Cisterns
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary [1]
And reservoirs were very common in Palestine, both in the country and in cities. During half the year no rain falls, and never- failing streams and springs are rare indeed. The main dependence of a large portion of the population was upon the water which fell in the rainy season and was preserved in cisterns, 2 Samuel 17:18 . Dr. Robinson alludes to immense reservoirs within and under the area of the temple, supplied by rainwater and by the aqueduct from Solomon's pools, and says, "These of themselves, in case of a siege, would furnish a tolerable supply. But in addition to these, almost every house in Jerusalem, of any size, is understood to have at least one or more cisterns, excavated in the soft limestone rock on which the city is built. The water is conducted into them during the rainy season, and with proper care remains pure and sweet during the whole summer and autumn." Such cisterns, and others more properly called tanks and pools, were provided in the fields for irrigation, and at intervals along the highways, for the accommodation of travellers, Psalm 84:6 . The same causes led to the erection, near all the chief cities, of large open reservoirs for public use. These were built of massive stones, and in places where the winter rains could be easily conducted into them. Many such reservoirs, and ruins of others, yet remain. See Bethesda, Siloam, Solomon'S Pools
Morrish Bible Dictionary [2]
These were extensively used in Palestine for the collection of rain water. In Jerusalem every house has its cistern, and some have more than one. Solomon also brought water from long distances to be stored in cisterns, of which there are many under the Temple area.Some were really pits, for we read of the 'wheel' being broken. Ecclesiastes 12:6 . There were also many cisterns in fields or by the road side as reservoirs for the irrigation of the land. For every man to be able to drink water out of his own cistern, was held out as a boon. 2 Kings 18:31; Isaiah 36:16 . This is also used as a symbol not to indulge in illicit desires. Proverbs 5:15 . Israel is charged with forsaking God, the fountain of blessing, and making for themselves cisterns which could hold no water. Jeremiah 2:13 .
