The term "half-acre" is a unit of land measurement mentioned in the Bible, specifically in the context of agricultural and military settings. In ancient Israel, land was a crucial asset, and its measurement was significant for both farming and territorial delineation.

Biblical Reference:

The most notable reference to a half-acre is found in 1 Samuel 14:14. The passage describes a daring exploit by Jonathan, the son of King Saul, and his armor-bearer. The verse states: "In that first assault, Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men over half an acre of land" (1 Samuel 14:14). This account highlights the bravery and strategic prowess of Jonathan, as well as the miraculous assistance from God in achieving victory against the Philistines.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Israel, an acre was not a standardized measurement as it is today. The term "acre" in the biblical context likely referred to the amount of land that a yoke of oxen could plow in a day. Therefore, a "half-acre" would be half of that area. This measurement was practical for agricultural purposes, as it related directly to the productivity of the land and the labor required to cultivate it.

The use of "half-acre" in 1 Samuel 14:14 serves to provide a tangible sense of the battlefield's size where Jonathan's victory took place. It underscores the limited space in which a significant military achievement occurred, emphasizing the intensity and skill involved in the combat.

Theological Implications:

From a theological perspective, the mention of a half-acre in this narrative illustrates the theme of divine intervention and the power of faith. Jonathan's trust in God and his willingness to act courageously, despite the odds, resulted in a remarkable victory. The small area of land becomes a stage for God's deliverance, demonstrating that success is not dependent on human strength or numbers but on reliance on the Lord.

Symbolic Interpretation:

In a broader symbolic sense, the half-acre can be seen as a representation of the believer's sphere of influence or responsibility. Just as Jonathan and his armor-bearer were able to achieve a significant victory within a limited space, Christians are encouraged to be faithful and diligent in the areas God has entrusted to them, trusting that He can bring about great outcomes through their efforts.

Overall, the mention of a half-acre in the Bible serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the importance of faithfulness in the tasks and territories assigned to His people.

Friendship; Or, David and Jonathan
... 'And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armour-bearer made, was about
twenty men, within, as it were, an half-acre of land, which a yoke of oxen ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/david/sermon v friendship or david.htm

Contentment
... it," says he, "though I have all these acres, unless I can have Naboth's vineyard?"
Surely a king should have been ashamed to crave that paltry half-acre of a ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/contentment.htm

La Brea
... serpent is compared with the known size of the ocean, rather more silly than the
assertion that a ten-pound pike could not live in a half-acre pond, because it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter viii la brea.htm

Half-acre (1 Occurrence)
Half-acre. Half, Half-acre. Half-an-hour . Multi-Version Concordance
Half-acre (1 Occurrence). 1 Samuel 14:14 And that ...
/h/half-acre.htm - 6k

Armourbearer (14 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 14:14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made,
was about twenty men, within as it were an halfacre of land, which a yoke ...
/a/armourbearer.htm - 11k

Armor-bearer (15 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 14:14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made,
was about twenty men, within as it were a half-acre of land, which a yoke of ...
/a/armor-bearer.htm - 12k

Plow (11 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 14:14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made,
was about twenty men, within as it were an halfacre of land, which a yoke ...
/p/plow.htm - 15k

Half-an-hour (1 Occurrence)
Half-an-hour. Half-acre, Half-an-hour. Half-blind . Multi-Version Concordance ...
Half-acre, Half-an-hour. Half-blind . Reference Bible.
/h/half-an-hour.htm - 6k

Yoke (79 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 14:14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made,
was about twenty men, within as it were an halfacre of land, which a yoke ...
/y/yoke.htm - 40k

Oxen (176 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 14:14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made,
was about twenty men, within as it were an halfacre of land, which a yoke ...
/o/oxen.htm - 38k

Half (135 Occurrences)

/h/half.htm - 41k

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