Wheat

one of the earliest cultivated grains. It bore the Hebrew name hittah , and was extensively cultivated in Palestine. There are various species of wheat. That which Pharaoh saw in his dream was the Triticum compositum, which bears several ears upon one stalk ( Genesis 41:5 ). The "fat of the kidneys of wheat" ( Deuteronomy 32:14 ), and the "finest of the wheat" ( Psalms 81:16 ; 147:14 ), denote the best of the kind. It was exported from Palestine in great quantities ( 1 Kings 5:11 ; Ezekiel 27:17 ; Acts 12:20 ).

Parched grains of wheat were used for food in Palestine ( Ruth 2:14 ; 1 Samuel 17:17 ; 2 Sam 17:28 ). The disciples, under the sanction of the Mosaic law ( Deuteronomy 23:25 ), plucked ears of corn, and rubbing them in their hands, ate the grain unroasted ( Matthew 12:1 ; Mark 2:23 ; Luke 6:1 ). Before any of the wheat-harvest, however, could be eaten, the first-fruits had to be presented before the Lord ( Leviticus 23:14 ).