BARJONAH.— See Bar and Peter.
BARKOS (oNiri;, cf. Bab. Barkftsu).— Ancestor of certain Nethiniin who returned with Zerul). (Kzr 2«, Neh 7" = Barchu8, 1 Es 5==). See GENEALOGY.
BARLEY (.Tivif sedr&h, KpiO-fi, hordeum). — Barley (.'\riib. .iha'ir) is a well-known grain, of whidi several varieties are cultivated, Ilordeurn dis- tirhum, //. tetrastichum, and //. hcxa.itichu77i, the wild originals of which are not known. One of I he wild species of the genua Ifordcum in Pal., however, approaches the cultivated species near I'nough to make it possible that it may be the "lock, or a partial reversion of cultivated barley to tv])e. It is //. ith'ihuren.'ic, IJoiss (//. spontancum, Koch), whidi grows aliTiiidantly in Galilee, in the region of Merj 'Ayftn, and in jilaces in the Syrian desert between I'aliiiyra and llamath. It ditfers from H. distiihiim by the smaller size of its spikes and grains, and the great length of its awns, which are sometimes a foot log.
Barley is eultivatcil .-verywhere in Palestine, principally as provender foi horses (1 K 4**) and SiSaes. It takes the place of oats in Eoiope and
America, as the cut straw of barley and wheat takes the place of hay. It is also used among the poor for bread, as in ancient times (Jg 7", 2 K 4^", Jn C- ", and cakes Ezk 4"). It was mixed with other cheap grains for the same purpose (Ezk 4'). When any one wishes to express the extremity of his poverty, he will say, ' I have not barley bread to eat.' 'I'his fact illustrates several allusions to barley in Scripture. Barley meal was the jealousy ofl'ering (Nu 5"); it is mentioned by EzLikiel as the fee paid to false prophetesses by people who consulted them (Ezk 13'") ; it was the symbol of the poverty of Gideon's family, and his own low estate in that family ; by a ' barley cake' Midian's great host was to be over- thrown (Jg 7'^).
The barley harvest begins in April in the depth of the Jordan Valley, and continues to be later as we ascend to the higher mountains, till, at an altitude of 6500 ft., it takes place in July and August. It was probably the time of the barley harvest when the Israelites crossed the Jordan (Jos 3"). It is earlier than the wheat harvest (Ex Q^'-**). The barley harvest was a recognised date (Ru 1^, 2 S 2i». ii>)_ varying, of course, with the altitude. Barley is sown in Oct. and Nov. That which is sown in the districts below the frost level continues to grow through the rainy season till the harvest. That which is sown on the high mountain levels springs up, the top dies under the snow, and then the biennial stalk springs up when the snow melts, and grows with great rapidity and vigour. Barley is not sown in the spring in Pal. and Syria.
G. E. Post.
BARLEY HARYEST.— See Time.
BARN.— See Agriculture.
BARNABAS {Baprd^at, .iK(3j-g 'the son of ex- hortation').— A name given by the disciples to Joseph, a Levite of Cyprus (Ac 4™). He is clearly to be distinguished from ' Joseph called Barsabbas ' (Ac 1^), though there is ancient authority for identifying him with one of the seventy disciples of our Lord (Euseb. HE i. 12; Clem. Alex. Misc. ii. 20). When we first hear of B., it is as selling a field, — for the old Mosaic enactments forbidding Levites to possess land (Nu 18=»-=", Dt 10») had long since fallen into abeyance (see Jer 32'), — and laying the price at the apostles' feet (Ac 4**-'"). The general esteem in which he was held is proved by the influence which he exerted in commending the young convert Saul to the apostles at Jerus. (Ac 9-''). The way in which the two are introduced inclines one to the belief that B. and Saul must have met before — a belief which is rendered the more probable by the near proximity of Cyprus to Tarsus, and the natural wish of B. as a Hellenist to visit the university there. In any case, B. seems from the first to have formed a high idea of Saul's ability and energy ; for when despatched to Antioch on a delicate nii.ssion, he had no sooner discovered the growing capabilities of the work there than he ' went forth to Tarsus to seek for Saul ' ; and when he had brought him to Antioch, ' for a whole year they were gathered together with the Church, and taught much people ' ( Ac 1 !*>• *», A.D. 42). ' Thus, twice over, did B. save Saul for the work of Chris- tianity ' (Earrar). A practical proof of the success of tlieir joint labours was atl'orded by the relief which the Church at Antioch desi)atclied by tlieir hands to the elders at .Jerus. on the prophetic intimation of a coming famine (Ac ll""*'). On tlieir return to Antioch the two friends were, at the bidding of the Holy Ghost, solemnly separated and ordained for the work of the Church (Ac 13'-'- '■') ; and from this time, though not of the number yf the twelve, they enjoyed the title of apostle
248
BAKODIS
BAKTLM^EUS
(Ac 14''-". On the significance of the title, see Light- foot, Gal. 9'2 tf. and art. APOSTLE). Accordingly, B. accomjianied Saul (or, as he was now to be known, Paul) on his first missionary journey, visiting tirst of all his native Cyprus (A.D. 45). Later at Lystra,