Plough, (charash', '-"". toplough ; whence macha- reshah', tV3"yTV2, and macharesheth, r'l"~~"c. l Sam. xiii, 20; two instruments used in agriculture. One of these is perhaps the ploughshare, the other the coul- ter. See also Bar). Egypt, from the earliest times, has laid claim to the honor of the invention of this im- portant implement, and as it was undoubtedly one of the first countries brought under culture by the hand of man after the tl I, the claim may be well founded. Agri- culture was also early practiced among the Hebrews, and. from their agreement in so many other matters, it is likely that the implements of the two nations were very nearly the same. The amient Egyptian plough was entirely of wood, and of very simple form, like that
Ancient Egyptian Plough.
still used in Egypt It consisted of a -hare, two han- dle.-, and the pole or beam, which la-t was inserted into
the lower end of the Mill, or the ba.-e of the handles.
and was strengthened by a rope connecting it with the he, i. h had no coulter, nor wen' wheels applied to any Egyptian plough; but it is probable that the
point was shod with a metal sock either of bronze or iron. It was drawn by two oxen, and the ploughman guided and drove them with a long goad, without the assistance of rein-, which are used by the modern Egyp- tians. He was sometimes accompanied by another man. who drove the animals, while lie managed the two handles of the plough: and sometimes the whip was substituted for the more usual goad. The mode of yoking the beasts was exceedingly simple. Across the
extremity of the pole a w len yoke or cross-bar, about
fifty-five inches or five feet in length, was fastened by a strap, lashed backwards and forwards over a promi- nence projecting from the centre of tic- yoke, which corresponded to a similar peg or knob at the end of the pole; and occasionally, in addition to these, was a ring passing over them, as in some Greek chariots. At • i- ther end of the yoke was a flat or slightly icave pro- jection, of semicircular form, which rested on a pad placed upon the wither- of the animal; and through a hole on either side of it passed a thong fir suspend- ing the shoulder-pieces, which formed the collar. These were two wooden bars, forked at about half their length, padded so a- to protect the shoulder from friction, and connected at the lower end by a strong broad hand passing under the throat. S. ,- JfoKK. Sometimes the
draught, instead of being fr tin- shoulder, was from
the head, tin- yoke being tied to the ha-e of the horn-;
and in religious ceremonies oxen frequently drew the bier, or the sacred .-brine, by a rope fastened to the up- per part of the horns, without either yoke or pole | Wil- kinson, .\ in-. Egypt, ii. 11 sq.). According to modem travellers the plough now used in Palestine differs in some respects from the ancient implement above de- scribed. It is lightly built, with the least possible >kill or expense, consisting of two poles, which cross each other near the ground. That nearest the oxen is fas- tened to the yoke, while the other serves, the one end as the handle, the other as the ploughshare, It is drawn by oxen, camels, cows, or heifers | Hackett, Script. Tllust. p. 153 sip: Thomson. 1. mi, I and Booh, i. 207 sq. I. In Asia Minor substantially the' same custom and im- plements prevail (Van Lennep, Bible Lands, p. 7,"> sip),
Sic A'.KIl I [ I Il;lJ.
Plongh of Asia Minor.
■ the !•<•!<' t i wlii.ti tli,- rn.ss i..Min with y.,k.-s, /.. is attached : .-. the hare : •''. the hamlle . < r.pr. >.hm thr.-,- ii, :
■ i with a scraper ut the - thei end, probably for cleane-
Ploughman ("XX. ikkdr, [sa. lxi. 5, which signifies not only a ploughman, but a husbandman in general). Among the I lebrews, the rich and the noble, itis true, in the cultivation of the soil did not always put themselves on a level with their servants ; hut none, however rich or noble or prophetically favored, disdained to put their hand to the plough, or otherwise to join occasionally
SOd^f
PLOUGHMAN'S COMPLAINT 301
PLURALIST
in the labors of agriculture (1 Sam. xi, 7 ; 1 Kings xix, 19; comp. 2 Chron. xxvi, 10). ■ See Agriculture.
Ploughman's Complaint, The. a remarkable anonymous work, published in England in the year 1352, which severely condemned the practices of po- pery, especially auricular confession, the celibacy and selfishness of the priests, the rapacity of the friars, the covetousness and negligence of the popes, etc. It was one among many means which opened the eyes of the people to the iniquity of the system, and prepared the way for the glorious Reformation.
Plough-Monday, the first Monday after twelfth- day ; so called from a diversion called fool-plough, which was formerly in use on Ash-Wednesday, but afterwards transferred to this day. Old ploughs are preserved in the belfries of Bassingbourne and Barrington. Plough alms were one penny paid for every plough harnessed between Easter and Pentecost in 878, and in 960 paya- ble on the fifteenth night after Easter.