thresh'-ing (dush; aloao): Dush means literally, "to trample out." InJer 51:33, darakh, is used of threshing. Fitches and cummin were beaten off with a rod. The distinction between beating and threshing is made inIsa 28:27. Gideon, in order to avoid being seen by the Midianites, beat out his wheat in a wine press instead of threshing it on the threshing-floor (Jud 6:11). For a general description of the threshing operations seeAGRICULTURE.
Figurative: "Thou shalt thresh the mountains," i.e. thou wilt overcome great difficulties (Isa 41:15). Babylon's destruction was foretold poetically in the language of the threshing-floor (Isa 21:10;Jer 51:33;Da 2:35); Zion's foes would be gathered as sheaves on the threshing-floor (Mic 4:12,13; compare2Ki 13:7;Am 1:3;Hab 3:12); threshing unto the vintage, i.e. throughout the summer, indicated an extra abundant yield (Le 26:5).
James A. Patch