Wood-cutting, the act of felling trees and preparing wood for various uses, is a practice mentioned several times in the Bible. It was an essential activity in ancient Israelite society, providing materials for construction, fuel, and religious purposes. The process and significance of wood-cutting can be understood through various biblical passages and contexts.

Biblical References and Contexts

1. Construction and Craftsmanship: Wood was a primary material for building structures, including the tabernacle and the temple. In 1 Kings 5:6, Solomon requests cedar and cypress logs from Hiram, king of Tyre, for the construction of the temple: "So give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My servants will join your servants, and I will pay you for your servants whatever wages you set, for you know that we have no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians."

2. Religious Significance: Wood was used in the construction of altars and other religious artifacts. The Ark of the Covenant, for instance, was made of acacia wood (Exodus 25:10). The use of specific types of wood, such as acacia, highlights the importance of wood-cutting in fulfilling divine instructions.

3. Labor and Servitude: The Gibeonites, after deceiving Joshua, were assigned as woodcutters for the Israelites. Joshua 9:27 states, "On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD at the place He would choose. And they are to this day." This passage illustrates how wood-cutting was also a form of servitude and labor.

4. Symbolism and Metaphor: Wood-cutting is sometimes used metaphorically in the Bible. In Isaiah 10:15, the prophet uses the imagery of an axe to convey a message about pride and divine sovereignty: "Does an axe raise itself above the one who swings it, or a saw boast over him who saws? As if a rod were to wield him who lifts it, or a staff to lift him who is not wood!"

5. Economic and Social Aspects: Wood-cutting was a vital economic activity, providing materials for trade and daily life. The demand for skilled woodcutters is evident in the collaboration between Solomon and Hiram, emphasizing the economic importance of this craft.

6. Environmental Considerations: The Bible also reflects an awareness of the environmental impact of wood-cutting. Deuteronomy 20:19-20 advises against the destruction of fruit trees during a siege, indicating a consciousness of sustainable practices: "When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an axe to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees people, that you should besiege them?"

Cultural and Historical Insights

In ancient Israel, wood-cutting was a skilled trade, often requiring collaboration with neighboring regions known for their timber, such as Lebanon. The Sidonians, mentioned in 1 Kings 5:6, were renowned for their expertise in timber work. This highlights the cultural exchange and reliance on skilled labor in the ancient Near East.

Wood-cutting also had social implications, as seen in the role of the Gibeonites. Their assignment as woodcutters reflects the social hierarchies and labor divisions within Israelite society.

Overall, wood-cutting in the Bible is depicted as a multifaceted activity with religious, economic, and social dimensions. It underscores the importance of natural resources in fulfilling divine commands and sustaining daily life in biblical times.

The Northern Mountains
... The burnt forest was utterly without shade; and wood-cutting under a perpendicular
noonday sun would have been trying enough had not our spirits been kept up ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter xi the northern mountains.htm

Wood-cutting (2 Occurrences)
Wood-cutting. Wood-cutters, Wood-cutting. Wooded . Multi-Version
Concordance Wood-cutting (2 Occurrences). 2 Samuel ...
/w/wood-cutting.htm - 7k

Grain-crushers (2 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 12:31 And he took the people out of the town and put them to work with
wood-cutting instruments, and iron grain-crushers, and iron axes, and at brick ...
/g/grain-crushers.htm - 7k

Instruments (136 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 12:31 And he took the people out of the town and put them to work with
wood-cutting instruments, and iron grain-crushers, and iron axes, and at brick ...
/i/instruments.htm - 41k

Wood-cutters (3 Occurrences)
Wood-cutters. Woodcutters, Wood-cutters. Wood-cutting . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(BBE). Woodcutters, Wood-cutters. Wood-cutting . Reference Bible.
/w/wood-cutters.htm - 7k

Wooded (3 Occurrences)

/w/wooded.htm - 7k

Brick-making (2 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 12:31 And he took the people out of the town and put them to work with
wood-cutting instruments, and iron grain-crushers, and iron axes, and at brick ...
/b/brick-making.htm - 7k

Cutting (178 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 12:31 And he took the people out of the town and put them to work with
wood-cutting instruments, and iron grain-crushers, and iron axes, and at brick ...
/c/cutting.htm - 46k

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