Barley in the New Year

God's seasons are perfect in every way. Sometimes I think, that when  I'm over stressed or feeling beat down, etc. I wonder if I'm going "against the current". I've often wondered, if I were to truly acknowledge and understand God's physical and spiritual seasons  I could at least prepare for them and go with the current and rise above the wave, instead of feeling like I'm drowning. At this time is the season of the "New Year". In the Bible, god tells the children of Israel that in the month of "abib" this shall be the beginning of months for them. What is "abib"? and how does it registere with our holistic health?

Where is Abib Mentioned in the Hebrew Bible?

The story of the Exodus relates "This day you are going out in the the month of the Abib." (Ex 13,4).

To commemorate that we left Egypt in the month of the Abib, we are instructed to bring the Passover sacrifice and celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzot) at this time of year. In Dt 16,1 we are commanded:

"Keep the month of the Abib and make the Passover (sacrifice) to YHWH your God at night, because in the month of the Abib YHWH your God took you out of Egypt". 

Similarly, we are commanded in Ex 23,15:

"You will keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread; seven days you will eat unleavened bread, as I have commanded you, at the time of the month of the Abib, because in it you went out of Egypt."

The same is commanded in Ex 34,18:

"You will keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread; seven days you will eat unleavened bread, as have I commanded you, at the time of the month of the Abib, because in the month of the Abib you went out of Egypt."

What is Abib?

Abib indicates a stage in the development of the barley crops. This is clear from Ex 9,31-32 which describes the devastation caused by the plague of hail:

"And the flax and the barley were smitten, because the barley was Abib and the flax was Giv'ol. And the wheat and the spelt were not smitten because they were dark (Afilot)."

The above passage relates that the barley crops were destroyed by the hail while the wheat and spelt were not damaged. To understand the reason for this we must look at how grain develops. When grains are early in their development they are flexible and have a dark green color. As they become ripe they take on a light yellowish hue and become more brittle. The reason that the barley was destroyed and the wheat was not is that the barley had reached the stage in its development called Abib and as a result had become brittle enough to be damaged by the hail. In contrast, the wheat and spelt were still early enough in their development, at a stage when they were flexible and not susceptible to being damaged by hail. The description of the wheat and spelt as "dark" (Afilot) indicates that they were still in the stage when they were deep green and had not yet begun to lighten into the light yellowish hue which characterizes ripe grains. In contrast, the barley had reached the stage of Abib at which time it was no longer "dark" and at this point it probably had begun to develop golden streaks.

from Karaite-korner.org

So what are the health benefits of barley?

Health Benefits of Barley

Barley has numerous health benefits. It is known for its ability to help alleviate diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity. It is also effective against diseases like atherosclerosis,diabetes, insulin resistance etc. Given below are some of the benefits.

• Barley is low in fat and is known to reduce craving some kinds for food and therefore very useful to those who want to lose weight. It acts as an appetite suppressant making people feel like they have eaten more than they really have.
• Barley is high is soluble fiber and can reduce blood cholesterol and blood glucose levels. It helps in reducing the cholesterol level in the body as the dietary fiber in barley binds to bile acids and helps dispose them through the feces. Consuming Barley is said to soothe and calm the bowels. Dietary fiber in Barley is helpful in making your digestive system run smoothly and maintaining a healthy colon. The friendly bacteria present in the large intestine ferment the insoluble fiber content of the barley to form butyric acid which functions as the main fuel for intestinal cells. The insoluble fiber in barley is also said to help women fight against the formation of gallstones.
• The Copper present in barley is known to be helpful in reducing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Copper helps in maintaining the flexibility in blood vessels, bones and joints.
• Barley is rich in niacin, which is highly effective in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and blood clots.
• Barley is also good for persons suffering from diabetes and can take the place of normal food where rice is prohibited. Barley may be an even better breakfast choice than oats for persons with Type 2 diabetes. Consuming Barley is known to substantially reduce the risk of diabetes.
• Barley can prove to be extremely helpful in curing childhood asthma.
• It is Easy to digest and can be given to invalids.
• Barley is diuretic, brings clear urine and is useful in fevers. It can be used as a nutrient in cases of mucus colitis or simple diarrhea with fever.
• Barley contains Selenium which is helpful in preserving the elasticity of the skin and protects it from radical damage. It also has Manganese which works with the B complex vitamins and gives an overall feeling of well being.
• Barley grass is used in traditional Chinese medicine. It rich in vitamins A, C, B1, B2, folic acid, B12, calcium, iron, potassium and chlorophyll. It has been prescribed to fight diseases of the spleen or poor digestion. It has also been utilized to treat conditions such as depression or emotional imbalance. Barley grass is a powerful antioxidant that is believed to help the body kill cancer cells and overcome a variety of ailments, including acne and ulcers.source

So let us eat in season, pray in season and be renewed each season!