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 Context

While 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 Construction

The 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 Significance

Water, 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 Impact

Reservoirs 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.

Conclusion

Reservoirs, 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.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 . ...
/hebrew/4723b.htm - 5k

Jehovah Nissi
... Let us get away from them all, dig deeper down than any of these, be sure that these
are but surface reservoirs, but that the fountain which fills them with ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/jehovah nissi.htm

The Great Reservoir
... You have seen the great reservoirs provided by our water companies, in which the
water that is to supply hundreds of streets and thousands of houses is kept. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the great reservoir.htm

The Great Reservoir
... You have seen the great reservoirs provided by our water companies, in which the
water which is to supply hundreds of streets and thousands of houses is kept. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the great reservoir.htm

The Waterer Watered
... The careful husbandmen whose farms are close along the sides of the bank, have
large tanks and reservoirs in which they store up the water. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the waterer watered.htm

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 large reservoirs for the ...
/.../a metaphrase of the book of ecclesiastes/chapter ii judging therefore that.htm

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 the reservoirs,"he first ...
/.../lactantius/on the workmanship of god/chap vi of the error of.htm

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-like reservoirs, have overflowed and ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter ii three afternoons off.htm

Our Knocking
... It is like telling a man to pray for rain when the reservoirs at his side are full,
and every flower is bending its chalice, charged with the blessing. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/our knocking.htm

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 his reservoirs were full ...
/.../chapter 15 antigonus besieges those.htm

Concerning Macherus, and How Lucilius Bassus Took that Citadel ...
... He also made a great many reservoirs for the reception of water, that there might
be plenty of it ready for all uses, and those in the properest places that ...
/.../chapter 6 concerning macherus and.htm

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 ...
/r/reservoirs.htm - 6k

Cistern (21 Occurrences)
... The scarcity of springs in Palestine made it necessary to collect rain-water
in reservoirs and cisterns (Numbers 21:22). (see WELL.). ...
/c/cistern.htm - 29k

Aqueduct (4 Occurrences)
... Toward the end of summer, springs and wells, where they have not actually dried
up, diminish very considerably, and cisterns and open reservoirs become at ...
/a/aqueduct.htm - 23k

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 or reservoirs to collect the ...
/r/reservoir.htm - 12k

Well (2882 Occurrences)
... Toward the end of summer, springs and wells, where they have not actually dried
up, diminish very considerably, and cisterns and open reservoirs become at ...
/w/well.htm - 39k

Pool (25 Occurrences)
... Toward the end of summer, springs and wells, where they have not actually dried
up, diminish very considerably, and cisterns and open reservoirs become at ...
/p/pool.htm - 40k

Nebuchadnezzar (90 Occurrences)
... 4:30), and to add to the greatness and prosperity of his kingdom by constructing
canals and aqueducts and reservoirs surpassing in grandeur and magnificence ...
/n/nebuchadnezzar.htm - 57k

Irrigation
... As streams were few in Palestine, water was generally stored up in winter in reservoirs,
and distributed through gardens in numerous rills, which could easily ...
/i/irrigation.htm - 9k

Fountain (57 Occurrences)
... In both eastern and western Palestine and even in Lebanon there are many villages
which depend entirely upon reservoirs or cisterns of rain water. ...
/f/fountain.htm - 30k

Fishpools (1 Occurrence)
... The reservoirs 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. ...
/f/fishpools.htm - 7k

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