Topical Bible: The Ox was Fed in the Valleys

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Topical Encyclopedia

The phrase "The Ox was Fed in the Valleys" is not a direct quotation from the Bible but rather a thematic concept that can be derived from various scriptural passages that highlight the provision and care of God for His creation, particularly in the context of agricultural abundance and pastoral imagery. The ox, a symbol of strength and labor, is often associated with agrarian life in biblical times, and its sustenance is indicative of God's provision for both man and beast.

Biblical Context and Symbolism

In the ancient Near Eastern context, the ox was a valuable asset for farming communities, used for plowing fields and threshing grain. The well-being of the ox was directly linked to the prosperity of the people. The valleys, often fertile and lush, provided the necessary resources for feeding livestock. This imagery is used throughout the Bible to convey God's blessings and the natural order He established.

Scriptural References

1. Deuteronomy 11:11-12 : "But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." This passage highlights the divine care and provision for the land, which includes the valleys where livestock such as oxen would graze.

2. Psalm 104:14 : "He makes the grass grow for the livestock and provides crops for man to cultivate, bringing forth food from the earth." This verse underscores God's provision for both animals and humans, ensuring that the needs of all His creation are met.

3. Isaiah 30:23-24 : "Then He will give rain for the seed you have sown in the ground, and the food that comes from your land will be rich and plentiful. On that day your cattle will graze in open pastures. The oxen and donkeys that work the ground will eat salted fodder, winnowed with shovel and pitchfork." Here, the abundance of food for the oxen is a sign of God's blessing and the prosperity of His people.

Theological Implications

The feeding of the ox in the valleys serves as a metaphor for God's provision and care. It reflects the biblical principle that God is the ultimate provider, sustaining all life through His creation. The imagery of the ox being fed in the valleys can also be seen as a representation of peace and stability, where the land is fruitful, and the people and their livestock thrive under God's watchful eye.

Practical Application

For believers, the concept of "The Ox was Fed in the Valleys" can serve as a reminder of God's faithfulness and provision in their own lives. It encourages trust in God's ability to provide for their needs, just as He provides for the animals of the field. It also calls for stewardship of the resources God has given, ensuring that the land and its creatures are cared for in a manner that honors the Creator.

In summary, while "The Ox was Fed in the Valleys" is not a direct biblical phrase, it encapsulates a rich tapestry of scriptural themes related to God's provision, the natural order, and the blessings of obedience to His commands.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Chronicles 27:29
And over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 65:10
And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Letter cxxx. To Demetrias.
... With these and similar meditations she fed her mind, dreading ... of Sharon and the lily
of the valleys." [3682] "The ... the lion eats straw like the ox; [3686] not ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cxxx to demetrias.htm

Imperial Tombs.
... into the flames; this extemporized pyre being fed with fresh ... to give him the appearance
of an ox (bufalo ... on the tableland, or ridge, between the valleys of la ...
/.../lanciani/pagan and christian rome/chapter iv imperial tombs.htm

The Nile and Egypt
... One after another, the streams which fed it fail or dwindle. ... abundant by the banks
of the river, is now almost entirely confined to certain valleys of the ...
/.../chapter i the nile and egypt.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... In this world we are working men, and must be content to be clad and fed as such ...
says of himself, 'I AM the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys' (Cant 2 ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... person; he was, we are told, fed during infancy ... the construction of public works
in the valleys of the ... and large wickerwork shields covered with ox-hide, which ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
... It was a rugged and unattractive country, protected by nature and easy to defend,
made up as it was of narrow tortuous valleys, of plains of moderate extent ...
/.../chapter iisyria at the beginning.htm

The Temples and the Gods of Chaldaea
... the house, the yoke laid upon the oxen, the tomb, the prison, the well, the furnace,
the shade, the vase for libation, the ravines, the valleys, the mountains ...
/.../chapter iithe temples and the.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... barked and purified, and was subsequently fed with precious ... considered the most
efficacious, but an ox, a cow ... him undisputed possession of the valleys of the ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

A Holy Life the Beauty of Christianity: Or, an Exhortation to ...
... shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be ... 66:3; Prov.7:22, 23) Never went
fat ox so gamesomely to ... almost to distraction, and have been fed with gravel ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a holy life the beauty.htm

The Saints' Privilege and Profit;
... What is a sheep, a bull, an ox, or calf, to Christ, or their blood to the ... 'I will
open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the saints privilege and profit.htm