Flour

Flour (qemach and solet in Hebrew — the latter denoting fine or sifted flour) was a dietary staple throughout the biblical world, produced by grinding grain between millstones. The daily grinding of grain was a household task performed by women (Matthew 24:41) or by slaves. Abraham directed Sarah to prepare "three seahs of fine flour" (Genesis 18:6) for the three divine visitors, an expression of the finest hospitality.

Fine flour played a central role in the Mosaic sacrificial system. The grain offering (minchah) consisted of fine wheat flour, with or without oil, frankincense, salt, and leaven (Leviticus 2). The bread of the Presence in the tabernacle was made from fine flour (Leviticus 24:5). In the economy of Israel, flour served as a medium of trade and provision: Elijah's miraculous jar of flour that did not run out during the famine (1 Kings 17:14-16) and Elisha's purifying of the deadly stew with flour (2 Kings 4:41) are among the notable flour narratives. The vision of Revelation 18:13, lamenting Babylon's fall, includes "fine flour" among the luxury commodities the great city will no longer import.