The upper stone was turned round by a stick fixed in it as a handle. There
were then no public mills, and thus each family required to be provided
with a hand-mill. The corn was ground daily, generally by the women of
the house (Isaiah 47:1, 2; Matthew 24:41). It was with the upper stone of
a hand-mill that “a certain woman” at Thebez broke Abimelech’s skull
(Judges 9:53, “a piece of a millstone;” literally, “a millstone rider”, i.e., the
“runner,” the stone which revolves. Comp. 2 Samuel 11:21). Millstones
could not be pledged (Deuteronomy 24:6), as they were necessary in every
family.
- MILLENNIUM a thousand years; the name given to the era mentioned in
Revelation 20:1-7. Some maintain that Christ will personally appear on
earth for the purpose of establishing his kingdom at the beginning of this
millennium. Those holding this view are usually called “millenarians.” On
the other hand, it is maintained, more in accordance with the teaching of
Scripture, we think, that Christ’s second advent will not be premillennial,
and that the right conception of the prospects and destiny of his kingdom
is that which is taught, e.g., in the parables of the leaven and the
mustard-seed. The triumph of the gospel, it is held, must be looked for by
the wider and more efficient operation of the very forces that are now at
work in extending the gospel; and that Christ will only come again at the
close of this dispensation to judge the world at the “last day.” The
millennium will thus precede his coming. - MILLET (Hebrews dohan; only in Ezekiel 4:9), a small grain, the produce
of the Panicum miliaceum of botanists. It is universally cultivated in the
East as one of the smaller corn-grasses. This seed is the cenchros of the
Greeks. It is called in India warree, and by the Arabs dukhan, and is
extensively used for food, being often mixed with other grain. In this
country it is only used for feeding birds. - MILLO (Hebrews always with the article, “the” Millo). (1.) Probably the
Canaanite name of some fortification, consisting of walls filled in with
earth and stones, which protected Jerusalem on the north as its outermost
defence. It is always rendered Akra i.e., “the citadel”, in the LXX. It was
already existing when David conquered Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:9). He
extended it to the right and left, thus completing the defence of the city. It
was rebuilt by Solomon (1 Kings 9:15, 24; 11:27) and repaired by
Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:5).