Lexical Summary tsibbur: Heap, pile, gathering Original Word: צִבֻּר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance heap From Par'osh; a pile -- heap. see HEBREW Par'osh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom tsabar Definition a heap NASB Translation heaps (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [צִבּוּר] noun masculine heap: — only plural שְׁנֵי צִבֻּרִים 2 Kings 10:8 two heaps (of heads). צבת (√ of following; Late Hebrew צָבַת bind, unite; Assyrian ƒabâtu, grasp, take; Talmud צְבַת join, and derivatives). Topical Lexicon OverviewTsibbur denotes a deliberate piling up of objects into a conspicuous mound. Its single biblical appearance occurs in 2 Kings 10:8, where the severed heads of Ahab’s seventy sons are arranged “in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning”. The term therefore conveys not a casual scattering but an intentional, ordered accumulation intended for public display and testimony. Historical Setting Jehu’s purge of Ahab’s dynasty (2 Kings 9–10) fulfills divine judgment announced through Elijah (1 Kings 21:21-24) and later reaffirmed by Elisha’s servant (2 Kings 9:7-10). After Jehu’s letter prompts the officials of Samaria to execute Ahab’s heirs, the grisly parcels are sent to Jezreel. By commanding the city’s gatekeepers to arrange the heads in two heaps, Jehu amplifies the prophetic warning: Yahweh’s word stands, and covenant-breaking leadership will not endure. Public Gates as Theological Stages In the Ancient Near Eastern world, a city gate served as courthouse, marketplace and forum. The heaps displayed at Jezreel’s gate transformed that civic space into a vivid sermon. All who passed by had to confront the outcome of idolatry and national apostasy. Similar gate-side object lessons appear when Joshua erects a pile of stones at Ai (Joshua 8:29) and when Absalom’s forces heap stones over his grave (2 Samuel 18:17). Tsibbur thus participates in a broader biblical motif: visible memorials that warn, teach and remind subsequent generations. Symbolic Dimensions 1. Judgment Made Visible The heaps embody retributive justice. Whereas Ahab “piled up” (figuratively) sins through Baal worship and injustice, God now allows a literal pile to witness against his lineage. Proverbs 11:21 affirms, “Be sure of this: the wicked will not go unpunished”. 2. Covenant Fidelity Displayed Elijah’s prophecy could have been forgotten or dismissed as rhetoric; Tsibbur guarantees its remembrance. The physical mound validates the reliability of the prophetic word (Deuteronomy 18:22) and underscores that God is “watching over His word to perform it” (Jeremiah 1:12). 3. Warning to Successors Jehu’s reign begins with zeal for reform (2 Kings 10:16). Yet the heaps also foreshadow the temptation of future monarchs: zeal must persist lest judgment revisit. The piles stand until morning, symbolizing an overnight meditation period for all Israel. Canonical and Theological Links • Piles of Stones as Memorials: Moses commands Israel to erect stone heaps after crossing the Jordan (Joshua 4:4–7). These serve as perpetual reminders of deliverance; Tsibbur at Jezreel serves as a reminder of discipline. Together they reveal the balanced character of God: both Savior and Judge. • Prophetic Consistency: The swift fall of Ahab’s house mirrors earlier purges (Numbers 25:4–9 with the Midianites, 1 Kings 15:28–30 with Baasha). Tsibbur reinforces the theological principle that God’s holiness demands decisive action against covenant betrayal. Ministry Implications 1. Preaching and Teaching Tsibbur challenges pastors to present sin’s consequences plainly. Visual analogies—whether historical accounts, testimonies or symbolic objects—can awaken complacent hearts much as Jehu’s heaps arrested the gaze of Jezreel. 2. Church Discipline The passage illustrates that public, unrepentant sin occasionally requires public corrective action (1 Timothy 5:20). While contemporary application differs in method, the principle of communal warning remains. 3. Memorial Practices Believers benefit from tangible reminders of God’s faithfulness and gravity. Communion, baptism and even simple memorial stones in church courtyards echo the didactic function of biblical heaps. Conclusion Though Tsibbur surfaces only once, the heap it describes stands tall in theological significance. It testifies to the certainty of God’s word, the seriousness of covenant infidelity and the necessity of visible reminders that call God’s people to steadfast obedience. Forms and Transliterations צִבֻּרִ֛ים צברים ṣib·bu·rîm ṣibburîm tzibbuRimLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Kings 10:8 HEB: אֹתָ֞ם שְׁנֵ֧י צִבֻּרִ֛ים פֶּ֥תַח הַשַּׁ֖עַר NAS: them in two heaps at the entrance KJV: ye them in two heaps at the entering in INT: Put two heaps the entrance of the gate 1 Occurrence |
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