In the Bible, "hewing" primarily refers to the act of cutting wood or stone, often accomplished with blows from an axe or another heavy cutting instrument. This term describes a physical labor process integral to various activities in ancient times.
Understanding the Biblical Context of Hewing
The word "hew" originally carried a strong biblical connotation, signifying a fundamental form of labor and craftsmanship.
- Cutting and Shaping: At its core, hewing involves shaping raw materials by forceful cutting. This could apply to:
- Wood: Cutting down trees (felling) or shaping logs into beams and planks for construction, as seen in preparations for the tabernacle or temple.
- Stone: Quarrying stone from mountainsides or shaping large blocks for building foundations, walls, or altars.
- Physical Labor: Hewing was a strenuous and often lowly task, requiring significant physical effort and skill. Those engaged in hewing were considered laborers.
Key Biblical Examples
One of the most prominent instances where "hewing" appears in the Bible is in the book of Joshua.
Joshua 9:21 - Hewers of Wood
A notable example of hewing is found in Joshua 9:21, where the Gibeonites, through deception, secure a covenant with Israel. As a result of their trickery, Joshua declares their fate:
Joshua told them, "From now on you are cursed! You will always be servants, hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God."
This verse illustrates:
- Servitude: "Hewers of wood and drawers of water" became a proverbial phrase signifying a state of servitude or a very menial, laborious existence.
- Essential Tasks: These tasks, though humble, were essential for the daily functioning and survival of communities, particularly for religious rituals and domestic needs.
Other Biblical Applications
Beyond the direct phrase, the concept of hewing is implicit in various biblical narratives involving construction and resource management:
- Temple Building: King Solomon's construction of the temple in Jerusalem involved extensive hewing of timber from Lebanon and stone from quarries, requiring countless laborers (1 Kings 5:6).
- Idolatry: Prophets sometimes metaphorically describe people "hewing out" cisterns or idols for themselves, emphasizing human effort to create false securities or gods (Jeremiah 2:13).
In essence, "hewing" in the Bible signifies the physical act of cutting and shaping raw materials, most often wood or stone, and frequently implies a role of labor or servitude.
