PROVENDER (מִסְפּﯴא, H5028, בְּלִיל, H1173). In the OT these terms are used to describe the grains and grasses that were fed to domestic animals. The former term, מִסְפּﯴא, H5028, is formed from a root meaning “to feed” and appears to be a more general term whereas the latter term, בְּלִיל, H1173, derived from the root meaning “to mix,” described a mixed and savory provender, possibly mixed with salt or aromatic herbs (cf. Isa 30:24 where “salted provender” is mentioned; soaking may have also started early stages of fermentation in this mixture). The simple provender was chopped straw or chaff, as used extensively in Pal. even today. Often grasses and grains (barley, wheat) were mixed into a type of dry roughage or hay. The term could also describe a concentrated mixture of grain—in Genesis 42:27 the money returned by Joseph to his brothers was found in the sack containing the grain (“provender”).