a grain much cultivated in Egypt ( Exodus 9:31 ) and in Palestine ( Leviticus 27:16 ; Deuteronomy 8:8 ). It was usually the food of horses ( 1 Kings 4:28 ). Barley bread was used by the poorer people (Judg. 7:13 ; 2 Kings 4:42 ). Barley of the first crop was ready for the harvest by the time of the Passover, in the middle of April ( Ruth 1:22 ; 2 Sam 21:9 ). Mention is made of barley-meal ( Numbers 5:15 ). Our Lord fed five thousand with "five barley loaves and two small fishes" ( John 6:9 ).

These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.