CISTERN. There were Cisterns all over the Country in Palestine: There were some likewise in Cities and private Houses. As the Cities for the most part were built on Mountains, and the Rains fall regularly in Judæa at two seasons of the year only; in Spring and Autumn, People were obliged to keep water in Cisterns in the Country, for the use of their Cattel, and in Cities for the conveniency of the Inhabitants. There are Cisterns of very large dimensions to be seen still at this day in Palestine: Some whereof are an hundred and fifty paces long, and sixty wide; others an hundred and two and twenty paces long, and fifty four wide. There is one to be seen at Ramah of two and thirty paces in length, and eight and twenty in width. Wells and Cisterns, Fountains and Springs, are generally confounded in the Scripture Language.
Library / Calmet's Dictionary of the Holy Bible, Complete and Unabridged
Volume I · C
Cistern
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To cite this page
Augustin Calmet, O.S.B., “Cistern,” in Calmet's Dictionary of the Holy Bible, Complete and Unabridged, English translation, Mind of the Church, https://mindofthechurch.com/works/calmet-dictionary/c/cistern/.