Genesis 43:20 — Word Study
WLCוַיֹּאמְר֖וּ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֑י יָרֹ֥ד יָרַ֛דְנוּ בַּתְּחִלָּ֖ה לִשְׁבָּר־ אֹֽכֶל׃
BSAPleasebîy [oh that, if it please you] sirʼâdôwn [lord, master] they saidʼâmar▸ ◂we really did come downyârad [descend, go to a lower place] here the first timetᵉchillâh [at the beginning, from the start] to buyshâbar [trade, acquire] foodʼôkel [grain, sustenance, provisions]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ | and they said | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| בִּ֣י | pardon us | Particle |
| אֲדֹנִ֑י | O lord my | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| יָרֹ֥ד | certainly | Verb, Qal, infinitive absolute |
| יָרַ֛דְנוּ | we came down | Verb, Qal, perfect first person common plural |
| בַּתְּחִלָּ֖ה | at the beginning | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| לִשְׁבָּר־ | to buy | Preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common |
| אֹֽכֶל׃ | food | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | “Please, sir,” they said, “we really did come down here the first time to buy food. |
| KJV | And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food: |
| ASV | and said, Oh, my lord, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food: |
| YLT | and say, 'O, my lord, we really come down at the commencement to buy food; |
| WEB | and said, “Oh, my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food. |
| BBE | And said, O my lord, we only came down the first time to get food; |
The translations agree on the meaning conveyed in this verse.
The main clause introduces their plea, followed by phrases that provide context and purpose.




5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, AdamClarke & more — read them ›
clause
verbאָמַר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Genesis 43:20
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Brothers' Plea to Josephgenerated
Genesis 43:20 records the moment when Joseph's brothers, uncertain of their fate, explain their previous visit to Egypt. They recall how they came to buy food during a time of famine, highlighting their honesty and desperation. This plea sets the stage for the unfolding drama of reconciliation and revelation in the narrative.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 43:3–7 | But Judah replied, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ |
| 2 | Genesis 42:3–10 | So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יָרַד, ya.Rodgenerated
The Hebrew word יָרַד (yarad) means to go down or descend, indicating movement to a lower place. This verb is used in various contexts, including physical descents, such as coming down from a mountain, or metaphorical ones, like lowering oneself in humility.
Here, it emphasizes the brothers' journey to Egypt, underscoring their vulnerability and need as they seek sustenance during a famine. The form used is the infinitive absolute, which adds a sense of certainty to their descent.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree on the meaning conveyed in this verse.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb יֹּאמְר֖וּ (vai.yo.me.Ru, and they said) governs the entire sentence. It is followed by a series of phrases that elaborate on their request and the context of their visit.
The structure emphasizes the brothers' direct address to Joseph, with their plea framed by their recounting of past events, creating a narrative flow that highlights their urgency.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יָרַד as κατέβημεν (katebēmen), meaning 'we came down.' This choice retains the original sense of descent, emphasizing the brothers' journey to Egypt.
This rendering aligns closely with the Hebrew, preserving the narrative's focus on their need for food and their humble position.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 43:20 tells us that Joseph's brothers approached him, pleading for understanding. They explained that they had come to Egypt the first time to buy food, emphasizing their need during a time of famine.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It emphasizes the brothers' honesty and their original intent in coming to Egypt.
They use this title to show respect and acknowledge his authority, unaware of his true identity.
It highlights the initial purpose of their journey, contrasting it with their current situation.
It sets the stage for the unfolding drama of Joseph's recognition of his brothers and the eventual reconciliation.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can I learn from the brothers' honesty in their plea?
- How do I respond when I find myself in a difficult situation, like the brothers did?
- What does it mean to show respect to those in authority in my life?
- How can I reflect on my own intentions when I seek help from others?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 43:20 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd said, O sir,.... Or, "on me, my lord" (a), one said in the name of the rest, perhaps Judah, on me let the blame lie, if guilty of rudeness in making our address to thee; or as the Vulgate Latin
Read John Gill on Genesis 43 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house, No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 43 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 43:20 And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:Ver. 20. O sir, we came indeed, &c.] We must not lie wretchlessly under suspicion of dishonesty; but carefully clear ourselves, as there is opportunity.
Read John Trapp on Genesis 43 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 20. O sir, we came indeed - to buy food] There is a frankness now in the conduct of Joseph's brethren that did not exist before; they simply and honestly relate the whole circumstance of the money being found in their sacks on their return from their last journey. Afflictions from the hand of God, and under his direction, have a wonderful tendency to humble the soul. Did men know how gracious his designs are in sending such, no murmur would ever be heard against the dispensations of Divine Providence.
