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Topic:
Thoughts And Things Of The Bible -- Cave
With reference to the word "cave…"
There are numerous natural caves among the limestone rocks of Syria,
many of which have been artificially enlarged for various purposes. The
first notice of a cave occurs in the history of Lot dwelt after the
destruction of Sodom (Gen. 19:30). The next we read of is the cave of
Machpelah (q.v.), which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth (Gen.
25:9, 10). It was the burying-place of Sarah and of Abraham himself,
also of Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob (Gen. 49:31; 50:13). The cave of
Makkedah, into which the five Amorite kings retired after their defeat
by Joshua (10:16, 27). The cave of Adullam (q.v.), an immense natural
cavern, where David hid himself from Saul (1 Sam. 22:1, 2). The cave of
Engedi (q.v.), now called 'Ain Jidy, i.e., the "Fountain of the
Kid", where David cut off the skirt of Saul's robe (24:4). Here he
also found a shelter for himself and his followers to the number of 600
(23:29; 24:1). "On all sides the country is full of caverns which
might serve as lurking-places for David and his men, as they do for
outlaws at the present day." The cave in which Obadiah hid the
prophets (1 Kings 18:4) was probably in the north, but it cannot be
identified. The cave of Elijah (1 Kings 19:9), and the "cleft"
of Moses on Horeb (Ex. 33:22), cannot be determined. In the time of
Gideon the Israelites took refuge from the Midianites in dens and caves,
such as abounded in the mountain regions of Manasseh (Judg. 6:2). Caves
were frequently used as dwelling-places (Num. 24:21; Cant. 2:14; Jer.
49:16; Obad. 1:3). "The excavations at Deir Dubban, on the south
side of the wady leading to Santa Hanneh, are probably the dwellings of
the Horites," the ancient inhabitants of Idumea Proper. The pits or
cavities in rocks were also sometimes used as prisons (Isa. 24:22;
51:14; Zech. 9:11). Those which had niches in their sides were occupied
as burying-places (Ezek. 32:23; John 11:38).
Derived from Easton's and Smith's Bible Dictionaries
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