Topical Encyclopedia Definition and Context Blasting, in biblical terms, refers to a destructive force or calamity often associated with divine judgment or natural disaster. It is typically understood as a form of blight or withering that affects crops and vegetation, leading to famine and hardship. The term is used in the context of agricultural societies where the prosperity and survival of the people heavily depended on the success of their crops. Biblical References The concept of blasting is mentioned in several passages in the Bible, often in conjunction with other calamities such as mildew and locusts, which are seen as instruments of divine retribution or testing. 1. Deuteronomy 28:22 · In this passage, blasting is listed among the curses that will befall the Israelites if they disobey God's commandments: "The LORD will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish." 2. 1 Kings 8:37 · During Solomon's prayer of dedication for the temple, he acknowledges the possibility of various disasters, including blasting, as a means for the people to turn back to God: "When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come." 3. Haggai 2:17 · The prophet Haggai speaks of blasting as a consequence of the people's neglect of God's house: "I struck you with blight and mildew and hail in all the labors of your hands, yet you did not turn to Me, declares the LORD." Theological Significance Blasting serves as a tangible reminder of the covenant relationship between God and His people. It underscores the principle that obedience to God's laws brings blessings, while disobedience results in curses and hardships. The occurrence of blasting is often portrayed as a call to repentance, urging the people to return to faithfulness and reliance on God. Symbolism and Interpretation In a broader symbolic sense, blasting can represent the spiritual barrenness that results from turning away from God. Just as crops wither under the force of blasting, so too can the spiritual life of a community or individual suffer when disconnected from divine guidance and sustenance. Historical and Cultural Context In the agrarian society of ancient Israel, the threat of blasting was a serious concern. The success of crops was vital for survival, and any form of blight could lead to severe economic and social consequences. The biblical references to blasting reflect the deep connection between the people's spiritual state and their physical well-being, a theme that resonates throughout the Scriptures. Practical Application For contemporary readers, the concept of blasting can serve as a metaphor for the consequences of neglecting one's spiritual duties and responsibilities. It is a reminder of the importance of maintaining a faithful relationship with God and the potential repercussions of spiritual neglect. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Blast.2. (n.) A blast; destruction by a blast, or by some pernicious cause. 3. (n.) The act or process of one who, or that which, blasts; the business of one who blasts. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia BLAST; BLASTINGblast'-ing (shiddaphon-root, shadhaph, literally "scorching"): This is the effect produced upon grain or other plants by the hot east winds which blow from the desert of Arabia. They usually continue to blow for two or three days at a time. If they occur in the spring near ripening time, the grain is often turned yellow and does not properly mature. The farmers dread this wind. In some localities, if they suspect that the east wind is coming, they set up a great shouting and beating of pans, hoping to drive it off. Sometimes this wind is a double pestilence, when it brings with it a cloud of locusts (2 Chronicles 6:28). The writer, while journeying in the northern part of the Arabian desert, the source of these winds, witnessed such a cloud of locusts on their way toward habitable regions. It did not call for a very vivid imagination on the part of the children of Israel to realize the meaning of the curses and all manner of evil which would befall those who would not hearken to the voice of Yahweh. Deuteronomy 28:22-24 could easily be considered a poetic description of the east winds (Arabic howa sharki'yeh) which visit Palestine and Syria at irregular intervals today. The heat is fiery: it dries up the vegetation and blasts the grain; the sky is hazy and there is a glare as if the sun were reflected from a huge brass tray. Woodwork cracks and warps; the covers of books curl up. Instead of rain, the wind brings dust and sand which penetrate into the innermost corners of the dwellings. This dust fills the eyes and inflames them. The skin becomes hot and dry. To one first experiencing this storm it seems as though some volcano must be belching forth heat and ashes. No other condition of the weather can cause such depression. Such a pestilence, only prolonged beyond endurance, was to be the fate of the disobedient. This word should not be confused with mildew. Since the words blasting and mildew occur together it may be inferred that mildew (literally "a paleness") must mean the sickly color which plants assu me for other causes than the blasting of the east wind, such, as for instance, fungus diseases or parasites (1 Kings 8:37 Amos 4:9 Haggai 2:17). Strong's Hebrew 7711b. shiddaphon -- blight (of crops)... Word Origin from shadaph Definition blight (of crops) NASB Word Usage blasting wind (1), blight (3), scorching (1). 7711a, 7711b. shiddaphon. 7712 . ... /hebrew/7711b.htm - 5k Library Smitten in Vain The Oration of Moses at the Rehearsal of the Blessing and the ... Psalm 1:1. Common Metre, Psalm 121:2. CM Preservation by Day and Night. God's Merciful Guardianship of his People. --Ps. Xci. Our Frail Bodies, and God Our Preserver. Psalm 1 the Way and End of the Righteous and the Wicked Celsus Afterwards States what is Adduced by Jews and Christians ... Our Frail Bodies, and God Our Preserver. Psalm 121 Preservation by Day and Night. Thesaurus Blasting (4 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BLAST; BLASTING. blast ... James A. Patch. Multi-Version Concordance Blasting (4 Occurrences). Deuteronomy ... /b/blasting.htm - 10k Blast (28 Occurrences) Locusts (33 Occurrences) Disaster (131 Occurrences) Mildew (26 Occurrences) Distressed (70 Occurrences) Labours (19 Occurrences) Tamper (1 Occurrence) Rend (35 Occurrences) Reed (41 Occurrences) Resources Blasting: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Blasting (4 Occurrences)Deuteronomy 28:22 1 Kings 8:37 2 Chronicles 6:28 Haggai 2:17 Subtopics Related Terms |
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