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Mattock

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(hoe). A crude hoe (Isa. 7:25²⁵And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle. (Isaiah 7:25)).

Concise Bible Dictionary:

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1. chereb, probably sword or tool (2 Chron. 34:6⁶And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about. (2 Chronicles 34:6), the margin reads “mauls”).

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2. machareshah, plowshare, coulter (1 Sam. 13:20, 21²⁰But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. ²¹Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. (1 Samuel 13:20‑21)).

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Hoe

3. mader, probably a hoe or spade (Isa. 7:25²⁵And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle. (Isaiah 7:25)).

From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Isaiah 7:25²⁵And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle. (Isaiah 7:25). On all hills that shall be digged with the mattock.

This instrument was probably similar to our grub-ax, and was made of either wood or iron. It was used in mountainous places, where a plow could not be easily handled, for turning up the soil. This fact is referred to in the text.

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