Cave

There are numerous natural caves among the limestone rocks of "Syria, many of which have been artificially enlarged for various" purposes. "The first notice of a cave occurs in the history of Lot (Gen. 19:30). "The next we read of is the cave of Machpelah (q.v.), which "Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth (Gen. 25:9, 10). It was" "the burying-place of Sarah and of Abraham himself, also of" "Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob (Gen. 49:31; 50:13)." "The cave of Makkedah, into which the five Amorite kings retired "after their defeat by Joshua (10:16, 27)." "The cave of Adullam (q.v.), an immense natural cavern, where "David hid himself from Saul (1 Sam. 22:1, 2)." "The cave of Engedi (q.v.), now called `Ain Jidy, i.e., the "Fountain of the Kid, where David cut off the skirt of Saul's" robe (24:4). Here he also found a shelter for himself and his "followers to the number of 600 (23:29; 24:1). "On all sides the" country is full of caverns which might serve as lurking-places "for David and his men, as they do for outlaws at the present" "day." "The cave in which Obadiah hid the prophets (1 Kings 18:4) was "probably in the north, but it cannot be identified." "The cave of Elijah (1 Kings 19:9), and the "cleft" of Moses on "Horeb (Ex. 33:22), cannot be determined." "In the time of Gideon the Israelites took refuge from the "Midianites in dens and caves, such as abounded in the mountain" regions of Manasseh (Judg. 6:2). "Caves were frequently used as dwelling-places (Num. 24:21; Cant. "2:14; Jer. 49:16; Obad. 1:3). "The excavations at Deir Dubban," "on the south side of the wady leading to Santa Hanneh, are" "probably the dwellings of the Horites," the ancient inhabitants" of Idumea Proper. The pits or cavities in rocks were also sometimes used as prisons (Isa. 24:22; 51:14; Zech. 9:11). Those which had niches in their sides were occupied as burying-places (Ezek. 32:23; John 11:38).