STONE (stun), (usually Heb. ben ; s•hlah, lofty; tsoor, a cliff; Gr. XtOos, lee'thos; irlrpos, fietros, large stone; ,prioos, fisay'fos, a peb ble).
Palestine is a stony country, and it was often necessary to clear a field of stones preparatory to its cultivation (Is. v :2). An enemy's fields were marred by throwing stones on them, and his wells were choked with stones (2 Kings iii: to, 25).
(1) Hinds. The ordinary stones mentioned as found in PALESTINE (which see) are chiefly lime stone (Is. xxvii :9), especially marble and sand stone ; basalt (Josephus, Ant., viii. 7, 4) ; flint at:J. firestone (2 Mace. x:3).
(2) Uses. Stones were applied in ancient Pales tine to many uses: (1) For the foundations, walls, pillars, and pavements of the statelier class of buildings (see CORNER STONE; PALACE). For these purposes the stone was hewn and sawn. The Phccnicians were famed for their skill in this work (2 Sam. v :1 t). Stones of very large size were often employed (Mark xiii:1). (See 3F.RU SALEM. ) The walls of cities were often built of stone (t Kings xv:22), and in Herodian times at least streets were paved with stone (see Towxs). Aqueducts, reservoirs, bridges, and piers were constructed of stone. (2) For altars, unhewn stones being employed by the Hebrews (Exod. xx :25; Josh. viii:31) : for walls or dikes around fields and vineyards (Prov. xxiv :3o, 31); bound ary marks (Dent. xix :14) ; pillars commemorative of persons and events (see PILLAR; comp. Herod. ii. 106) ; and probably as way marks (Jer. xxxi: 21). In Roman times milestones were erected along the chief public highways. They are still to be seen on the road between Tyre and Sidon, and between Pella and Gerasa. Stones, both in their natural state and graven, served as idols (Dent. xxix :17; 2 Kings xix:t8; comp. Is. lvii:6) ; and certain stones, called in Greek boituloi and boitu ha, which often were, if not always, meteorites and held sacred because they fell from heaven, have been worshiped in various places throughout Western Asia. An etymological connection be tween these Greeks words and belled has not been established, and is very questionable. (3) For closing the mouth of cisterns and wells, and the entrance of tombs (Gen. xxix :2 ; Matt. xxvii:6o), as tablets for written documents (Exod. XXiV :12 ; Dcut. xxvii :4. 8), in mills for grinding grain (xxiv:6). (4) In slings and catapults (I Sam. xvii:4o; 2 Chron. xxvi:15; \Visd. v:22; I Mace. vi:51), and for the execution of criminals, being hurled by the witnesses and bystanders. (5) Flints were used for striking fire (2 Mace. x:3), and were shaped into rude form to serve as knives (Josh. v:2). Weights for scales were often cut out of stone (Deut. xxv :13; see WEIGHTS AND MEAstmes). Heaps of stones were made to com memorate an event (Gen. xxxi :46), or to mark the grave of a notorious offender (Josh. vii:26; viii :29 ; 2 Sam. xviii :17) ; a custom still in vogue in Syria and Arabia, but not restricted to the graves of evil doers. Limestone was crushed and burned to secure the lime (Is. xxxiii:t2). (Davis, Bib. Diet.). (6) Moses forbids the He brews to set up in their country any stone that is exalted, or remarkable (Lev. xxvi :1). The text may be translated by "a stone for sight ;" a landmark that stands on an eminence, or in some great road, to be seen from a distance. Strabo (lib. xvii) mentions such stones on the highways in Egypt ; and he says also, there are several re markable and eminent stones upon Libanus. The Syrians and Egyptians had such respect for them that they almost adored them. They anointed them with oil, as may be seen in Apuleius, kissed and saluted them. (7) It is probable that this worship is what Moses intended to prohibit ; for heaps of stones, raised in witness of memorable events, and to preserve the remembrance of mat ters of great importance, are the most ancient monuments among the Hebrews. In early ages. these were used instead of inscriptions, pyramids, medals or histories. Jacob and Laban raised such a monument on Mount Gilead, in memory of their covenant (Gen. xxxi :45, 46). Joshua erected one at Gilgal• of stones taken out of the Jordan, to preserve the memorial of his miraculous passage (Josh. iv:5-7), and the Israelites beyond Jordan
