Flagon
“Pressed cake, from the root meaning to compress”
Summary
A translation for two distinct Hebrew terms: ashishah, referring to cakes of pressed raisins, and nebel, referring to a bottle or vessel.
☩Cakes of Raisins
The word ashishah, rendered 'flagon' in older translations, actually means a cake of pressed raisins. These were common refreshments, especially for travelers, and were distributed by David to all Israel at the bringing up of the ark. The rendering 'flagon of wine' in older versions was based on a false etymology by later Jewish interpreters.
☩Idolatrous Use
Hosea condemned Israel for loving 'flagons of wine' (raisin cakes), which were offered to false deities. Such cakes were used in pagan worship, making their mention a rebuke of Israel's spiritual adultery in following other gods.
☩Vessels
In Isaiah 22:24, nebel is translated 'flagon' but commonly means a bottle or vessel, originally a skin but later pottery. The context describes vessels of various sizes hung upon Eliakim, typically of Christ, upon whom hang vessels both small and great—representing saints of varying capacities but all filled with heavenly joy.
Related Verses5 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Flagon," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. III (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Flagon," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Flagon," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).