NACON, THE THRESHING FLOOR OF

na'-kon, (nakhon; the King James Version Nachon): The place where Uzzah was smitten for putting forth his hand to steady the ark, hence, called afterward "Perezuzzah" (2 Samuel 6:8); in the parallel passage (1 Chronicles 13:9) we have kidhon, and in Josephus (Ant., VII, iv, 2) Cheidon. In 1 Samuel 23:23 the word nakhon occurs, and is translated "of a certainty," margin "with the certainty" or "to a set place"; also in 1 Samuel 26:4 it is translated "of a certainty," margin "to a set place." It is uncertain whether in 1 Samuel 6:6 it is a place-name at all; and no successful attempt has been made to identify either Nacon or Chidon; possibly they are both personal names.

E. W. G. Masterman

THRESHING

thresh'-ing (dush; aloao): Dush means literally, "to trample out." In Jeremiah 51:33, darakh, is used of threshing. Fitches and cummin were beaten off with a rod. The distinction between beating and threshing is made in Isaiah 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 (Judges 6:11). For a general description of the threshing operations see AGRICULTURE.

Figurative: "Thou shalt thresh the mountains," i.e. thou wilt overcome great difficulties (Isaiah 41:15). Babylon's destruction was foretold poetically in the language of the threshing-floor (Isaiah 21:10 Jeremiah 51:33 Daniel 2:35); Zion's foes would be gathered as sheaves on the threshing-floor (Micah 4:12, 13; compare 2 Kings 13:7 Amos 1:3 Habakkuk 3:12); threshing unto the vintage, i.e. throughout the summer, indicated an extra abundant yield (Leviticus 26:5).

James A. Patch

TOWER OF PENUEL

See PENIEL.

TOWER OF SILOAM

See SILOAM.

TOWER OF SYENE

si-e'-ne.

See SEVENEH.

TOWER OF THE FURNACES

See FURNACES, TOWER OF THE.