. and Nov. That which is sown in the districts below the frost level continues to grow through the rainy season till the harvest.

That which is sown on the high mountain levels springs up, the top dies under the snow, and then the biennial stalk springs up when the snow melts, and grows with great rapidity and vigour. Barley is not sown in the spring in Pal. and Syria. G. E. Post.