Agriculture in ancient Israel was closely tied to the region's seasons and climate. The agricultural year began in the fall with the "early rains," which softened the ground for plowing and sowing seeds. The "latter rains" in the spring then helped the crops to mature for harvest. The summer was a dry season, and the fall was marked by the collection of fruit crops, coinciding with the start of the rainy season.
The Barley harvest occurred in the spring, around April, making it one of the first crops to be harvested in the agricultural year. This was followed by the Wheat harvest, which took place in the late spring to early summer, around May to June.
The Vine (grapes) and Olive trees, being more tolerant to different weathers, had their fruits collected in the summer to fall, around June to September. The Date (Palm) fruits were also gathered in this period, typically in the late summer to fall. The Fig harvest season in ancient Israel typically occurred in the early fall, around August to September.
Finally, the Pomegranate, a symbol of righteousness, was harvested in the fall, around September to October, marking the end of the agricultural cycle.
The 7 seeds in Israel are Wheat, Barley, Vine, Fig, Olive, Date-Palm, and Pomegranate. They are integral to the biblical narrative and represent the agricultural abundance of the land. Each seed holds a unique status in the pastoral life of ancient Israel and are not just crops, but symbols of God's provision and faithfulness.
The 7 churches in the Apocalypse are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Each church is associated with a specific archetype and is relevant to our daily lives. While the specific items in each pattern are different, both patterns are composed of seven items and have a prophetic significance. They represent different aspects of God's character and work in the world, and they are associated with a particular genius or natural ability.
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