Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

DUNG

Both human and animal excrement, which the ritual and priestly material categorizes as impure. In sacrifice it is to be burned, along with other impure parts of the animal, at a place removed from the congregation (Exod. 29:14; Lev. 4:11; 8:17; 16:27; cf. Num. 19:5 where the animal is burned altogether). Clothes stained with excrement had to be cleaned (Isa. 4:4), though fools may not notice that their clothes are dirty (Prov. 30:12).

As a means of verbal abuse, unburied dead are described as being spread over fields like manure (2 Kgs. 9:37; Ps. 83:10[MT 11]; Jer. 8:2; 9:22[21]; 16:4; Zeph. 1:17). Certainly, to be associated with dung was shameful and insulting (Job 20:7), and the dead are disrespected by having their houses made into dung heaps (Ezra 6:11). The apostatizing priests of Malachi are threatened with having dung wiped on their faces (Mal. 2:3).

Dung was used as fuel for fire, but using human dung for cooking rendered food unclean (Ezek. 4:12, 15). In ancient times as now, dung was also used as fertilizer in rural areas. Disposal of human dung in urban areas was a concern for biblical writers. One method of disposal was burning (1 Kgs. 14:10), but dung was generally removed from areas of habitation and concentrated in a dunghill (Ezra 6:11; Luke 14:35). In Jerusalem, waste was removed from the city through the Dung Gate at the southeastern corner of the city wall (Neh. 2:13; 3:13-14; 12:31). Deut. 23:13 describes proper latrine procedures for a military encampment. In times of famine and poverty, people may have consumed animal (possibly 2 Kgs. 6:25) or human dung (18:27 = Isa. 36:12).

Nicole J. Ruane

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

DUNG

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)