### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term מַחֲרֵשָׁה (machărêshâh), transliterated as machărêshâh and assigned Strong's number `{{H4281}}`, refers primarily to an agricultural or digging implement, most commonly translated as a "mattock" or "pick-axe." Its root lies in the verb חָרַשׁ (charash - `{{H2790}}`), which carries a broad semantic range including "to cut in," "to engrave," "to plow," "to devise," or "to be silent." In the context of machărêshâh, the sense of "plowing" or "cutting into the ground" is paramount, indicating a tool designed for breaking up hard soil, digging, or perhaps even preparing fields. While the precise form of this ancient tool is subject to some scholarly debate, its function as a heavy-duty digging or cultivating instrument is well established from its etymological connection and biblical context. It represents a fundamental piece of equipment for agrarian societies, essential for cultivation and construction.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term מַחֲרֵשָׁה (machărêshâh - `{{H4281}}`) appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both instances found within the same narrative passage in 1 Samuel:
* [[1 Samuel 13:20]]: "But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen every man his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, and his sickle."
* [[1 Samuel 13:21]]: "And the price for the sharpening was a pim for the mattocks, and for the plowshares, and for the axes, and for setting the goads."
These verses describe a critical period in Israelite history under Philistine oppression. The Philistines, possessing a monopoly on ironworking and metal tools, had disarmed the Israelites, preventing them from forging their own weapons or even maintaining their agricultural implements. Consequently, the Israelites were forced to rely on the Philistines for sharpening essential tools like the machărêshâh, along with plowshares (אֵת - `{{H0226}}`), axes (קַרְדֹּם - `{{H7134}}`), and sickles (מַגֵּרָה - `{{H4041}}`). This forced dependence on their oppressors for basic necessities, including tools for farming, highlights the severe economic and military subjugation of Israel. The machărêshâh, as a vital implement for daily survival and agricultural productivity, thus symbolizes Israel's vulnerability and lack of self-sufficiency during this period. Its mention underscores the practical and economic dimensions of the Philistine dominance.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most significant related word is the verbal root חָרַשׁ (charash - `{{H2790}}`), from which מַחֲרֵשָׁה (machărêshâh - `{{H4281}}`) is derived. This root signifies actions involving cutting, plowing, or deep work, aligning perfectly with the function of a mattock or pick-axe. Other related terms in the context of agricultural tools and metalworking, particularly in 1 Samuel 13, include:
* אֵת (eth - `{{H0226}}`): Often translated as "plowshare" or "coulter," another essential component for plowing.
* קַרְדֹּם (qardom - `{{H7134}}`): An "axe," used for felling trees or shaping wood.
* In a broader sense, the narrative context connects to concepts of technological control, economic oppression, national subjugation, and the strategic importance of resources like iron in ancient warfare and daily life. The Philistines' control over the *means of production* (ironworking) had profound implications for Israel's ability to maintain its agricultural base and defend itself.
### Theological Significance
The appearance of מַחֲרֵשָׁה (machărêshâh - `{{H4281}}`) in 1 Samuel 13 carries significant theological weight. It serves as a tangible symbol of Israel's subjugation and the practical consequences of their spiritual decline and lack of trust in Yahweh. Their inability to independently sharpen or forge their own tools, including this fundamental agricultural implement, graphically illustrates their weakened state and dependence on a foreign power. This situation was a direct result of their ongoing disobedience and failure to fully drive out the Canaanites and Philistines as commanded by God.
The Philistines' control over iron implements was not merely an economic strategy; it was a means of disarming Israel, both literally (preventing weapons) and figuratively (undermining their self-sufficiency and national identity). From a theological perspective, it highlights how earthly circumstances and resources can reflect spiritual realities. God's covenant with Israel promised blessing and prosperity, including the ability to work their land freely. The lack of proper tools, therefore, points to a departure from this covenant blessing and the consequences of a disobedient nation. The narrative implicitly sets the stage for God's eventual intervention through figures like Saul and later David, who would break the Philistine yoke and restore Israel's sovereignty, including control over essential technologies and resources.
### Summary
The Hebrew word מַחֲרֵשָׁה (machărêshâh - `{{H4281}}`) denotes a "mattock" or "pick-axe," a crucial agricultural and digging tool derived from the root חָרַשׁ (charash - `{{H2790}}`), meaning "to plow" or "to cut in." Its two occurrences in [[1 Samuel 13:20]] and [[1 Samuel 13:21]] are highly significant. They vividly portray Israel's severe economic and military subjugation under Philistine rule, where the Israelites were denied the ability to maintain their own metal tools and were forced to rely on their oppressors for basic necessities. The machărêshâh thus symbolizes Israel's vulnerability, lack of self-sufficiency, and the tangible consequences of their spiritual disobedience, underscoring the deep connection between material conditions and the nation's covenant relationship with God.
TRV