A stream-bed, often referred to as a "wadi" in the Middle Eastern context, is a channel or depression in the landscape that is typically dry except during the rainy season when it may carry water. In biblical times, stream-beds were significant geographical features that influenced settlement patterns, agriculture, and travel routes. They are mentioned in various contexts throughout the Bible, serving both literal and metaphorical purposes.

Biblical References:

1. Physical Geography and Provision:
Stream-beds are often associated with God's provision and sustenance. In 1 Kings 17:3-4, the prophet Elijah is instructed by God to hide by the Kerith Ravine (a stream-bed), where he would drink from the brook, and ravens would bring him food: "Leave here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Brook Kerith, east of the Jordan. You are to drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there" . This passage highlights the stream-bed as a place of divine provision and refuge.

2. Symbol of Judgment and Desolation:
Stream-beds can also symbolize judgment and desolation. In Isaiah 57:5-6, the prophet condemns idolatrous practices conducted in the ravines and under the clefts of the rocks: "You who burn with lust among the oaks and under every green tree, who sacrifice your children in the ravines, under the clefts of the rocks. Your portion is among the smooth stones of the ravines; indeed, they are your lot" . Here, the stream-bed is depicted as a place of spiritual desolation and idolatry.

3. Metaphorical Use:
Stream-beds are used metaphorically to describe the transient nature of life and the futility of relying on earthly resources. In Job 6:15-17, Job laments the unreliability of his friends, comparing them to seasonal streams that vanish when needed most: "But my brothers are as faithless as a wadi, as seasonal streams that overflow, darkened because of the ice and the snow that hides itself. When they thaw, they disappear; when it is hot, they vanish from their place" . This metaphor underscores the theme of human frailty and the need for divine faithfulness.

4. Military and Strategic Importance:
Stream-beds also held military significance. In 2 Samuel 5:22-25, David defeats the Philistines by following God's strategy, which involved attacking them near the Valley of Rephaim, a region characterized by its stream-beds: "So David did as the LORD had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer" . The terrain, including the stream-beds, played a crucial role in the battle's outcome.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the arid climate of the ancient Near East, stream-beds were vital for survival. They provided water during the rainy season and were often the only source of moisture for agriculture and livestock. Settlements were frequently established near these water sources, and they served as natural routes for travel and trade.

Stream-beds also held religious and cultural significance. They were sometimes sites of pagan worship, as seen in the denunciations by the prophets. The presence of water, even if seasonal, was often associated with fertility and life, making these locations spiritually significant.

In summary, stream-beds in the Bible are multifaceted symbols representing God's provision, human frailty, judgment, and strategic importance. They are integral to understanding the physical and spiritual landscape of biblical narratives.Stream-bed (2 Occurrences)

2 Kings 3:16
He said, "Thus says Yahweh,'Make this valley full of trenches.'
(See RSV)

2 Kings 3:17
For thus says Yahweh,'You will not see wind, neither will you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, and you will drink, both you and your livestock and your animals.
(See RSV)

Stream-bed (2 Occurrences)
Stream-bed. Stream, Stream-bed. Streamed . Multi-Version Concordance
Stream-bed (2 Occurrences). 2 Kings 3:16 He said ...
/s/stream-bed.htm - 6k

Den (19 Occurrences)
... Caves and crevices and sometimes spaces among piled-up boulders at the foot of a
cliff or in a streambed are used as dens by jackals, wolves and other wild ...
/d/den.htm - 16k

Streamed (1 Occurrence)

/s/streamed.htm - 6k

Stream (96 Occurrences)

/s/stream.htm - 42k

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