DUNG; DUNG GATE

dung ('ashpoth, domen, peresh; skubalon, etc.): Nine different words occurring in the Hebrew have been translated "dung" in the Old Testament. The word used to designate one of the gates of Jerusalem ('ashpoth, Nehemiah 2:13; Nehemiah 3:14) is more general than the others and may mean any kind of refuse. The gate was probably so named because outside it was the general dump heap of the city. Visitors in recent years riding outside the city walls of Jerusalem, on their way to the Mt. of Olives or Jericho, may have witnessed such a dump against the wall, which has existed for generations.

The first mention made of dung is in connection with sacrificial rites. The sacred law required that the dung, along with what parts of the animal were not burned on the altar, should be burned outside the camp (Exodus 29:14 Leviticus 4:11; Leviticus 8:17; Leviticus 16:27 Numbers 19:5). The fertilizing value of dung was appreciated by the cultivator, as is indicated by Luke 13:8 and possibly Psalm 83:10 and Isaiah 25:10.

Dung was also used as a fuel. Ezekiel 4:12, 15 will be understood when it is known that the dung of animals is a common fuel throughout Palestine and Syria, where other fuel is scarce. During the summer, villagers gather the manure of their cattle, horses or camels, mix it with straw, make it into cakes and dry it for use as fuel for cooking, especially in the winter when wood or charcoal or straw are not procurable. It burns slowly like peat and meets the needs of the kitchen. In Mesopotamia the writer saw it being used with forced draft to fire a steam boiler. There was no idea of uncleanness in Ezekiel's mind, associated with the use of animal dung as fuel (Ezekiel 4:15).

Figuratively: Dung was frequently used figuratively to express the idea

(a) of worthlessness, especially a perishable article for which no one cares (1 Kings 14:10 2 Kings 6:25; 2 Kings 9:37 Job 20:7 Psalm 83:10 Jeremiah 8:2; Jeremiah 9:22; Jeremiah 16:4; Jeremiah 25:33 Zephaniah 1:17 Philippians 3:8 (the American Standard Revised Version "refuse")). Dunghill was used in the same way (1 Samuel 2:8 Ezra 6:11 Psalm 113:7 Isaiah 25:10 Daniel 2:5; Daniel 3:29 Luke 14:35 Lamentations 4:5);

(b) as an expression of disgust (2 Kings 18:27 Isaiah 36:12);

(c) of rebuke (Malachi 2:3).

James A. Patch

The Girdle of the City. Nehemiah 3
... the foot of mount Acra. And, 2. A thousand cubits thence, "The Esquiline,
or Dung-gate," verse 14. And, 3. "The Fountain-gate," verse ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 26 the girdle of.htm

Overcoming Great Difficulties
... The first marched to the right upon the wall toward the Dung Gate; and behind
them went Hoshaiah and half of the officials of Judah. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/overcoming great difficulties.htm

Nehemiah's Answer to a Call for Help
... I went out by night through the Valley Gate, toward the Dragon's Well and to the
Dung Gate; and I examined carefully the walls of Jerusalem which were broken ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/nehemiahs answer to a call.htm

The Strait Gate;
... THE STRAIT GATE; OR, GREAT DIFFICULTY OF GOING TO HEAVEN: ... Reader, he will be clear
of thy blood. Enter upon the solemn inquiry, Have I sought the gate? ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the strait gate.htm

The Last Agony
... of misery, telling how high-born women picked garbage from dung-heaps, and ... commanders
of the Babylonians planted themselves at 'the middle gate,' probably a ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the last agony.htm

"How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds. "
... CM "How sweet the name of Jesus sounds.". Ka gate me noo tah gwud e ne Je sus oo
de noo z'win. Me ewh wan je me noo da ad Owh duh ya bwa yan dung. ...
/.../a collection of gospel hymns in ojibway and english/nuhguhmoowin 14 c m how.htm

The Great Slaughters and Sacrilege that were in Jerusalem.
... and though this man was not himself set as a governor at that gate, yet was he ... the
common sewers and old dunghills of cattle, and to eat the dung which they ...
/.../chapter 13 the great slaughters.htm

Application of these Motives
... our sacrifices as dung in our faces, and should cast us out as the dung of the ... and
take the kingdom by force, to strive to enter in at the strait gate, and so ...
//christianbookshelf.org/baxter/the reformed pastor/article 4.htm

"But Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God," &C.
... tell me, can ye say that ye have seen all in yourselves as dung and dross ... But coming
to Jesus Christ is the comprehensive short gate,(495) and therefore it is ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xvi but seek ye.htm

Meditations of the Blessed State of a Regenerate Man in Heaven.
... towards each of the four corners of the world (ver.13), and at each gate an angel ...
riches and glory of the world (in respect of it) to be but dung (Philippians 3 ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/meditations of the blessed state.htm