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ThomasAid to Bible Understanding
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“Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (John 11:16) Since the Judeans had shortly before this time sought to stone Jesus (John 11:7, 8), Thomas perhaps had in mind encouraging the other disciples to accompany Jesus even though this might result in their joining Lazarus and/or Jesus in death.
Thomas showed a dubious attitude in response to Jesus’ comment about going away to prepare a place for the apostles, saying: “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How do we know the way?” (John 14:2-6) Similarly, after hearing about Jesus’ resurrection, Thomas stated: “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails and stick my finger into the print of the nails and stick my hand into his side, I will certainly not believe.” Eight days later Thomas had the opportunity to do this when Jesus again appeared to the disciples. But whether Thomas actually did feel the wounds on this occasion is not stated. He was nevertheless convinced and exclaimed: “My Lord and my God!” Christ then mildly reproved him, saying: “Happy are those who do not see and yet believe.”—John 20:24-29.
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ThornAid to Bible Understanding
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THORN
Any of numerous thorny or prickly plants. About two hundred varieties of thorny plants have been reported as growing in Palestine and Syria, among them being the thorny burnet, the thorny caper, the acanthus, the boxthorn and hawthorns. Although thorns proved to be troublesome to man, they were not altogether useless. Thorny plants were employed as hedges (Hos. 2:6) and for fuel (Eccl. 7:6), and served as food for asses, camels and goats. In more recent times, as may have been the case anciently, the boxthorn and the bramble in particular have been used for hedges, and the thorny burnet has been cut up as fuel for lime kilns.—Isa. 33:12.
The effects of the cursed ground, with its thorns and thistles, were keenly felt by the descendants of Adam (Gen. 3:17, 18), so that Noah’s father Lamech spoke of “the pain of our hands resulting from the ground which Jehovah has cursed.” (Gen. 5:29) After the flood, Jehovah blessed Noah and his sons, stating that his purpose for them was to fill the earth. (Gen. 9:1) God’s curse on the ground was not stated anew. However, Jehovah did not, as in perfect Adam’s case, tell Noah and his family to “subdue the earth.” (Compare Genesis 1:28 with Genesis 8:21-9:2.) This suggests that imperfect man, without divine guidance, could never subdue the earth in the way God had originally purposed. Man would continue experiencing difficulties in cultivating the soil, including having to fight troublesome plants, thorns and thistles. Undoubtedly man’s mismanagement of earth’s resources has increased his problems in this regard.
In the Promised Land, “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Ex. 3:8), the Israelites had to work to keep the land free of thorns and other weeds, as these quickly take over neglected or desolated land. (Isa. 5:6; 7:23-25; 34:13) Eventually, through disobedience to Jehovah, Israel brought spiritual ruin to the nation, God’s “inheritance,” and this was reflected both figuratively and literally in their laboring in vain, sowing wheat but reaping thorns.—Jer. 12:7, 13.
As highlighted by Jesus’ illustration concerning the sower, thorns threaten the growth of cultivated crops. (Matt. 13:7; Luke 8:7) So before a field covered with thorns and thistles was cultivated, these troublesome plants were removed, generally by burning the field over. (Heb. 6:8) Thorns also presented somewhat of a fire hazard. Especially at harvesttime, when the thorns alongside the standing grain are dry, they readily catch fire and an entire field can be consumed as the fire spreads from the thorns to the standing grain.—Ex. 22:6.
In mockery, Roman soldiers braided a crown of thorns and placed it upon Jesus’ head. (Mark 15:17; John 19:2) While the particular plant in question has been linked with what is now called the “Christthorn,” a shrub growing to a height of three to nine feet (c. .9 to 2.7 meters) and having flexible branches with stiff thorns, no certain identification is possible.
FIGURATIVE USE
Frequently “thorns” are mentioned in a figurative or an illustrative sense. The Assyrians, although interwoven like thorns, were to be consumed as fully dry stubble. (Nah. 1:10) Thorns are used to denote people, even rulers, whose actions being bad, are in line for adverse judgment. (2 Ki. 14:9, 10; Isa. 9:18, 19; 10:17-19) Wicked opposers of Jehovah’s servant are depicted as being extinguished like a fire of thornbushes. (Ps. 118:10, 12) Jesus Christ referred to thorns when illustrating the truth that individuals are known by their fruits.—Matt. 7:16.
Thorns also designate persons and things that cause injury and are troublesome. (Num. 33:55; Prov. 22:5; Ezek. 28:24) Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7) may have been an affliction of his eyes or another part of his body (see Acts 23:1-5; Galatians 4:15; 6:11) or perhaps the false apostles and other disturbers who challenged Paul’s apostleship and work. (See 2 Corinthians 11:5, 6, 12-15; Galatians 1:6-9; 5:12; 6:17.) Jehovah, through his prophet Jeremiah, compared the hearts of the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to ground covered with thorns, that is, with untruth, injustice and unrighteousness. (Jer. 4:1-4; compare Hosea 10:12, 13.) Fittingly the replacement of thorns by trees represents the restoration of divine favor.—Isa. 55:13; see BRAMBLE; BRIERS, BRIER HEDGE; BUSH; WEEDS.
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Three TavernsAid to Bible Understanding
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THREE TAVERNS
A resting-place on the Appian Way, the well-known highway that ran from Rome to the port of Puteoli on what is now known as the Bay of Naples. The place perhaps got its name from three inns where travelers could stop to rest and refresh themselves. Three Taverns, according to ancient writings, was thirty-three Roman miles (c. 30 statute miles or 49 kilometers) from Rome and thus about three-fourths of the distance from Rome to the Market Place of Appius. Having heard about Paul’s coming, some Christians from Rome traveled as far as the Market Place of Appius, whereas others met him at Three Taverns.—Acts 28:13-15.
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ThreshingAid to Bible Understanding
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THRESHING
The process of releasing grain from its stalk and chaff. Several methods employed in Bible times are still used in different parts of the earth. If gleaners had a small amount to thresh, or if the grain was of small size like cummin, or if the threshing was done secretly during dangerous times, a rod or flail was used to beat the grain by hand, either on the ground or in a winepress.—Judg. 6:11; Ruth 2:17; Isa. 28:27.
The threshing floor, however, was the location of normal threshing operations. Usually situated on a higher elevation exposed to the wind, it consisted of a flat circular area, up to fifty feet (c. 15 meters) in diameter, made either of stone or hard-packed earth. Threshing floors not privately owned were often clustered together near a village for communal use.
The sheaves of barley or wheat, the principal grains of Palestine, were spread out on the floor (today generally to a depth of twelve to eighteen inches [30.5 to 45.7 centimeters]). The treading by bulls or other animals, as they constantly circled the floor, gradually broke down the straw and freed the grain from the chaff. The animals were not muzzled while treading the grain.—Deut. 25:4; Hos. 10:11; 1 Cor. 9:9, 10.
Threshing instruments pulled by animals speeded up the process and were more thorough than animal hoofs alone. (Isa. 41:15; Amos 1:3) Models used in more modern times are a broad fiat heavy sledge with sharp teeth of stone or iron on its underside or a frame that pulls heavy cylindrical rollers fitted with
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