Stone (usually "|3X, ^6en ; but occasionally "pD, sela, or ~A'Z, ts{ir,hoi\\ of which are rather a rock; X(3oc, sometimes mrpoc or i^ij^oe). In such rocky countries as Mount Sinai and Syria, stones were naturally of very frequent reference in Ijiblical language. See Rock.
The kinds of ordinary stone mentioned by ancient and modern writers as found in Palestine (q. v.) are chiefly limestone (Isa. xxvii, 9) [especially marble (q. V.")] and sandstone; occasionally basalt (Josephus, A7it. viii, 7, 4), flint, and firestone (2 Jlacc. x, 3). (See Wagner, De Lapidibus Judaicis [Hal. 1724]). See Mineral.
The uses to which stones were applied in ancient Palestine were very various.
1. They were used for the ordinary purposes of build- ing, and in this respect the most noticealjle point is the very large size to which they occasionally run (JIark xiii, 1). Robinson gives the dimensions of one as 24 feet long by 6 feet broad and 3 feet high {Ren. i, 233 ; see also p. 284, note). See Qi'arrv. For most pub- lic edifices hewn stones were used. An exception was made in reganl to altars, which were to be built of unhewn stone (Exod.xx,25; Deut. xxvii,5; Josh, viii,
31), probably as being in a more natural state. The Phcenicians were particularly famous for their skill in hewing stone (2 Sam. v, 11 ; 1 Kings v, IK). Stones were selected of certain colors in order to form orna- mental string-courses. In 1 Cliron. xxix, 2 we find enumerated " onyx stones and stones to be set, glister- ing stones (lit. stones (j^ eye-paint), b.i\<\ of divers colors (i. e. streaked with veins), and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones " (comp. 2 Chron. iii, 6). They were also employed for pavements (2 Kings xvi, 17 ; comp. Esth. i, 6).
2. Large stones were used for closing the entrances of caves (Josh, x, 18; Dan. vi, 17), sepulchres (Matt. xxvii, 60 ; John xi, 38 ; xx, 1), and springs (Gen. xxix,
3. Flint-stones ("i^lS or "lij) occasionally served the purpose of a knife, particularly for circumcision and sim- ilar objects (Exod. iv, 25; Josh.v, 2, 3; comp. Herod, ii, 86 ; Plutarch, Nicias, 13 ; Catull. Carvi. Ixii, 5). See Knife.
4. Stones were further used as a munition of war for slings (1 Sam. xvii, 40, 49), catapults (2 Chron. xxvi, 14), and bows (Wisd. v, 22 ; comp. 1 Mace, vi, 51). Also as boundary marks (Deut. xix, 14; xxvii, 17; Job xxiv, 2; Prov. xxii, 28; xxiii, 10) : such were probably the stone of Bohan (Josh, xv, 6 ; xviii, 17), the stone of Abel (1 Sam. vi, 15, 18), the stone Ezel (xx, 19), the great stone by Gibeon (2 Sam. xx,8), and the stone Zolieleth (1 Kings i, 9). Finally as weights for scales (Deut. XXV, 13; Prov. xvi, 11) ; and for mills (2 Sam. xi, 21).
5. Large stones were set up to commemorate any re- markable events, as by Jacob at Bethel after his inter- view with Jehovah (Gen. xxviii, 18; xxxv, 14), and again when he made the covenant with Laban (xxxi, 45) ; by Joshua after the passage of the Jordan (Josh. iv, 9) ; and by Samuel in token of his victory over the Philistines (1 Sam. vii, 12). See Pillar. Similarly the Egyptian monarchs erected their steke at the far- thest point they reached (Herod, ii, 106). Such stones were occasionally consecrated by anointing, as instanced in the stone erected at Bethel ((ien. xxviii, 18). A sim- ilar practice existed in heathen countries, both in Asia and in Europe (see De Saulcy, Dead Sea, ii, 51, 52; Hackett, llhtstra. of Script, p. 102 ; More, rillar Stones of Scotland [ Edinb. 1865]). See Altar. By a singu- lar coincidence these stones were described in Phoenicia by a name very similar to Bethel, viz. bwlylia (l5aiTV- Xia), whence it has been surmised that the heathen name w-as derived from the scri[)tural one, or vice versa (Kalisch, Comm. in Gen. loc. cit.). But neither are the names actually identical, nor are the associations of a kindred nature ; the btvtylia were meteoric stones, and derived their sanctity from the belief that they had fallen from heaven, whereas the stone at Bethel was simplj- commemorative. See Bethel. The only point of resemblance between the two consists in the custom of anointing — the anointed stones (Xt'^ot Xiirapoi, Clem.
Druidical Stone of Persia.
STONE
1044
STOXE
Cromlech at Plaa Newydd.
combined, the ithite conveying the notion of acquittal, the stone that of election (Ben- gfl, Gnoni.) ; to the stones in the high- priest's breastplate (Ziillig) ; to the tick- ets presented to the victors at the public games, securing them maintenance at the public expense (Ham- mond) ; or, lastly, to the custom of writing on stones (Alford, ad loc). (See the mono- graphs on this sub- ject, in Latin, by Ma- jus [Giss. 170G] and bresig [Lips. 1731].) 9. The use of stones for tablets is alluded to in Exod. xxiv, 12 and Josh.viii, 32; and to this we may add the guide -stones to the cities of refuge
Alex. Strom, v'li, 302), which are frequently mentioned \ (see Schottgen, De Lapidihus Vialibus [Lips. 171G]), by ancient writers as objects of divine honor (Arnob. | and the mile-stones of the Roman period (comp. Otho, Adv. Gent, i, 39 ; Euseb. Pmp. Evwig. i, 10, 18 ; Pliny, ■ Lex. Ralb. p. 362). See City.