Rifled
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The term "rifled" does not appear directly in the Bible; however, the concept of rifling, which involves the act of ransacking or plundering, can be related to various biblical narratives and teachings concerning theft, looting, and the moral implications of such actions. In the context of biblical history and teachings, rifling can be understood as an act of taking by force or stealth, often associated with warfare, judgment, or divine retribution.

Biblical Context and Usage

1. Plundering in Warfare: Throughout the Old Testament, the act of rifling or plundering is often associated with the aftermath of battles. For instance, when the Israelites conquered cities, they were sometimes commanded by God to take spoils as part of divine judgment against those nations. In 1 Samuel 30:16-20, David and his men recover their possessions and plunder the Amalekites after they had raided Ziklag. This narrative illustrates the concept of rifling as part of reclaiming what was unjustly taken.

2. Divine Judgment: The prophets frequently spoke of rifling as a form of divine judgment against nations that had turned away from God. In Isaiah 10:6, God uses the Assyrian army as an instrument of His wrath, allowing them to plunder nations as a form of punishment: "I will send him against a godless nation; I will dispatch him against a people destined for My rage, to seize the spoil, to take the prey, and to trample them down like clay in the streets."

3. Moral and Ethical Teachings: The Bible consistently condemns theft and unjust gain. The Eighth Commandment, "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15), underscores the moral prohibition against rifling or taking what does not belong to oneself. Proverbs 22:22-23 warns against exploiting the poor or oppressing the afflicted, emphasizing God's justice: "Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate, for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them."

4. Spiritual Implications: In the New Testament, the concept of rifling can be extended metaphorically to spiritual matters. Jesus speaks of the thief who comes to "steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10), contrasting this with His mission to bring life abundantly. This highlights the spiritual battle against forces that seek to "rifle" or disrupt the spiritual well-being of believers.

5. Restoration and Redemption: The Bible also speaks of restoration following acts of rifling. Joel 2:25-26 promises that God will restore the years that the locusts have eaten, symbolizing the restoration of what has been lost or taken: "I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts—the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust—My great army that I sent against you. You will have plenty to eat, until you are satisfied. You will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you."

In summary, while the specific term "rifled" is not found in the biblical text, the concept is woven throughout Scripture in the context of warfare, divine judgment, moral teachings, and spiritual lessons. The Bible provides a comprehensive view of the consequences of rifling and the hope of restoration through God's justice and mercy.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(imp. & p. p.) of Rifle.
Library

Plenteous Redemption
... O death! foolish death! thy caskets shall be rifled; thy storehouses shall be broken
open. Lo, the morning is come! Christ hath descended from on high. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/plenteous redemption.htm

To the Honourable Mr Yorke.
... A time there is, when, like a thrice-told tale,. Long-rifled life of sweet
can yield no more,. But from our comment on the comedy,. ...
/.../young/youngs night thoughts/to the honourable mr yorke.htm

Lessons.
... The mysterious summons has come!"the most honoured home on earth has been rudely
rifled!"the most loving of hearts have been cruelly torn; and inscrutable ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/iii lessons.htm

The Mourner's Creed.
... We should not so much have wondered to hear it after the grave, hard by, had been
rifled, and the silent lips of Lazarus had been unsealed; or had she stood ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/ix the mourners creed.htm

Chapter twenty-seven
... if measuring his companion's intention. Then he hastily dropped the money
back into the rifled pocket. "You can take your hands ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter twenty-seven.htm

Prayer Concerns Three.
... He felt their charge keenly and answered it directly and fully. His parable of the
strong man being bound before his house can be rifled comes in here. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on prayer/prayer concerns three.htm

The Life of Mr. Alexander Moncrief.
... the king. Upon account of which his house was often searched, and rifled
by the English, and he obliged to hide himself. Upon the ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr alexander 3.htm

Some of the Guards Report to the Jewish Rulers.
... Their lie is doubly apparent upon its face.1. It would have been practically impossible
for men to have rifled such a tomb without waking a guard set to ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxxxvi some of the guards.htm

On the Overthrow of Petrus and the Introduction of Lucius the ...
... Lucius, who employed idolators as his attendants, went on scourging some, imprisoning
others; some he drove to take to flight, others' homes he rifled in rude ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter xviii on the overthrow of.htm

The Battle of Armageddon.
... For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be
taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished: and half of the city ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/6 the battle of armageddon.htm

Thesaurus
Rifled (2 Occurrences)
...Rifled (2 Occurrences). Isaiah 13:16 Their infants also shall be dashed in pieces
before their eyes; their houses shall be rifled, and their wives ravished. ...
/r/rifled.htm - 7k

Land (19790 Occurrences)
... that part of the surface which is not so treated, as the level part of a millstone
between the furrows, or the surface of the bore of a rifled gun between the ...
/l/land.htm - 21k

Ravished (8 Occurrences)
... Zechariah 14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the
city will be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. ...
/r/ravished.htm - 9k

Raped (6 Occurrences)
... (WEB). Zechariah 14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle;
and the city will be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. ...
/r/raped.htm - 8k

Rifts (1 Occurrence)

/r/rifts.htm - 6k

Ransacked (3 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS NIV). Zechariah 14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to
battle; and the city will be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. ...
/r/ransacked.htm - 7k

Rie (1 Occurrence)

/r/rie.htm - 7k

Exiled (14 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Zechariah 14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle;
and the city will be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. ...
/e/exiled.htm - 11k

Menelaus
... The king returned in fury, caused a three days' slaughter of the citizens, rifled
the temple with Menelaus as guide, and left him as one of his agents to keep ...
/m/menelaus.htm - 9k

Babes (18 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV WBS RSV). Isaiah 13:16 Their infants also shall be dashed in pieces
before their eyes; their houses shall be rifled, and their wives ravished. ...
/b/babes.htm - 12k

Resources
Rifled: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Rifled (2 Occurrences)

Isaiah 13:16
Their infants also shall be dashed in pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be rifled, and their wives ravished.
(ASV DBY)

Zechariah 14:2
For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city will be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go out into captivity, and the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Subtopics

Rifle

Rifled

Related Terms

Rigging (2 Occurrences)

Rifled (2 Occurrences)

Rifle
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