A brickkiln is a type of furnace or oven used for firing and hardening bricks. In ancient times, brickkilns were essential for construction, especially in regions where stone was not readily available. The process involved molding clay into bricks and then baking them at high temperatures to ensure durability and strength. The use of brickkilns is mentioned in the Bible, highlighting their significance in ancient construction and daily life.

Biblical References:

1. 2 Samuel 12:31 : "David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them labor at the brickkilns. He did this to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the troops returned to Jerusalem." This passage describes King David's conquest of the Ammonite cities, where he subjected the captured people to labor at the brickkilns. The use of brickkilns here underscores the importance of brick production in building and fortifying cities.

2. Nahum 3:14 : "Draw your water for the siege; strengthen your fortresses. Go into the clay and tread the mortar; repair the brickkiln." In this verse, the prophet Nahum speaks to Nineveh, urging the city to prepare for an impending siege. The mention of repairing the brickkiln indicates the critical role of brick production in maintaining and strengthening city defenses.

Historical and Cultural Context:

In the ancient Near East, brickkilns were vital for urban development. Cities like Babylon and Nineveh, known for their impressive architecture, relied heavily on bricks for construction. The process of making bricks involved several steps: gathering clay, mixing it with water, shaping it into molds, and finally, firing it in a kiln to achieve the necessary hardness.

The Bible's references to brickkilns reflect the broader historical context of the ancient world, where brick-making was a common and necessary trade. The labor-intensive nature of brick production often required a large workforce, which could include captives or slaves, as seen in the account of David's conquest.

Symbolic and Theological Implications:

In a symbolic sense, brickkilns can represent human effort and industry. The transformation of raw clay into sturdy bricks through fire can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual refinement and the trials that strengthen faith. The Bible often uses imagery of fire and refining processes to describe God's work in purifying and strengthening His people.

Moreover, the use of brickkilns in the context of conquest and labor, as in 2 Samuel 12:31, can also serve as a reminder of the consequences of sin and the harsh realities of life in a fallen world. The subjugation of the Ammonites and their forced labor at the brickkilns illustrate the themes of judgment and redemption that run throughout Scripture.

In summary, brickkilns in the Bible are not only a testament to the technological advancements of ancient civilizations but also serve as a rich source of spiritual symbolism and theological reflection.(n.) A kiln, or furnace, in which bricks are baked or burnt; or a pile of green bricks, laid loose, with arches underneath to receive the wood or fuel for burning them.BRICK-KILN

brik'-kil, -kiln (malben): The Hebrew word is better translated by "brickmould." In Syria the brickmould is still called milben. In Jeremiah 43:9 the American Standard Revised Version rendering is "brickwork" and the American Revised Version, margin "pavement." 2 Samuel 12:31 becomes much clearer if the American Revised Version, margin is incorporated. Being put to work at the brickmould was considered the task of those taken as slaves. The ancestors of the new taskmasters had themselves been put to similar toil.

4404. malben -- a brick mold, quadrangle
... Word Origin from laban Definition a brick mold, quadrangle NASB Word Usage
brick (1), brick mold (1), brickkiln (1). brick kiln. ...
/hebrew/4404.htm - 6k

The Image of Self.
... call me merciful, when I tortured the Ammonites cruelly, putting them under saws,
and under harrows and axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln. ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/lx the image of self.htm

Nahum's Doom of Nineveh
... Draw the water for the siege; Strengthen thy fortresses: Go into the clay, and tread
the mortar, make strong the brickkiln: There shall the fire devour thee ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/xi nahums doom of nineveh.htm

Brickkiln (3 Occurrences)
...Brickkiln (3 Occurrences). ... Nahum 3:14 Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy
strong holds: go into clay, and tread the morter, make strong the brickkiln. ...
/b/brickkiln.htm - 8k

Clay (50 Occurrences)
... In Nahum 3:14, "Go into the clay (TiT), and tread the mortar (chomer); make strong
the brickkiln" (ie make the walls ready to withstand a siege). ...
/c/clay.htm - 25k

Brick-kiln (3 Occurrences)
Brick-kiln. Brickkiln, Brick-kiln. Brickkilns . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ...
(DBY WBS YLT). Brickkiln, Brick-kiln. Brickkilns . Reference Bible.
/b/brick-kiln.htm - 8k

Brick (10 Occurrences)

/b/brick.htm - 15k

Fortify (6 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS). Nahum 3:14 Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy
strong holds: go into clay, and tread the morter, make strong the brickkiln. ...
/f/fortify.htm - 8k

Morter (7 Occurrences)
... (KJV). Nahum 3:14 Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strong holds: go into
clay, and tread the morter, make strong the brickkiln. (KJV). ...
/m/morter.htm - 8k

Brickmould (1 Occurrence)
... Nahum 3:14 Draw thee water for the siege; strengthen thy fortresses; go into the
clay, and tread the mortar; make strong the brickkiln. (See JPS). ...
/b/brickmould.htm - 6k

Brickmaking (1 Occurrence)
... the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron,
and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln; and thus ...
/b/brickmaking.htm - 6k

Ammonite (22 Occurrences)
... the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron,
and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln; and thus ...
/a/ammonite.htm - 18k

Ammonites (97 Occurrences)
... the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron,
and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln; and thus ...
/a/ammonites.htm - 43k

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