Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

VILLAGE

A small, usually unfortified settlement (Deut. 3:5; 1 Sam. 6:18; Esth. 9:19; Heb. ḥāṣēr, “enclosure”), in biblical usage often difficult to distinguish from the town (cf. Luke 13:22). Although urban life may have developed from the agricultural village, such settlements do not necessarily represent a direct evolutionary stage of urbanization. Generally the home base for ancient Palestinian (and ancient Near Eastern) transhumants (cf. Gen. 13:2, 12; 26:12-14), the village might be little more than a hamlet, scarcely distinguishable from the open field (Ezek. 38:11; cf. Lev. 25:31, 34).

Villages might be founded by a city (cf. Heb. baṯ X, “daughter of X,” especially common in genealogical material; e.g., 1 Chr. 2:3, 21, 35, 49; cf. Ps. 48:11[MT 12]). A number of villages might be associated with a city, thus references to a city “and its villages” (e.g., Josh. 15:21-62; cf. Neh. 12:29; Jer. 49:2-3). Villages generally were dependent on the larger walled settlement for protection and might in turn provide military service (Judg. 5:7, 11; cf. Hab. 3:14).

Archaeological evidence indicates a significant increase in the number of such settlements in the Iron I period, particularly in the central Palestinian hill country. It is estimated that in Iron I some 250 thousand people lived in villages; by Iron II (ca. 1200 b.c.e.) that number had increased to 750 thousand. Often clustered within sight of one another, villages ranged in size from .3–1 ha. (.75–2.5 a.) and consisted of various configurations of houses, caves, and tents. Traditional law prevailed in village society.

See Peasantry.

Allen C. Myers

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

VILLAGE

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)