Topical Bible: Pools and Ponds: Made by Man

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In biblical times, pools and ponds constructed by human hands served various practical and ceremonial purposes. These man-made bodies of water are mentioned in several contexts throughout the Scriptures, reflecting their significance in ancient Near Eastern culture and religious practices.

1. Pools for Water Supply and Irrigation:

Pools were essential for water storage and irrigation, especially in arid regions where water was scarce. The construction of pools allowed for the collection and preservation of rainwater, which was crucial for agriculture and daily living. One notable example is the Pool of Gibeon, referenced in 2 Samuel 2:13, where Joab and Abner's men met by the pool. This pool was likely used for both practical and strategic purposes.

2. Pools for Ceremonial and Ritual Purposes:

Pools also held religious significance, particularly in the context of purification rituals. The Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem is a prominent example. In John 9:7, Jesus instructs the blind man to wash in the Pool of Siloam, which was part of the city's water system and used for ritual cleansing. The pool's connection to the Feast of Tabernacles and its role in the healing miracle performed by Jesus highlight its spiritual importance.

3. Pools in Royal and Public Works:

The construction of pools was often associated with royal projects and public works. King Hezekiah's Pool, mentioned in 2 Kings 20:20, was part of an extensive water system designed to protect Jerusalem's water supply during sieges. This pool, along with Hezekiah's Tunnel, exemplifies the ingenuity and foresight of ancient engineering.

4. Pools as Symbols of Prosperity and Beauty:

Pools were sometimes symbols of prosperity and beauty, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of gardens and palaces. The Song of Solomon 7:4 poetically describes the beauty of a beloved's eyes as "the pools of Heshbon," suggesting the allure and tranquility associated with such water features. These pools were likely part of luxurious settings, reflecting wealth and refinement.

5. Ponds in Agricultural Contexts:

While less frequently mentioned, ponds also played a role in agriculture, particularly for fish farming and livestock. Isaiah 19:10 alludes to the drying up of ponds, affecting those who work with fish. This highlights the economic importance of ponds in sustaining livelihoods and supporting local economies.

6. Pools in Prophetic Imagery:

Prophets occasionally used pools metaphorically to convey spiritual truths. In Isaiah 35:7, the transformation of a parched land into a place with pools of water symbolizes divine restoration and blessing. Such imagery underscores the life-giving and transformative power of God's intervention.

In summary, man-made pools and ponds in the Bible served multifaceted roles, from practical water management to religious rituals and symbolic representations. Their presence in the biblical narrative reflects the ingenuity and resourcefulness of ancient societies, as well as the deeper spiritual meanings attributed to water in the biblical worldview.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 19:10
And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Answer to Trust
... it there be dotted, like a chain of ponds in a ... ever recurring to Him, like the linked
pools that mirror ... not every one to whom that revelation is made know His ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the answer to trust.htm

The Nile and Egypt
... of Cairo, announce each morning what progress it has made since evening ... cease to
flow, and form a mere network of stagnant pools and muddy ponds, which fast ...
/.../chapter i the nile and egypt.htm

The Water of Life;
... We are but as ponds, pools, and cisterns, that can hold ... glory of his grace, wherein
he hath made us accepted ... He has designed, not the glory of man's works, but ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the water of life.htm

Of Antichrist, and his Ruin: and of the Slaying the Witnesses.
... consumed: And when the spirit of Antichrist shall be made to leave ... them, they will
of themselves become such stinking rivers, ponds and pools, that flesh ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/of antichrist and his ruin .htm

The Saints' Privilege and Profit;
... but rivers will satisfy such a soul; ponds, pools, and cisterns ... give the rain of
his grace to a man, he makes ... Lightning and thunder is made a cause of rain, but ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the saints privilege and profit.htm

La Brea
... 'In one of the star-shaped pools of water ... was over; they came back through San Fernando;
made, almost in ... a huge Caddis, like those in English ponds and streams ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter viii la brea.htm

The Political Constitution of Egypt
... An image of a man or animal made by them out of enchanted wax, was imbued with life
at their command, and became an irresistible instrument of their wrath. ...
/.../chapter ithe political constitution of.htm

The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty --(Continued)
... The word signifies pools, marshes, the provinces situated beyond ... the native country
of the dead man, who were ... waive his right of forfeiture, and made over the ...
/.../chapter ithe eighteenth theban dynastycontinued.htm