SEED
Planting began during the October rainy season (see TIME). The Law required the purity of the seeds (Lev. 11:37, 38).
On occasions, when the terrain permitted, the sower would throw the grain in front of the team that pulled the plow, which would then cover the seeds.
It was considered that the best way to sow wheat was in rows (Isa. 28:25). It was forbidden to sow seeds of mixed species (Lev. 19:19; Deut. 22:9), but it was permitted to grow different species of plants in the same field, as long as they were grouped by species.
The mixing of animals through hybridization was also prohibited, as was the mixing of Israel with idolatrous races (Deut. 7:3; cf. 2 Cor. 6:14-18).
The figure of the seed is used on several occasions:
(a) from the Word of God (Lk. 8:11);
(b) of the believer’s body, which is planted as seed in death with a view to the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:35-49);
(c) of Christ in his death and burial as a grain of wheat sown with much fruit in his resurrection (John 12:24) and
(d) also of Christ as the offspring of the woman who was to destroy the power of the serpent (Gen. 3:15) and the offspring of Abraham in whom all nations will be blessed (Gen. 22:18; 26:4) and families of the earth (Gen. 28:14)