Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, the concept of reservoirs was integral to the survival and prosperity of ancient civilizations, particularly in the arid regions of the Near East. Reservoirs, as understood in the biblical context, were man-made or natural storage systems designed to collect and retain water for agricultural, domestic, and sometimes ritual purposes. These structures were crucial in areas where rainfall was seasonal and unpredictable.
Biblical References and ContextWhile the Bible does not explicitly mention the term "reservoirs," it does refer to various water storage systems and practices that align with the concept. One of the most notable examples is the construction of pools and cisterns, which served similar purposes. In
2 Kings 20:20, we read about King Hezekiah's efforts to secure Jerusalem's water supply: "As for the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, along with all his might and how he made the pool and the tunnel to bring water into the city, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?" . This passage highlights the importance of water management and the ingenuity employed to ensure a steady water supply.
Engineering and ConstructionThe construction of reservoirs in biblical times required significant engineering skills. These structures were often built by digging large pits or using natural depressions, which were then lined with stones or plaster to prevent seepage. The Gibeonites, for example, are noted for their impressive water systems, including large rock-cut pools and cisterns, as mentioned in
Joshua 9:17. These systems were essential for sustaining life during dry periods and were often strategically located near cities or agricultural lands.
Symbolism and Spiritual SignificanceWater, and by extension reservoirs, holds deep symbolic meaning in the Bible. It is often associated with life, purification, and divine provision. In
Jeremiah 2:13, God uses the imagery of broken cisterns to describe Israel's spiritual state: "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water" . This metaphor underscores the futility of relying on human efforts and the necessity of seeking sustenance from God, the true source of life.
Cultural and Historical ImpactReservoirs and water management systems were not only practical but also reflected the cultural and religious priorities of ancient societies. The ability to control and distribute water was a sign of power and prosperity. In the context of the Bible, these systems often served as a backdrop for significant events and teachings. For instance, the Pool of Siloam, mentioned in
John 9:7, was a reservoir in Jerusalem where Jesus performed the miracle of healing a man born blind, demonstrating His authority and compassion.
ConclusionReservoirs, though not explicitly named in the Bible, played a vital role in the daily lives and spiritual narratives of biblical peoples. They were a testament to human ingenuity and a reminder of the divine provision that sustains all creation. Through the lens of Scripture, reservoirs symbolize both the physical and spiritual sustenance that God provides to His people.
Strong's Hebrew
4723b. miqveh -- a collection, collected mass... Word Origin from qavah Definition a collection, collected mass NASB Word Usage
collecting (1), gathering (1),
reservoirs (1). 4723a, 4723b. miqveh. 4724 .
...Library
Jehovah Nissi
... Let us get away from them all, dig deeper down than any of these, be sure that these
are but surfacereservoirs, but that the fountain which fills them with...
The Great Reservoir
... You have seen the greatreservoirs provided by our water companies, in which the
water that is to supply hundreds of streets and thousands of houses is kept....
The Great Reservoir
... You have seen the greatreservoirs provided by our water companies, in which the
water which is to supply hundreds of streets and thousands of houses is kept....
The Waterer Watered
... The careful husbandmen whose farms are close along the sides of the bank, have
large tanks andreservoirs in which they store up the water....
Judging, Therefore, that it Stood Thus with this Matter...
... the laying out of pleasure-grounds, and the acquisition and culture of all manner
of fruit-bearing trees; and among them also largereservoirs for the...
Of the Error of Epicurus, and of the Limbs and their Use.
... will stand, what will be the intervals between the columns, what or where will be
the descents and outlets of the falling waters and thereservoirs,"he first...
Three Afternoons Off the Track
... On that particular First Afternoon the water was out, which is the South Indian
way of saying that the tanks, great lake-likereservoirs, have overflowed and...
Our Knocking
... It is like telling a man to pray for rain when thereservoirs at his side are full,
and every flower is bending its chalice, charged with the blessing....
Antigonus Besieges those that were in Masada, whom Herod Frees...
... out of the fortress already, unless, on that very night when he was going away,
there had fallen a great deal of rain, insomuch that hisreservoirs were full...
Concerning Macherus, and How Lucilius Bassus Took that Citadel...
... He also made a great manyreservoirs for the reception of water, that there might
be plenty of it ready for all uses, and those in the properest places that...
Thesaurus
Reservoirs (1 Occurrence)... Multi-Version Concordance
Reservoirs (1 Occurrence). Exodus 7:19 And Jehovah
said to Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy staff, and stretch
...Cistern (21 Occurrences)
... The scarcity of springs in Palestine made it necessary to collect rain-water
inreservoirs and cisterns (Numbers 21:22). (see WELL.)....
Aqueduct (4 Occurrences)
... Toward the end of summer, springs and wells, where they have not actually dried
up, diminish very considerably, and cisterns and openreservoirs become at...
Reservoir (1 Occurrence)
... and Palestine, but the dry climate, which is one reason for the fewness of lakes,
impels the inhabitants to make artificial pools orreservoirs to collect the...
Well (2882 Occurrences)
... Toward the end of summer, springs and wells, where they have not actually dried
up, diminish very considerably, and cisterns and openreservoirs become at...
Pool (25 Occurrences)
... Toward the end of summer, springs and wells, where they have not actually dried
up, diminish very considerably, and cisterns and openreservoirs become at...
Nebuchadnezzar (90 Occurrences)
... 4:30), and to add to the greatness and prosperity of his kingdom by constructing
canals and aqueducts andreservoirs surpassing in grandeur and magnificence...
Irrigation
... As streams were few in Palestine, water was generally stored up in winter inreservoirs,
and distributed through gardens in numerous rills, which could easily...
Fountain (57 Occurrences)
... In both eastern and western Palestine and even in Lebanon there are many villages
which depend entirely uponreservoirs or cisterns of rain water....
Fishpools (1 Occurrence)
... Thereservoirs near Heshbon (qv) were probably stocked with fish (2 Samuel 2:13;
4:12; Isaiah 7:3; 22:9, 11). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. FISHPOOLS....
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