Sowing is the scattering of seed by hand for planting crops. In biblical lands it occurred mainly from autumn through winter, and the Mosaic law prohibited sowing mixed kinds of seed.
Definition
Sowing is the scattering of seed by hand for the cultivation of crops. The sower commonly carried seed in a vessel or basket and broadcast it with the right hand. In wet ground, animals could tread the seed into the soil. The Mosaic law prohibited sowing mixed kinds of seed.
Biblical Usage
Sowing appears as an ordinary agricultural activity and also as an image of labor and hope. Scripture refers to the characteristic action of scattering or drawing out seed, and to sowing mixed seed as forbidden by the Mosaic law.
Historical Background
In biblical lands the sowing season began in October and continued to the end of February. Wheat was sown before the beginning of January and barley afterward. Egyptian paintings illustrate the hand-broadcast method, with the seed held in the left hand and scattered with the right.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
The operation of a sowing with the hand is one of so simple a character as to need little description. The Egyptian paintings furnish many illustrations of the mode in which it was conducted. The sower held the vessel or basket containing the seed in his left hand, while with his right he scattered the seed broadcast. The “drawing out” of the seed is noticed, as the most characteristic action of the sower, in (Psalms 126:6) (Authorized Version “precious”) and (Amos 9:13) In wet soils the seed was trodden in by the feet of animals. (Isaiah 32:20) The sowing season began in October and continued to the end of February, wheat being put in before, and barley after, the beginning of January. The Mosaic law prohibited the sowing of mixed seed. (Leviticus 19:19; 22:9)
