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rā´z'nz: (1) צמּוּקי×, cimmuÌ„ḳı̄m; σταφιÌδες, staphıÌdes, translated “dried grapes,†; mentioned in all other references as a portable food for a march or journey. Abigail supplied David with “a hundred clusters of raisins,†among other things, in the wilderness of Paran (); David gave two clusters of raisins to a starving Egyptian slave of the Amalekites at Besor (); raisins formed part of the provision brought to David at Hebron for his army (); Ziba supplied David, when flying from Absalom, with a hundred clusters of raisins (). (2) ×ש×יש××”, 'ăshı̄shaÌ„h, something “pressed together,†hence, a “cake.†In , mention is made of ×¢× ×‘×™× ×ש×יש××™, 'ăshı̄sheÌ„ ‛ănaÌ„bhı̄m (πεÌμματα μετὰ σταφιÌδος, peÌmmata metaÌ staphıÌdos), “cakes of raisinsâ€: “Yahweh loveth the children of Israel, though they turn unto other gods, and love (margin “or them that loveâ€) cakes of raisins.†These are supposed to have been cakes of dried, compressed grapes offered to false gods. Gratz considers that the Hebrew words are a corruption of 'ăshĕrı̄m and hÌ£ammaÌ„nı̄m (“sun imagesâ€). Compare ; . In other passages “cakes†stands alone without “raisins,†but the translation “cakes of raisins†is given in ; ; (the King James Version “flagonsâ€); margin “foundations.â€
Raisins are today, as of old, prepared in considerable quantities in Palestine, especially at es-Ṣalṭ, East of the Jordan. The bunches of grapes are dipped in a strong solution of potash before being dried.