Read AdamClarke on Genesis 43 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges20. Oh my lord] Cf. Genesis 44:18. The expression introduces an appeal. The word for “my lord” (adoni) is rendered by LXX êýñéå, and by the Lat. domine. See Numbers 12:11; Judges 6:13; 1 Samuel 1:26; 1 Kings 3:17; 1 Kings 3:26.
Read Cambridge on Genesis 43 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
“Please, sir,” they said, “we really did come down here the first time to buy food.
and said, “Oh, my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food.
“Please, sir,” they said, “we really did come down here the first time to buy food.
They said, “My lord, we did indeed come down the first time to buy food.
Tyndale line
And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:
and said, Oh, my lord, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:
and said, Oh my lord, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:
And said, O sir, we came down indeed at the first time to buy food:
And said, Oh syr, we came in deede down hither at the first time to bye foode,
Strictly literal
and said, Ah! my lord, we came indeed down at the first to buy food.
and say, 'O, my lord, we really come down at the commencement to buy food;
and say, “O my lord, we really come down at the commencement to buy food;
And they said, Pardon, my lord, we came down at the first time to buy food:
saying, “My master, we came down the first time to buy food.
From the Latin
They said: Sir, we desire thee to hear us: We came down once before to buy food:
Simplified
“Please excuse us, my lord,” they said. “We came down the first time to buy food,
And said, O my lord, we only came down the first time to get food;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Samaritan Pentateuch agree word for word in this verse. The Septuagint matches seven of the eight words, though its word order differs, reflecting a consistent understanding of the text across these ancient witnesses.
וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֑י יָרֹ֥ד יָרַ֛דְנוּ בַּתְּחִלָּ֖ה לִשְׁבָּר־ אֹֽכֶל׃
7 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ויאמרו בי אדני ירד ירדנו בתחלה לשׁבר אכל
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Genesis 43:20
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
Say
Say in the heart (= think)
Promise
Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
base
H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say
. Say in the heart (= think)
. Promise
. Command (esp. late)
. be said, told
. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
. act proudly, boast
559 'amar aw-mar'
a primitive root; to say (used with great
latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,
certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),
commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X
expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,
publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X
suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),
utter, X verily, X yet.
אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.
1) to say, speak, utter
1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend
1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called
1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly
1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch
Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
בִּי (biy) is a particle used in entreaties, expressing a request or plea, often directed towards a superior. It conveys meanings like 'I pray,' 'please,' or 'excuse me,' and is typically used adverbially in contexts of asking for permission.
בִּי part. of entreaty, craving permission to address a superior, I pray, excuse me
base
H994 בִּי part. of entreaty, craving permission to address a superior, I pray, excuse me
994 biy bee
perhaps from 1158 (in the sense of asking); properly, a
request; used only adverbially (always with "my Lord"); Oh
that!; with leave, or if it please:--alas, O, oh.
see HEBREW for 01158
בִּי (bi) — please.
1) if it please, pray excuse me, excuse me please
1a) used to introduce an entreaty or request
Part — ParticleHTj
US, pronoun objective case of we.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Us , pron. [OE. us, AS. s; akin to OFries. & OS. s, D. ons, G. uns, Icel. & Sw. oss, Dan. os, Goth. uns, L. nos we, us, Gr. we, Skr. nas us. . Cf. Nostrum, Our.] The persons speaking, regarded as an object; ourselves; — the objective case of we. See We. “Tell us a tale.” Chaucer.
Give us this day our daily bread. Matt. vi. 11.
Us, pron. oblique case of we
The Hebrew word אָדוֹן (*'adown*) means 'lord' and is derived from a root meaning to rule. It covers a range of meanings, referring to both human and divine authority, including terms like master, king, and superintendent. Variations exist for divine references, such as אֲדֹנָי (*Adonai*), distinguishing God from human lords.
אָדוֹן n.m. lord (אֲדֹנִי, אֲדֹנַי, אֲדֹנָי are variations of Mass. pointing to distinguish divine reference fr. human. Pl., with few exc. an intens. pl. of rank; word takes sf. as pl. in all other pers.; so doubtless here. Orig. reading prob. in all cases אֲדֹנַי; אֲדֹנִי now found in J 51 t.)
base
H113 אָדוֹן lord
113 'adown aw-done'
or (shortened) adon {aw-done'}; from an unused root (meaning
to rule); sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine):--
lord, master, owner. Compare also names beginning with
"Adoni-".
אָדוֹן (a.don) — lord.
