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Q:
Except for the reference in Matthew 3:11, the term
"threshingfloor" is found only in the Old
Testament.
Its use
there indicates there is a
particular significance in a
"threshingfloor". 2Samuel 24 tells of King David buying a
threshingfloor, to build an altar on it. Why a
"threshingfloor" and not a field or some other structure? I
believe God has a purpose in every word in His Bible. What's
the significance in this usage?
A: Let me begin with a couple of technical points. I
believe the New Testament verse to which you refer is
Matthew 3:12. In the King James Bible, it refers simply to
the "floor" but this is obviously a threshingfloor, so there
is no problem. Also, the same phrase is used in Luke 3:17,
so there are two New Testament references to the
threshingfloor.
Threshing in Bible times was the harvest-time activity by
which the grain was removed from the husk and the tares (or
false grain) was separated from the wheat. The threshing
floor was the place where this activity took place and it
was an important place for the people of Bible times much
like the importance of the water-powered mill in my part of
the world about 150 years ago. The threshing floor was flat
and hardened by the passing of oxen over the sheaves,
sometimes pulling a sled designed to separate the grain from
the husks. After the threshing process, the stalks and grain
were thrown up into the air so that the wind might blow the
unwanted chaff away and leave the valuable kernels. This was
known as winnowing. The threshing floors were important
places and were often used as landmarks.
As I read through the Bible uses of the threshing floor, it
clearly has two connotations. First, it is a place of
blessing. It was the place where the grain of the harvest
was actually taken from the sheaves. As such, it was a place
where the blessing was received. The Bible refers to "the
increase of the threshingfloor" (Numbers 18:30) and to a
time when "the floors shall be full of wheat" (Joel 2:24).
But secondly, it is a picture of judgment. This is certainly
seen in the Matthew 3:12 passage you mentioned: "Whose fan
is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and
gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the
chaff with unquenchable fire." At the time of threshing, the
wheat is separated from the chaff and the tares. Also, the
sheaves are beaten or crushed in order to make the
separation. All of this is seen as a picture of judgment.
Micah 4:12 tells how the Lord will gather the nations "as
the sheaves into the floor." The picture of judgment is very
clear.
So, why did God allow David to purchase the threshing floor
from the Jebusite and use it as the temple site? Of course,
it is the location of Mount Moriah and the offering of
Isaac. 2Chronicles 3:1 states, "Then Solomon began to build
the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where
the LORD appeared unto David his father, in the place that
David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the
Jebusite." But how does the typical significance of a
threshing floor fit with the temple?
First, it is a place of blessing. Certainly, this can be
said of the place where God choose to meet with the
Israelites. In the Psalms, we read, "Blessed are they that
dwell in thy house" (Psalm 84:4) and "we have blessed you
out of the house of the LORD" (Psalm 118:26). Other passages
point to the same truth. The temple was meant to be a place
of blessing for the people of God.
Second, it is a place of judgment. We see this in the
initial purchase of the site by David. God was judging
Israel because of David's sin and David needed to bring an
offering to the Lord. But we also see this in the brazen
altar in front of the temple. It was a place of sacrifice
where the sins of the Israelites would be imputed to the
sacrificial animal and forgiven.
I am sure that much more could be drawn from this. I
encourage you to take this study further. Thank you for the
excellent question.
Till He comes,
Pastor David Reagan