Mill: For grinding corn, mentioned as used in the time of Abraham
(Genesis 18:6)
That used by the Hebrews consisted of two circular stones, each 2
feet in diameter and half a foot thick, the lower of which was called
the "nether millstone"
(Job 41:24) and the upper the "rider." The
upper stone was turned round by a stick fixed in it as a handle.
There were then no public mills, and thus each family required to be
provided with a hand-mill. The corn was ground daily, generally by
the women of the house
(Isaiah 47:1,2; Matthew 24:41) It was with the upper
stone of a hand-mill that "a certain woman" at Thebez broke
Abimelech's skull
(Judges 9:53) "a piece of a millstone;" literally, "a
millstone rider", i.e., the "runner," the stone which revolves. Comp.
(2 Samuel 11:21) Millstones could not be pledged
(Deuteronomy 24:6) as they were
necessary in every family.
