Topical Bible: Mountains: Afforded Pasturage

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Mountains in biblical times were not only significant for their spiritual and symbolic meanings but also served practical purposes, such as providing pasturage for flocks and herds. The rugged terrain and elevated regions offered a unique environment for grazing, which was essential for the agrarian societies of the ancient Near East.

Biblical References

The Bible contains numerous references to mountains as places of pasturage. In the Old Testament, the patriarchs and their descendants often utilized mountainous regions for grazing their livestock. For instance, in Genesis 31:21, Jacob fled with his family and flocks to the hill country of Gilead, a region known for its pastures. The mountainous areas provided a natural habitat for sheep and goats, which were integral to the livelihood of the Israelites.

In the book of Isaiah, the prophet speaks of the abundance of pasturage in the mountains: "On every high mountain and lofty hill there will be streams of water, on the day of great slaughter, when the towers fall" (Isaiah 30:25). This imagery not only highlights the fertility and provision found in these elevated areas but also underscores the divine blessing associated with them.

Cultural and Historical Context

In ancient Israel, the mountainous regions were often less populated and more remote, making them ideal for grazing. The shepherds would lead their flocks to these areas, where the grass was often more plentiful and the water sources more abundant. The terrain, while challenging, provided natural protection against predators and invaders, allowing the shepherds to tend to their flocks with a degree of security.

The pastoral lifestyle was deeply ingrained in the culture of the Israelites, and the mountains played a crucial role in sustaining this way of life. The imagery of shepherds and their flocks is prevalent throughout the Scriptures, symbolizing care, guidance, and provision. The mountains, therefore, were not only physical locations but also carried rich metaphorical significance.

Theological Implications

The use of mountains for pasturage in the Bible also carries theological implications. The provision of pasturage in the mountains can be seen as a reflection of God's providence and care for His people. Just as the shepherds relied on the mountains to sustain their flocks, the Israelites were called to rely on God for their sustenance and protection.

In Psalm 23, one of the most beloved passages in the Bible, the psalmist declares, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters" (Psalm 23:1-2). While not explicitly mentioning mountains, the imagery of green pastures and quiet waters evokes the serene and abundant provision found in the highlands.

Conclusion

The mountains as places of pasturage in the Bible serve as a testament to the practical and spiritual dimensions of these landscapes. They provided essential resources for the people of Israel and continue to symbolize God's provision and care throughout the biblical narrative.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 3:1
Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
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1 Samuel 25:7
And now I have heard that you have shearers: now your shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing to them, all the while they were in Carmel.
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1 Kings 22:17
And he said, I saw all Israel scattered on the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
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Psalm 147:8
Who covers the heaven with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the mountains.
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Amos 4:1
Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink.
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Library

The Israelites
... though they came to Egypt seeking pasturage for their ... northward into the heart of
the mountains of Ephraim ... Jeroboam lost the opportunity thus afforded him of ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter i the israelites.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
... Shamash-mudammiq, after being totally routed near the Yalman mountains, did not
long survive, and Naboshumishkun, who succeeded him, showed neither more ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm

In Judaea
... westward from those scenes, where the mountains shelved down ... plain of Sharon was
always celebrated for its pasturage. ... of the New Testament is afforded by Lydda ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 5 in judaea.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... surprise among their contemporaries: a journey from Lagash to the mountains of Tidanum ...
ass, and affords the flocks of the nomads a grateful pasturage when the ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

The Nile and Egypt
... Egyptian cosmography"The four pillars and the four upholding mountains"The celestial ...
Scraps of close, aromatic pasturage, acacias, date-palms, and dom-palms ...
/.../chapter i the nile and egypt.htm

The Political Constitution of Egypt
... rules over the "Entire Circuit of the Sun," and the whole earth, its mountains and
plains ... If the tax were received in oxen, it was led to pasturage, or at times ...
/.../chapter ithe political constitution of.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... special event, such as a projected migration in search of fresh pasturage, or an ...
from spreading over the plain, and had to confine themselves to the mountains. ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm