a reservoir chiefly for rain water. Numbers of these are still
to be seen in Palestine, some of which are a hundred and fifty paces
long, and sixty broad. The reason of their being so large was, that
their cities were many of them built in elevated situations; and the
rain falling only twice in the year, namely, spring and autumn, it
became necessary for them to collect a quantity of water, as well for
the cattle as for the people. A broken cistern would of course be a
great calamity to a family, or in some cases even to a town; and with
reference to this we may see the force of the reproof, Jer. ii, 13.
to be seen in Palestine, some of which are a hundred and fifty paces
long, and sixty broad. The reason of their being so large was, that
their cities were many of them built in elevated situations; and the
rain falling only twice in the year, namely, spring and autumn, it
became necessary for them to collect a quantity of water, as well for
the cattle as for the people. A broken cistern would of course be a
great calamity to a family, or in some cases even to a town; and with
reference to this we may see the force of the reproof, Jer. ii, 13.