Barley (Seorah, κριθή)

Narrator: Chris Genthree
Duration: 2min
 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 9
Barley
At the famine of Samaria, when the Syrian camp was found deserted, one measure (seah) of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, (2 Kings 7:1, 161Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. (2 Kings 7:1)
16And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord. (2 Kings 7:16)), showing that barley was valued at half the price of wheat. In Revelation 6:66And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. (Revelation 6:6), when scarcity is foretold, one choenix of wheat will be sold for a denarius, and three measures of barley for a denarius. Here it is one-third the value of wheat, and 5 pints will cost about 8d., which in New Testament times was a man’s daily wages.
In the trial of jealousy an offering was made of barley meal, without oil or frankincense, (Num. 5:1515Then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance. (Numbers 5:15)). It was a domestic sorrow, that never ought to occur; but if the sin was there it must be judged. In Judges 7:1313And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along. (Judges 7:13) Gideon hears himself compared to a cake of barley bread: he would not have heard this had he not been afraid (Judg. 7:1010But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host: (Judges 7:10)); but it the more showed him whose hand must give the victory. Israel is charged with having polluted God among His people for “handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread” (Ezek. 13:1919And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies? (Ezekiel 13:19)); as it says elsewhere, they had sold themselves for naught.