Threshinginstrument

Threshing-instrument

was a sledge for driving over the sheaves and separating the grain. These sledges, called among the Hebrews by the general term בִּרקָנַי, badrkanim, rendered "briers" inJudges 8:7, 16, were of two kinds, corresponding respectively with two words, the first of which alone is rendered as above in the, A.V. SEE THRESHING.

1. Morag (מוֹרִג, so called from triturating; 2Sa 24:22; 1Ch 21:23; Isa 41:15; by ellipsis charults, pointed. Job 41:22; Ps 28:9; Am 1; Am 3) was a threshing instrument still in use in the north of Palestine. Prof. Robinson, who frequently saw this rustic threshing-sledge, says, "It consists chiefly of two planks fastened together side by side, and bent upwards in front; precisely like the common stone- sledge of New England. Many holes are bored in the bottom underneath, and into these are fixed sharp fragments of hard stone. The machine is dragged by oxen as they are driven round upon the grain; sometimes a man or a boy sits upon it. The effect of it is to cut up the straw quite tine" (Researches, 2, 306).

2. Agalah (עֲגָלָה, rendered "cart" or "wagon") was a threshing-sledge with wheels or rollers of wood, iron, or stone, made rough and joined together in the form of a sledge (Isa 28:27-28). Mr. Lane found it still in use in Egypt, perhaps somewhat improved. He says, For the purpose of separating the grain of wheat or barley, etc., and cutting the straw, which serves as fodder, the Egyptians use a machine called morag, in the form of a chair, which moves upon small iron wheels, or circular plates, generally eleven, fixed to three thick axle-trees; four to the foremost, the same number to the hindmost, and three to the intermediate axle-tree. This machine is drawn in a circle, by a pair of cows or bulls, over the corn" (Mod. Egyptians, 2, 33).

Threshold is the rendering in the A.V. of three Heb. words.

1. Saph (סִŠ,so called perhaps from the attrition there, Jg 19:27; 1Ki 14:17; Eze 40:6-7; Eze 43:8; Zep 2:14; elsewhere door" or "door-post"), the-sill, or bottom, of a door-way. See GATE.

2. Miphtan (מַפתָּן, so called apparently from its firmness or stretch), obviously to be interpreted of the sill, or bottom beam, of a door (1Sa 5:4-5; Zep 1:9; Eze 47:1); but perhaps meaning sometimes, as the Targum explains it, a projecting beam, or corbel, at a higher point than the threshold properly so called (Eze 9:3; Eze 10:4,18). See DOOR.

3. Asoph (אָסֹŠ, only in the plur. Asuppim, אֲספַּים, collections; Sept. σιναγαγεῖν; Vulg. vestibula; Ne 12:25), a storehouse or depository ("Asuppim," 1Ch 26:17), especially as connected with the western gates of the Temple, hence called beth-Asuppim (ver. 15). SEE ASUPPIM.