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In ancient times, the duty of preparing bread was usually given to the females or the slaves of the family (Gen. 18:6; Lev. 26:26; 1 Sam. 8:13); but in a later period we find a class of public bakers mentioned (Hos. 7:4, 6; Jer. 37:21).
The bread was generally in the form of long or round cakes (Ex. 29:23; 1 Sam. 2:36), thin and easily broken (Isa. 58:7; Matt. 14:19; 26:26; Acts 20:11). Common ovens were generally used; at other times a jar was half-filled with hot pebbles, and the dough was spread over them. Hence, we read of “cakes baken on the coals” (1 Kings 19:6), and “baken in the oven” (Lev. 2:4).