In biblical times, trenches were often used in military contexts, agricultural practices, and religious rituals. The concept of trenches, while not frequently mentioned, plays a significant role in understanding the historical and cultural backdrop of the biblical narrative.

Military Use:

Trenches were primarily utilized in warfare as defensive structures. They provided protection for soldiers and were strategic in battles. One of the most notable references to trenches in the Bible is found in the account of King Saul and the Philistines. In 1 Samuel 17:20, during the confrontation between David and Goliath, the Israelite and Philistine armies were encamped on opposite hills with a valley between them. The text implies the use of trenches or similar fortifications as part of their military strategy: "So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with a keeper, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had instructed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry."

Agricultural Use:

Trenches were also used in agriculture for irrigation and planting. The practice of digging trenches for water management is implied in various agricultural parables and teachings throughout the Bible. While specific references to trenches in agriculture are not explicitly detailed, the understanding of ancient Near Eastern farming techniques suggests their use in ensuring crops received adequate water, especially in arid regions.

Religious and Ritual Use:

In religious contexts, trenches were sometimes used in sacrificial rituals. A significant example is found in the account of Elijah on Mount Carmel. In 1 Kings 18:32-35, Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal and prepares an altar to the Lord. He instructs the people to dig a trench around the altar: "And with the stones, he built an altar in the name of the LORD. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, placed it on the wood, and said, 'Fill four jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.' 'Do it a second time,' he said, and they did it a second time. 'Do it a third time,' he said, and they did it a third time. So the water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench."

This trench served a dual purpose: it demonstrated the power of God when the water-soaked sacrifice was consumed by fire, and it symbolized the separation of the holy from the profane.

Symbolic Use:

Trenches can also be seen as symbolic in biblical literature. They represent preparation, protection, and separation. The act of digging a trench often required effort and foresight, symbolizing spiritual readiness and the need for divine intervention. In a broader sense, trenches can be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual defenses believers must establish to guard against the adversities of life.

In summary, while the Bible does not frequently mention trenches, their presence in the text highlights their importance in military, agricultural, and religious contexts. They serve as a reminder of the practical and spiritual preparations necessary in the life of faith.1374. Gebim -- "trenches," a place North of Jer.
... 1373b, 1374. Gebim. 1375 . "trenches," a place North of Jer. ... Word Origin pl.
of geb Definition "trenches," a place N. of Jer. NASB Word Usage Gebim (1). ...
/hebrew/1374.htm - 6k

6982. qorah -- a rafter, beam
... beam, roof. Or qorah {ko-raw'}; from quwr; a rafter (forming trenches as it were);
by implication, a roof -- beam, roof. see HEBREW quwr. 6981, 6982. ...
/hebrew/6982.htm - 6k

6980. qur -- thread, film
... web. From quwr; (only plural) trenches, ie A web (as if so formed) -- web. see
HEBREW quwr. 6979, 6980. qur. 6981 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6980.htm - 6k

2975. yeor -- stream (of the Nile), stream, canal
... Of Egyptian origin; a channel, eg A fosse, canal, shaft; specifically the Nile,
as the one river of Egypt, including its collateral trenches; also the Tigris ...
/hebrew/2975.htm - 6k

1356a. geb -- a pit, trench, ditch
... Word Origin from gub Definition a pit, trench, ditch NASB Word Usage cisterns (1),
full of trenches (1). 1356, 1356a. geb. 1356b . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/1356a.htm - 5k

To his Praise!
... I began to pray definitely that the Lord would use my son's gifts in the best way
for his country's good, but would keep him back from the trenches and from ...
/.../goforth/how i know god answers prayer/ix to his praise.htm

"Something"
... sought the gates of heaven. There it stood side by side with another
soul"old Mother Margaret from the trenches. "It is for the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/wells/bible stories and religious classics/something.htm

How Deceitful the Love of this World Is, and How Amiable God Is.
... The trenches are in ruins, the walls falling down, only that, here and there, the
high tops of the old timber work still project aloft; and in the city is a ...
/.../suso/a little book of eternal wisdom/chapter vi how deceitful the.htm

Cyrus.
... For two years they remained in security, and laughed at the Persian army outside;
but at last Cyrus devised a new plan, and set his men to dig trenches to draw ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xii cyrus.htm

Cheer Up, My Comrades!
... They said, "These people have done nothing: they have been lying in the trenches:
they shall not carry off a share of the booty." But King David there and then ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 26 1880/cheer up my comrades.htm

The Famine which Oppressed Them.
... But afterward, when they were not able to do this, they threw the bodies
from the walls into the trenches. 18. And as Titus went ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter vi the famine which oppressed.htm

Canaan on Earth
... the land; a stock of water was then accumulated in artificial reservoirs, and
afterwards let out in canals, and allowed to run in little trenches through the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/canaan on earth.htm

Talmage -- a Bloody Monster
... of alcohol. To it they bow. Under it they are trampled. In its trenches
they fall. On its ghastly holocaust they burn. Could the ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 8/talmage a bloody monster.htm

Preface
... If all moral life is a monotonous warfare, the life of a Saint is warfare in the
very first ranks where the trenches are filled with water and the shells fall ...
/.../kane/greater things the story of saint stanislaus kostka /preface.htm

The Timeliness of Prayer
... One hears tales of the humour in the trenches, but not so much of the prayer which
appears, from accounts, to be at least equally and visibly there. ...
/.../forsyth/the soul of prayer/chapter iv the timeliness of.htm

Trenches (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Trenches (1 Occurrence). 2 Kings 3:16 He said, "Thus says
Yahweh,'Make this valley full of trenches.' (WEB JPS ASV NAS). ...
/t/trenches.htm - 6k

Trench (8 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To dig or cultivate very deeply, usually by digging parallel contiguous
trenches in succession, filling each from the next; as, to trench a garden for ...
/t/trench.htm - 10k

Irrigation
... it is distributed in turn to the different square plots bounded by banks of earth,
or along the rows of growing vegetables planted on the sides of the trenches...
/i/irrigation.htm - 9k

Samaria (123 Occurrences)
... utterly. His turning of the water into trenches to undermine the foundations
could only refer to the suburbs under the hill. From ...
/s/samaria.htm - 63k

Gebim (1 Occurrence)
... It is probably the modern el-Isawiyeh. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. GEBIM.
ge'-bim (gebhim, "trenches"): A place named only in Isaiah 10:31. ...
/g/gebim.htm - 7k

Work (4564 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) Structures in civil, military, or naval engineering, as docks, bridges,
embankments, trenches, fortifications, and the like; also, the structures and ...
/w/work.htm - 12k

Tres (1 Occurrence)

/t/tres.htm - 6k

Traverse (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Lying across; being in a direction across
something else; as, paths cut with traverse trenches. ...
/t/traverse.htm - 10k

Ditch (9 Occurrences)
... The New Testament usage (Matthew 15:14 the King James Version) corresponds
somewhat with the former. See also 2 Kings 3:16 ("trenches"). ...
/d/ditch.htm - 10k

Pools (15 Occurrences)
... and hills; (See NIV). 2 Kings 3:16 He said, "Thus says Yahweh,'Make this
valley full of trenches.' (See RSV). Psalms 84:6 Who passing ...
/p/pools.htm - 13k

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