Topical Encyclopedia In biblical literature, stones often carry significant symbolic and practical meanings. One particular use of stones is their placement upon accursed ground, a practice that underscores themes of judgment, condemnation, and divine retribution. This entry explores the instances and implications of stones being thrown upon accursed ground within the biblical narrative.Biblical Instances 1. Achan's Sin and the Valley of Achor: One of the most notable instances of stones being used in this manner is found in the account of Achan in the Book of Joshua. After Achan's transgression of taking forbidden items from Jericho, the Lord's anger burned against the Israelites. Joshua 7:25-26 recounts the punishment: "And all Israel stoned him with stones. And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from His fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor to this day." The heap of stones served as a lasting memorial of the sin and its consequences, marking the ground as accursed due to Achan's disobedience. 2. The Cursing of Jericho: In Joshua 6:26 , after the fall of Jericho, Joshua pronounced a curse over the city: "At that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath: 'Cursed before the LORD is the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho. At the cost of his firstborn he will lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest he will set up its gates.'" The ruins of Jericho, marked by the stones of its fallen walls, symbolized the accursed nature of the ground, serving as a warning against defying God's commands. 3. Absalom's Monument: In 2 Samuel 18:17 , after Absalom's death, his body was cast into a large pit in the forest and covered with a great heap of stones: "They took Absalom, threw him into a large pit in the forest, and piled up a great heap of stones over him. And all Israel fled, each to his home." This act of covering Absalom's body with stones signified the disgrace and curse upon him due to his rebellion against his father, King David. Symbolic Implications The act of throwing stones upon accursed ground serves multiple symbolic purposes in the biblical context: · Judgment and Condemnation: Stones are used as instruments of divine judgment, marking the ground as a place of condemnation. The physical act of piling stones serves as a tangible representation of God's displeasure and the seriousness of sin. · Memorialization of Sin: The heaps of stones often remain as lasting memorials, reminding future generations of the consequences of disobedience and rebellion against God. These stone markers serve as cautionary tales, urging adherence to divine commandments. · Purification and Separation: By marking the ground as accursed, the community symbolically purifies itself from the sin associated with the location. The stones act as a barrier, separating the holy from the profane and ensuring that the community remains in right standing with God. Theological Reflections From a theological perspective, the use of stones on accursed ground highlights the gravity of sin and the necessity of divine justice. It reflects the biblical principle that sin leads to separation from God and requires atonement. The stones serve as a physical manifestation of the spiritual reality of judgment, emphasizing the need for repentance and reconciliation with God. In conclusion, the biblical motif of stones thrown upon accursed ground serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of living in accordance with God's will. Through these narratives, the Bible communicates the enduring truth of divine justice and the hope of redemption for those who turn back to God. Nave's Topical Index 2 Kings 3:19,25And you shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones. Nave's Topical Index Library It is a Ground for Thanksgiving that During the Last Three or Four ... The Arabic Gospel of the Infancy of the Saviour (Nt Apocrypha) The Hidden Treasure. A Heavenly Pattern for Our Earthly Life "The Dust of the Actual" On Public Diversions The Doctrines of Grace do not Lead to Sin Divine Grace. A New Year's Benediction Divine Destruction and Protection Resources What does it mean that Jesus and believers are living stones in 1 Peter 2:4-5? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did David choose five smooth stones before going to fight Goliath? | GotQuestions.org What does it mean that “the rocks will cry out” in Luke 19:40? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Stones of Christ, "A Tested Stone" "A Precious Stone" "A Sure Foundation, " Stones of Christ, the Water of Life Stones of Christ's Rejection, the Rejected Conerstone Stones of Temptation, "Stone of Stumbling" Stones of the Impenitent Heart Stones of the Witness of the Spirit, the White Stone Stones used for Closing Graves Stones used for Weighing (Margin) Stones used in Building Altars Stones: Commandments Engraved Upon Stones: Great, As Landmarks (Some Hebrew Mss Have "Abel") Stones: Great, in Solomon's Temple Stones: Hewers (Stone-Cutters) of Stones: Magnificent, in Herod the Great's Temple Stones: Precious in the Breastplate and Ephod Stones: Precious in the Crowns of Kings Stones: Precious: Exported from Sheba Stones: Precious: Partial Catalogue of Stones: Precious: Seen in the Foundation of the New Jerusalem in John's Apocalyptic Vision Stones: Precious: Voluntary offerings of, by the Israelites for the Breastplate and Ephod Stones: Prepared in the Quarries Stones: Symbolical of the Kingdom of Christ Stones: The Law of Moses Written Upon Stones: Thrown Upon Accursed Ground Related Terms |
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