2Sa 17:19 | KD | STEP | And the man’s wife spread a covering (המּסך, the covering which she had close at hand) over the well (over the opening into the cistern), and scattered groats (ריפות, peeled barley: ) upon it, so that nothing was noticed. The Vulgate explanation is a very good one: “ quasi siccans ptisanas ” (as if drying peeled barley).

‏ 2 Samuel 17:19

And the man’s wife spread a covering (המּסך, the covering which she had close at hand) over the well (over the opening into the cistern), and scattered groats (ריפות, peeled barley: Pro 27:22) upon it, so that nothing was noticed. The Vulgate explanation is a very good one: “quasi siccans ptisanas” (as if drying peeled barley).