Seven Species

TheSeven Species(Hebrew:שִׁבְעַת הַמִינִים,Shiv'at HaMinim) are seven agricultural products—two grains and five fruits—that are listed in theHebrew Bibleas being special products of theLand of Israel.

The seven species listed arewheat,barley,grape,fig,pomegranates,olive(oil), anddate(date honey) (Deuteronomy 8:8).^[1]^[2]Theirfirst fruitswere the only acceptable offerings in theTemple.

History

The Seven Species have played an important role in the food of theIsraelitesin theLand of Israeland the religious traditions ofJudaism.

Many references to these basic foods can be found inBible.TheMishnastates that onlyfirst fruitsof the Seven Species could be brought to theTemple in Jerusalemas offerings. Wheat fields, vineyards and olive groves are still a salient feature of theIsraelilandscape today. Figs, olives, pomegranates and dates are common ingredients in thecuisine of Israel.^[3]

Wheat

The ancient Israelites cultivated bothwheatandbarley.These two grains are mentioned first in the biblical list of the Seven Species of the land of Israel and their importance as food inancient Israelite cuisineis also seen in the celebration of the barley harvest at the festival ofPassoverand of the wheat harvest at the festival ofShavuot.^[4]

Barley

A hardy cereal that has coarse bristles coming from the ears. It is widely cultivated, mainly for use in brewing and stockfeed.

Grapes

Grapeswere used mainly for the production ofwine,although they were also eaten fresh and dried.^[5]

Figs

Figswere cultivated throughout the Land of Israel and fresh or dried figs were part of the daily diet. A common way of preparing dried figs was to chop them and press them into a cake.^[6]Figs are frequently mentioned in the Bible (for example,1 Samuel 25:18,1 Samuel 30:12and1 Chronicles 12:41).^[7]

Pomegranates

Pomegranateswere usually eaten fresh, although occasionally they were used to makejuiceor wine, or sun-dried for use when the fresh fruit was out of season. They probably played a minor part in Israelite cuisine, but were symbolically important, as adornments on the hem of the robe of thehigh priestand theTemple pillars,and embossed on coinage.^[8]

Olives

Theolivewas a major element in the seven species.Olive oilwas used not only for food and for cooking, but also for lighting, sacrificial offerings, ointment, andanointmentfor priestly or royal office.^[9]

Dates

Dateswere eaten fresh or dried, but were used mostly boiled into thick, long-lastingsyrupcalled "date honey"(dvash temarim) for use as a sweetener. The honey in the Biblical reference of "a land flowing with milk and honey" (for example,Exodus 3:8) is date honey.^[10]

While in Jewish law dates are under the category of the seven species, bee honey may have been the type of honey that is referred to in the Torah. By the time the Talmud was written honey bees were extinct in Israel, and dates were used in place of honey, the excavation of Tel Rehov shows that beekeeping was practiced in Israel in the early Iron Age 3,000 years ago during the time ofking David.^[11]

Several accounts in Torah also indicate that bee honey existed in ancient Israel; in theBook of Judges Samsontakes honey from a bee hive that he finds in the carcass of a lion (Judges 14:8–9,see alsoSamson's riddle).

As a reference for measurements

The size of various measurements are tied to the specific amounts and sizes ofHalachic objects.For example, the minimum width ofTefillinstraps is known byLaw given to Moses at Sinaito be the size of a grain ofbarley.Alike, other fruits are used for measuring.Talmudscholars use the verse of Seven Species as a hint for all the measures using fruit sizes.

Modern significance

The seven species are traditionally eaten onTu Bishvat,the Jewish "New Year for Trees"; onSukkot,the "Festival of Booths"; and onShavuot,the "Festival of Weeks". Inhalakha(Jewish law), they are considered more important than other fruits, and a specialberakhah(blessing) is recited after eating them. Additionally, the blessing prior to eating them precedes those of other food items, except for bread. The seven species are all important ingredients inIsraeli cuisinetoday.

Deuteronomy 8:8 is prominently inscribed (in the LatinVulgatetranslation:Terram Frumenti Hordei, ac Vinarum, in qua Ficus et Malogranata et Oliveta Nascuntur, Terram Olei ac Mellis) on the dome ofCalifornia ToweratBalboa ParkinSan Diego,California,referring to the species' importance inCalifornia agriculture.

References

Notes

^Cooper 1993,pp. 4–9.
^"The Seven Species".Jewish Virtual Library.RetrievedJanuary 22,2016.
^Zisling, Yael."The biblical seven species".Gems in Israel.Archived fromthe originalon 16 February 2015.Retrieved22 January2016.
^Macdonald 2008,pp. 19–21.
^Marks 2010,p. 237.
^Marks 2010,p. 196.
^Macdonald 2008,pp. 28–31.
^Marks 2010,pp. 479–480.
^Macdonald 2008,pp. 23–24.
^Marks 2010,pp. 153–154.
^Ancient bees found in Israel hailed from TurkeyBy Thomas H. Maugh II,Los Angeles Times(June 8, 2010)

Sources

Cooper, John (1993).Eat and Be Satisfied: A Social History of Jewish Food.New Jersey:Jason Aronson Inc.ISBN 0-87668-316-2.
Marks, Gil(2010).Encyclopedia of Jewish Food.Hoboken, New Jersey:Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.ISBN 978-0470391303.
Macdonald, Nathan (November 17, 2008).What Did the Ancient Israelites Eat?.Grand Rapids, Michigan:William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.ISBN 978-0-8028-6298-3.