AGRICULTURE. 



but, as it became customary afterwards to borrow money on its 

 security, and as some families became indolent and were obliged 

 to sell, and others extinct by death without issue, landed estates 

 soon varied in point of extent. 



In the time of Nehemiah a famine occurred, on which account 

 many had " mortgaged their lands, their vineyards, and houses, 

 that they might buy corn for their sons and daughters, and to 

 enable them to pay the king's tribute." Some were unable to 

 redeem their lands, otherwise than by selling their children as 

 slaves, and thereby " bringing the sons and daughters of God 

 into bondage." Boaz received three estates by inheritance, 

 and also got him a wife, after much curious ceremony. Large 

 estates, however, were not approved of. Isaiah pronounces a 

 curse on those "that join house to house, that lay field to field, 

 till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the 

 midst." While some portions of land near the towns were 

 enclosed, the greater part was in common, or in alternate pro- 

 prietorship and occupation, as in our common- fields. This ap- 

 pears, both from the laws and regulations laid down by Moses, 

 as to the herds and flocks, and from the beautiful rural story of 

 Ruth, who, to procure sustenance for herself and her widowed 

 mother-in-law, Naomi, " came and gleaned in the field after the 

 reapers, and her hap was to light on a part of the field (that is, 

 of the common field) belonging unto Boaz." 



It would appear that every proprietor cultivated his own 

 lands, however extensive ; and that agriculture was held in 

 high esteem, even by their princes. The crown lands, in King 

 David's time, were managed by seven officers. One was over 

 the storehouses ; one over the work of the field and tillage of 

 the ground ; one over the vineyards and wine-cellars ; one over 

 the olive and oil stores, and sycamore plantations ; one over the 

 herds ; one over the camels and asses ; and one over the flocks. 

 King Uzziah "built towers in the desert, and digged many 

 wells : for he had much cattle, both in the low country and in 

 the plains : husbandmen also and vine-dressers in the moun- 

 tains, and in Carmel : for he loved husbandry." Even private 

 individuals cultivated to a great extent, and attended to the 

 practical part of the business themselves. Elijah found Elisha 

 in the field, with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and himself 