1) firm, strong, lord, master
1a) lord, master
1a1) reference to men
1a1a) superintendent of household, of affairs
1a1b) master
1a1c) king
1a2) reference to God
1a2a) the Lord God
1a2b) Lord of the whole earth
1b) lords, kings
1b1) reference to men
1b1a) proprietor of hill of Samaria
1b1b) master
1b1c) husband
1b1d) prophet
1b1e) governor
1b1f) prince
1b1g) king
1b2) reference to God
1b2a) Lord of lords (probably = "thy husband, Yahweh")
1c) my lord, my master
1c1) reference to men
1c1a) master
1c1b) husband
1c1c) prophet
1c1d) prince
1c1e) king
1c1f) father
1c1g) Moses
1c1h) priest
1c1i) theophanic angel
1c1j) captain
1c1k) general recognition of superiority
1c2) reference to God
1c2a) my Lord, my Lord and my God
1c2b) Adonai (parallel with Yahweh)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word יָרַד (yarad) means to come or go down, covering various contexts such as descending from mountains, going to battle, or sinking in water. It can also refer to divine manifestations descending or being prostrated. The word has different forms including Qal, Hiphil, and Hophal, which indicate various nuances of bringing down or being brought down.
יָרַד 380 vb. come or go down, descend
Qal 306
come or go down
go down (usu. from mountain or hill-country into plain), to battle
go down to (acc.) threshing-floor
go down (abs.) from Palestine to Egypt
from Jerusalem
from altar
go down
= sink, in water
go down to She’ôl
fig. going down (dissolving) in tears
= be prostrated
of divine manifestations: descend
of inanimate things
Hiph.
cause to come or go down
bring down
send down rain = cause to flow down
= lay prostrate to (acc.) threshing-floor
bring down to She’ôl
take down (from cart)
let down
Hoph.
be brought down
be taken down
base
H3381 יָרַד come or go down, descend .. . come or go down
. go down (usu. from mountain or hill-country into plain), to battle
. go down to (acc.) threshing-floor
. go down (abs.) from Palestine to Egypt
. from Jerusalem
. from altar
. go down
. = sink, in water
. go down to She’ôl
. fig. going down (dissolving) in tears
. = be prostrated
. of divine manifestations: descend
. of inanimate things
. . cause to come or go down . bring down
. send down rain = cause to flow down
. = lay prostrate to (acc.) threshing-floor
. bring down to She’ôl
. take down (from cart)
. let down
. . be brought down
. be taken down
3381 yarad yaw-rad'
a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or
conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary,
the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to
bring down (in all the above applications); -X abundantly,
bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down,
fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, X
indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to,
let) run down, sink, subdue, take down.
יָרַד (ya.rad) — to go down.
1) to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go or come down
1a2) to sink
1a3) to be prostrated
1a4) to come down (of revelation)
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to bring down
1b2) to send down
1b3) to take down
1b4) to lay prostrate
1b5) to let down
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be brought down
1c2) to be taken down
V-Qal-Ptc — Verb · Qal · infinitive absoluteHVqaa
The Hebrew word יָרַד (yarad) means to come or go down, covering various contexts such as descending from mountains, going to battle, or sinking in water. It can also refer to divine manifestations descending or being prostrated. The word has different forms including Qal, Hiphil, and Hophal, which indicate various nuances of bringing down or being brought down.
יָרַד 380 vb. come or go down, descend
Qal 306
come or go down
go down (usu. from mountain or hill-country into plain), to battle
go down to (acc.) threshing-floor
go down (abs.) from Palestine to Egypt
from Jerusalem
from altar
go down
= sink, in water
go down to She’ôl
fig. going down (dissolving) in tears
= be prostrated
of divine manifestations: descend
of inanimate things
Hiph.
cause to come or go down
bring down
send down rain = cause to flow down
= lay prostrate to (acc.) threshing-floor
bring down to She’ôl
take down (from cart)
let down
Hoph.
be brought down
be taken down
base
H3381 יָרַד come or go down, descend .. . come or go down
. go down (usu. from mountain or hill-country into plain), to battle
. go down to (acc.) threshing-floor
. go down (abs.) from Palestine to Egypt
. from Jerusalem
. from altar
. go down
. = sink, in water
. go down to She’ôl
. fig. going down (dissolving) in tears
. = be prostrated
. of divine manifestations: descend
. of inanimate things
. . cause to come or go down . bring down
. send down rain = cause to flow down
. = lay prostrate to (acc.) threshing-floor
. bring down to She’ôl
. take down (from cart)
. let down
. . be brought down
. be taken down
3381 yarad yaw-rad'
a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or
conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary,
the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to
bring down (in all the above applications); -X abundantly,
bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down,
fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, X
indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to,
let) run down, sink, subdue, take down.
יָרַד (ya.rad) — to go down.
1) to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go or come down
1a2) to sink
1a3) to be prostrated
1a4) to come down (of revelation)
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to bring down
1b2) to send down
1b3) to take down
1b4) to lay prostrate
1b5) to let down
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be brought down
1c2) to be taken down
HVqp1cp — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common pluralHVqp1cp
תְּחִלָּה (tchillah) means 'beginning' and is derived from a root that conveys the sense of opening or commencement. It covers meanings related to the start of something, including 'first' and 'the first time.' The term appears in contexts discussing beginnings, such as 'from the beginning' or 'in the beginning.'