raised one on the banks of that river, as a testi mony that they constituted but one nation with their brethren on the other side ( Josh. xxii :to). Figurative. (1) Stones of darkness, are those hid deep in the bowels of the earth (Job. xxviii: 3). (2) Daughters of a family are likened to polished corner stones, to mark their beauty and their usefulness for connecting and building up families (Ps. cxliv :12). (3) Hearts stupid and obstinate, not easily impressed by the word or providence of God, are compared to stones (Ezek. xi:t9, and xxxvi :26; i Sant. XXV :37 ; Mark iv : 5. 16). (4) The stone crying out of the wall. and the beam answering it, denote the horrid wicked ness of building with what is unjustly procured (Hab. at). (5) One stone not left upon an other, and stones of emptiness, and scattered stones spread over a place. denote utter desola tion, and the turning of Idumea into a barren rock (Matt. xxiv :2 ; Is. xxxiv ; Ps. cxli:6). (6) A gift is like a precious stone; it is highly val ued, and tends to procure for us what we wish (Prov. xvii :8). (7) As lie that findeth a stone in a sling rendereth it unfit for being thrown, so, to give honor to a fool is quite unprofitable: or it is as useless work as to cast a precious stone into a heap of stones; or it is as ill-placed as a coarse stone, when bound up in a piece of tine purple cloth (Prov. xxvi :8). (8) Stone denotes firmness, strength (Gen. xlix :24 ), where the stone of Israel" is equivalent to "the rock of Isrocl" (2 Sam. xxiii:3; Is. xxviii:t6). (9) Christ is called a stone, to show his firmness and duration; he is the foundation stone which supports the whole church, and the work of our redemption (Is. xxviii:16). Ile is also the chief earner stone, which connects and establishes the church (Matt. xxi :42 ; Eph. 2o). He is a precious stone; infinite in glory, excellency, and usefulness; lie is a tried stone, proved by his Father, and by his people, and by fiery sufferings, and yet no fault or deficiency found in him ; he is a chosen or elect stone chosen by the Father to be our Medi ator, valuable in himself, and chosen by the saints in the day of his power; he is a living stone; has all life in himself, and gives to his people the beginning, continuance, and perfection of their life (Rev. xxi:t ; Is. xxviii :t6; t Pet. ii:4). He is to many a stumbling stone, and rock of offense (Is. 15; I Pet. ii:8; Matt. xxi: 44)• He and his church are a little stone cut out of the mountain without hands, and increas ing into a mountain that filled the whole earth. Ile was born of a virgin, and appeared in a low condition ; but his glory will gradually increase, until it shall fill the whole earth; his Christian church, small at first, will gradually multiply un til it shall extend over the whole globe (Dan. ii to) The saints are lively stones; they are hardy and durable, and are united to Christ as their foundation, quickened by his Spirit, and active in his service (Eph. ii :20-22 ; t Pet. ii :5). (is) The precious stones, foundations of the New Jerusalem. denote Jesus Christ preached by the twelve Apostles, and as the foundation of his church and people, in his various and unnumbered excellencies (Rev. xxi :19, 2o). (12) The precious stones on the shoulder of the high priest, and those fixed in his breastplate, denoted the saints of Jews and Gentiles, precious and honorable by the grace of God (Exod. 17-21). (13) The white stone mentioned in Rev. ii:t7 has been variously interpreted: (a) One of the stone tab lets, written with the name of a person, which were used in some methods of casting the lot. (b) The stoic or bean, bearing the name of a candi date, which was cast at elections in Greece. (c) The pebble of acquittal used in Greek courts.
id) The ticket presented to the victor at the lympic games. (e) The instructions which the Roman emperors caused to he thrown to victori ous contestants in the arena. And best (f), a small stone, a common writing material, white to symbolize the heavenly character of the victorious believer, and marked with the name bestowed as sign and seal of his future glory.