JEWISH AGRICULTURE. 377 



in the most favorable seasons, yield more than ten for one. 

 This, however, is owing to their present neglected state. 



Of the animal or vegetable products of Egyptian agriculture, 

 very little is known. The ox seems to have been the chief 

 animal of labor from the earliest period, and rice at all times 

 the principal grain in cultivation. By an ancient painting it 

 would appear that the operation of reaping was performed much 

 in the same way as at present, the ears being cropped by a hook, 

 and the principal part of the straw left as stubble. 



Herodotus mentions that, in his time, wheat was not culti- 

 vated, and that the bread made from it was despised and reck- 

 oned not fit to be eaten ; beans were also held in abhorrence by 

 the ancient inhabitants, but it is highly probable that, in later 

 times, when they began to have commerce with other nations, 

 they laid aside these and other prejudices, and cultivated what 

 they found best suited to the foreign market. Agriculture was, 

 no doubt, the chief occupation of the Egyptians ; and though 

 they are said to have held the profession of shepherd in abhor- 

 rence, yet it appears that Pharaoh not only had considerable 

 flocks and herds in his own possession, but was desirous of 

 introducing any improvement .which might be made in their 

 management ; for when Jacob, in answer to his questions, told 

 him that he and his family had been brought up from their 

 youth to the care of live-stock, he expressed a wish to Joseph, 

 " If thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make 

 them rulers over my cattle." 



Agriculture of the Jews and Other Nations of Antiquity. 

 Of the agriculture of the nations contemporary with the 

 Egyptians and Greeks, nothing is distinctly known ; but, as- 

 suming it as most probable that agriculture was first brought 

 into notice in Egypt, it may be concluded that most other coun- 

 tries, as well as Greece, would begin by imitating the practices 

 of that country. On the agriculture of the Jews we find there 

 are various incidental remarks in the books of the Old Testa- 

 ment. On the conquest of Canaan, it appears that the different 

 tribes had their territory assigned to them by lot ; that it was 

 equally divided among the heads of families, and by them and 

 their posterity held by absolute right and impartial succession. 

 Thus every family had originally the same extent of territory ; 