תְּחִלָּה n.f. beginning
base
H8462 תְּחִלָּה beginning
8462 tchillah tekh-il-law'
from 2490 in the sense of opening; a commencement; rel.
original (adverb, -ly):--begin(-ning), first (time).
see HEBREW for 02490
תְּחִלָּה (te.chil.lah) — beginning.
1) beginning, first
1a) the first time
1b) from the beginning, in the beginning (with prep)
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHRd/Ncfsa
be-gin'-ing (re'-shith; arche): The natural meaning of the word is with reference to time. The primitive Greek root means "to be long," "to draw out." Thus, it is used to refer to some point of time long drawn out, or long past (Ge 1:1). It is used also to express the inauguration of a particular event (Ex 12:2). The principal interest in the word centers in the use of it in Joh 1:1. It must be interpreted here by that which follows in the statement as to the relation of the Logos to the Eternal God and the use of the word "was." It is true that the word arche cannot be separated from the idea of time, but when time began He already was, and therefore He was from eternity.
See TIME; ETERNITY.
שָׁבַר (shabar) is a verb meaning to buy grain, derived from a related root. It covers the actions of purchasing grain in the Qal form and selling it in the Hiphil form. The word emphasizes trade in grain, with no significant disagreement noted among the lexicons.
[שָׁבַר] vb. denom. buy grain
Qal buy grain for food
Hiph. sell grain (prop. cause to buy grain)
base
H7666 שָׁבַר vb. denom. buy grain
7666 shabar shaw-bar'
denominative from 7668; to deal in grain:--buy, sell.
see HEBREW for 07668
שָׁבַר (sha.var) — to buy grain.
1) to buy or purchase grain
1a) (Qal) to buy grain
1b) (Hiphil) to sell grain
Aramaic equivalent: ze.van (זְבַן "to buy" H2084)
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct commonHR/Vqcc
אֹ֫כֶל (okel) means food and encompasses a range of meanings including meal, meat, and food supply. It is derived from the root word for eating. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, such as meals and victuals, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among the lexicons.
אֹ֫כֶל 40 n.m. food
base
H400 אֹ֫כֶל food
400 'okel o'-kel
from 398; food:--eating, food, meal(-time), meat, prey,
victuals.
see HEBREW for 0398
אֹ֫כֶל (o.khel) — food.
1) food
1a) cereal
1b) meat
2) food supply
3) meal, dinner
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
food:
I. VEGETABLE FOODS
1. Primitive Habits
2. Cereals
3. Leguminous Plants
4. Food of Trees
II. ANIMAL FOOD
LITERATURE
In a previous article (see BREAD) it has been shown that in the Bible "bread" usually stands for food in general and how this came to be so. In a complementary article on MEALS the methods of preparing and serving food will be dealt with. This article is devoted specifically to the foodstuffs of the Orient, more especially to articles of food in use among the Hebrews in Bible times. These are divisible into two main classes.
Food
Originally the Creator granted the use of the vegetable world for food to man (Gen. 1:29), with the exception mentioned (2:17). The use of animal food was probably not unknown to the antediluvians. There is, however, a distinct law on the subject given to Noah after the Deluge (Gen. 9:2-5). Various articles of food used in the patriarchal age are mentioned in Gen. 18:6-8; 25:34; 27:3, 4; 43:11. Regarding the food of the Israelites in Egypt, see Ex. 16:3; Num. 11:5. In the wilderness their ordinary food was miraculously supplied in the manna. They had also quails (Ex.…
The diet of eastern nations has been in all ages light and simple. Vegetable food was more used than animal. The Hebrews used a great variety of articles, (John 21:5) to give a relish to bread. Milk and its preparations hold a conspicuous place in eastern diet, as affording substantial nourishment; generally int he form of the modern leben , i.e. sour milk. Authorized Version "butter;" (Genesis 18:8; Judges 5:25; 2 Samuel 17:29) Fruit was another source of subsistence: figs stood first in point of importance; they were generally dried and pressed into cakes. Grapes were generally eaten in a dried state as raisins. Of vegetables we have most frequent notice of lentils…
In ancient the food of a people was more entirely the product of their own country than in our day. Palestine was favored with an abundance of animal food, grain, and vegetables. But throughout the East, vegetable food is more used than animal. Bread was the principal food. Grain of various kinds, beans, lentils, onions, grapes, together with olive oil, honey, and the milk of goats and cows were the ordinary fare. The wandering Arabs live much upon a coarse black bread. A very common dish in Syria is rice, with shreds of meat, vegetables, olive oil, etc., intermixed. A similar dish, made with beans, lentils, and various kinds of pulse, was in frequent use at an earlier age, Ge 25:29-34 2Ki 4:38-1.
