Isaiah 28:25

“When he hath made plain the face thereof, &c.] By harrowing it, after it is ploughed: doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin; in sowing them in the ground, prepared for them; the former of these does not seem to be the same we so call, but something else. The Septuagint version calls it the little “melanthion”f562, the same with the “nigella”f563 of the Latins, and is sometimes called “gith”f564, as in the Vulgate Latin version here. The Syriac and Arabic versions render it “anise”, which is mentioned along with “cummin”, as common with the Jews, and which, in Christ’s time, were tithed, (<402323>Matthew 23:23) and both these in the text are by Kimchi said to be the food…”

“face--the "surface" of the ground: "made plain," or level, by harrowing. fitches--rather, "dill," or "fennel"; Nigella romana, with black seed, easily beaten out, used as a condiment and medicine in the East. So the Septuagint, "cummin" was used in the same way. cast in . . . principal wheat--rather, plant the wheat in rows (for wheat was thought to yield the largest crop, by being planted sparingly [PLINY, Natural History, 18.21]); [MAURER]; "sow the wheat regularly" [HORSLEY]. But GESENIUS, like English Version, "fat," or "principal," that is, excellent wheat. appointed barley--rather, "barley in its appointed place" [MAURER]. in their place--rather, "in its (the field's) border" [MAURER].”

“Made plain - By breaking the clods. The wheat - The best which he chuses for seed. Barley - That proportion of barley which he appointed. Place - Heb. in his border; each seed in a several place. Isaiah 28:27”

“in the principal: etc. or, the wheat in the principal place, and the barley in the appointed place. rye. or, spelt. Exo 9:31, Exo 9:32; Eze 4:9 place: Heb. border Isaiah 28:26”