Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the term "stools" can refer to various types of seating or functional furniture used in ancient times. The use of stools is mentioned in several passages, reflecting their role in daily life and specific cultural practices.
1.
Midwives' Stools: One of the notable mentions of stools in the Bible is found in the book of Exodus. In
Exodus 1:16 , Pharaoh instructs the Hebrew midwives, "When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them as they deliver. If it is a son, kill him; but if it is a daughter, let her live." The term "stools" here is often understood to refer to birthing stools, which were used by women during childbirth. These stools were designed to aid in the birthing process, allowing the mother to be in a more upright position, which was believed to facilitate delivery.
2.
Seating and Authority: Stools, as a form of seating, can also symbolize authority and status. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the type of seat one occupied often indicated their social standing. While the Bible does not explicitly mention stools in this context, the concept of seating as a symbol of authority is evident in passages that describe thrones and other elevated seats. For example, in
1 Kings 10:18-20 , Solomon's great throne is described in detail, highlighting the importance of seating in conveying power and prestige.
3.
Everyday Use: In everyday life, stools would have been a common piece of furniture in ancient Israelite homes. They were likely simple in design, made from wood or other available materials, and used for various purposes, including dining and work. While the Bible does not provide detailed descriptions of household furniture, archaeological findings and historical records from the region offer insights into their construction and use.
4.
Symbolic Interpretations: In some biblical interpretations, stools and other forms of seating can carry symbolic meanings. For instance, they may represent rest, stability, or judgment. The imagery of sitting is often used metaphorically in Scripture to convey spiritual truths, such as sitting in the presence of God or being seated in heavenly places with Christ (
Ephesians 2:6).
Overall, while stools are not a major focus in biblical narratives, their mention provides a glimpse into the daily life and cultural practices of ancient times. They serve as a reminder of the practical aspects of life in biblical history and the ways in which ordinary objects can carry deeper symbolic meanings within the scriptural context.
Library
Psalm CXXII.
... As if some one should say: letstools or chairs sit here. We sit on chairs, we
sit on seats, we sit onstools; the seats themselves sit not....
A Diet of Public Worship in the Time of Knox.
... men holding public positions, or by prominent members of influential guilds, the
rest of the people stood throughout the service, or sat uponstools which they...
The Oracles.
... the sacred tripod. Thesestools were greatly celebrated as a very important
part of the sacred apparatus of the place. This oracle...
Letter Lii to Another Holy virgin.
... the world you. And so, rejecting God, and rejected by the world, you had
fallen between twostools, [81] as they say. You were not...
There's More of God Since Jesus Went Back.
... Workman's bench and simple tools Line the walls. Chests andstools, Yoke of ox,
and shaft of plow, Finished by the Carpenter Lie about the pavement now....
Father and Judge
... respect of persons,' great men and little, rich men and poor, educated men and
illiterate, people that perch themselves on their littlestools and think...
The World's Consternation at the Sudden and Secret Removal of the...
... them! In many a home there will be more than one vacant chair. In many an
office and store there will be vacantstools. From every...
Powerful Persuasives
... The old proverb hath it that betwixt twostools we come to the ground." Certainly,
if we trust partly in Christ and partly in ourselves, we shall fall lower...
Man Proposes, God Disposes
... I was conducted to a very miserable room on the ground-floor, where, on some boards
raised upon twostools, I passed the night, without bed or pillow, save my...
Slaves and Free
... his vegetables for his family. But he to whom the owner of the vegetables
and thestools belonged owned them too. And if we are...
Thesaurus
Stools (2 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Stools (2 Occurrences). Mark 11:15 They reached
Jerusalem, and entering the Temple He began to drive out
...Stool (6 Occurrences)
Stoop (10 Occurrences)
Upset (9 Occurrences)
... 11:15 They reached Jerusalem, and entering the Temple He began to drive out the
buyers and sellers, and upset the money-changers' tables and thestools of the...
Turn (963 Occurrences)
... 6. (vt) To form in a lathe; to shape or fashion (anything) by applying a cutting
tool to it while revolving; as, to turn the legs ofstools or tables; to turn...
Reached (152 Occurrences)
... 11:15 They reached Jerusalem, and entering the Temple He began to drive out the
buyers and sellers, and upset the money-changers' tables and thestools of the...
Entering (124 Occurrences)
... 11:15 They reached Jerusalem, and entering the Temple He began to drive out the
buyers and sellers, and upset the money-changers' tables and thestools of the...
Money-changers (5 Occurrences)
... 11:15 They reached Jerusalem, and entering the Temple He began to drive out the
buyers and sellers, and upset the money-changers' tables and thestools of the...
Pigeon-dealers (3 Occurrences)
... 11:15 They reached Jerusalem, and entering the Temple He began to drive out the
buyers and sellers, and upset the money-changers' tables and thestools of the...
Buyers (2 Occurrences)
... 11:15 They reached Jerusalem, and entering the Temple He began to drive out the
buyers and sellers, and upset the money-changers' tables and thestools of the...
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