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Bible Dictionaries
Bread
Smith's Bible Dictionary
or Bread. The preparation of bread, as an article of food, dates from a very early period. Genesis 18:6. The corn or grain employed was of various sorts. The best bread was made of wheat, but "barley" and spelt were also used. John 6:9; John 6:13; Isaiah 28:25. The process of making bread was as follows:
the flour was first mixed with water or milk;
it was then kneaded with the hands (in Egypt with the feet also) in a small wooden bowl or "kneading-trough" until it became dough. Exodus 12:34,39; 2 Samuel 13:3; Jeremiah 7:18.
When the kneading was completed, leaven was generally added See Leaven.; but when the time for preparation was short, it was omitted, and unleavened cakes, hastily baked, were eaten, as is still the prevalent custom among the Bedouins. (Genesis 18:6; Genesis 19:3; Exodus 12:39; Judges 6:19; 1 Samuel 28:24.
The leavened mass was allowed to stand for some time, Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21,
the dough was then , divided into round cakes, Exodus 29:23; Judges 7:13; Judges 8:5; 1 Samuel 10:3; Proverbs 6:26, not unlike flat stones, in shape and appearance, Matthew 7:9, compare Matthew 4:8, about a span in diameter and a finger's breadth in thickness.
In the towns, where professional bakers resided, there were, no doubt, fixed ovens, in shape and size resembling those in use among ourselves; but more usually, each household poured a portable oven, consisting of a stone or metal jar, about three feet high, which was heated inwardly with wood, 1 Kings 17:12; Isaiah 44:15; Jeremiah 7:18, or dried grass and flower-stalks. Matthew 6:30.
These files are public domain.
Smith, William, Dr. Entry for 'Bread'. Smith's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/sbd/b/bread.html. 1901.
