What is a threshing floor?

This is accomplished in the East by the grain being trodden on by oxen, and that it was so threshed in ancient times is shown by the law that the ox should not be muzzled that trod out the corn. Deut. 25:4. There were also threshing 'instruments,' with which the grain was beaten out. Threshing was also accomplished by oxen drawing over the grain a sort of sledge without runners, by which the straw also was crushed. 2 Sam. 24:22; Isa. 41:15, etc.

1886 150 What a separating process is needed in order to prepare "the bread which strengtheneth man's heart! Great indeed is the toil of preparing the ground before the husbandman can "cast in the principal wheat, and the appointed barley, and the rye, in their place." But when the harvest has rewarded his toil, then, first, there is the threshing, to separate the grain from the ear — a laborious process, whether by cattle dragging over it, "the threshing instrument having teeth;" or by the flail, so dexterously wielded by the husbandman; or by the more scientific machine of modern days. After the grain is thus sifted from the ear, it needs another process to separate the wheat from the chaff, and this is effected by winnowing. In winnowing, there are two instruments specially used, the fan and the sieve. By the first, the chaff is separated from the grain; by the second, the stunted grain and any other refuse are separated from "the fat kidneys of the wheat." Thus we get a good sample of grain, even as in the happier day in reserve for Israel. "Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth; and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures; the oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and the fan."

If we follow on farther, we shall find more labour needed: "bread corn is bruised" — it must be ground; a weary toil it was, especially for females. "Take the millstones and grind meal." Neither can we stop here: if we would separate the bran from the flour, a fine sieve is needed, and the process of bolting at length brings out "the fine flour" with which God so abundantly fed Israel, and Israel gave to her idols (Ezek. 16:19), and which is marked also as a special part of the merchandise of Babylon (Rev. 18:13).

The corn was not always reaped close to the earth, but the ears were cut off, and the long stubble was left standing in the fields. In such cases the ears were taken in baskets to the threshing-floor. After that, the straw was chopped up and used for the bricks. The operation of cutting off the ears of the corn and carrying them away is clearly shown in this picture from the monuments.

The threshing-floor is the place where the grain is separated from the chaff, under the hoofs of the ox, or the teeth of the threshing-instrument. In that way it would suggest the enemy, but looked at as God's instrument to purge His people. In fact, the nations are so spoken of in at least one passage (Amos 1:3), while they themselves are to be purged by similar judgments. I think we are right in saying that the thought suggested is God's instrument of chastening.

The threshing-floor is the place where the grain is separated from the chaff, under the hoofs of the ox, or the teeth of the threshing-instrument. In that way it would suggest the enemy, but looked at as God's instrument to purge His people. In fact, the nations are so spoken of in at least one passage (Am. 1:3), while they themselves axe to be purged by similar judgments. I think we are right in saying that the thought suggested is God's instrument of chastening.

This was accomplished in the open air, by throwing up the grain with a shovel, or a fan (λίκνος, really a kind of shallow basket); the wind carried away the chaff. Boaz winnowed his barley in the evening, when there would be more wind. Ruth 3:2; Isa. 30:24. John the Baptist said of the Lord that His fan was in His hand, and He would thoroughly purge His floor; gather His wheat into the garner; and burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Matt. 3:12; Luke 3:17. It is now a day of grace, a sowing time, but the harvest will come, and the winnowing will surely follow.

Same as 'granary,' a storehouse for threshed grain and for the fruits of the earth. It is mentioned in the N.T. as a receptacle for wheat. Ps. 144:13; Joel 1:17; Matt. 3:12; Luke 3:17.

The fan was a small shovel, by which a portion of wheat was thrown up into the air, that the wind might carry away the chaff. Isa. 30:24; Jer. 4:11. It is also used symbolically for the judgements of God, Isa. 41:16; Jer. 15:7; Jer. 51:2; and for the discriminating power of the testimony of the Lord Jesus. Matt. 3:12; Luke 3:17.

Thirdly, Jebusi, the "treader down," when synonymous with Jerusalem, "the foundation of peace," that is, with righteousness, leads us to think still of the laborer, and, indeed, of the threshing of wheat, which was done after this manner. After David had taken the city, so that it had really become Jerusalem, we find the Jebusite Araunah at this work. Threshing is distinguishing work: the wheat is separated from the chaff; and this not as mere classification, but because the wheat is wanted, and wanted free from chaff. "If thou take forth the precious from the vile," says God to Jeremiah, "thou shalt be as My mouth." And this is the sanctification of labor, when it is used to separate that which is of God for God; when the heart is on that which is precious, deals with evil only that God may have His place and glory — what is His. And thus the picture is complete.

But the chapter closes with a sure and certain hope beyond the tribulation, and with instruction as to the ways of God. The ploughman ploughs all day to sow: his ploughing is not the end but a means to an end, and the end is a harvest of grain. When the grain is ripe, he reaps and threshes: but "he will not ever be threshing it." The threshing is not the end, but it has an end in view; that end is the separating the chaff from the wheat and the cumin and the barley and the rye. And it is "his God that doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him" (v. 26). And will not God who has given men wisdom in these things be wise Himself in what He does? He will break up the fallow ground in His people's hearts with the ploughshare of His chastisement and judgments, that they will cry to Him in their sorrow, then their hearts will be prepared for the sowing of His Word within them. John the Baptist also prophesied of this tribulation period when he said, "His fan is in His hand and He will throughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire" (Matt. 3:12). The great tribulation will destroy the chaff, but it will bring to light the wheat and secure it for the Lord's garner. We are assured of this by His word through the prophet Amos. Said he, "I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among the nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth" (chap. 9:9).