Cave

Cave, properly מעָרָה, mearah´ (everywhere so rendered, except "den" in Isa 32:14; Jer 7:11; "Mearah" [q.v.], in Jos 13:4); σπήλαιον (" den," except in Joh 11:38); occasionally חוֹר, chor (literally a "hole," as generally rendered; hence a cavern, Job 30:6, etc.; whence the name HORITE, i.e. troglodyte; also HAINAN, i.e. cavernous; HORONAIM, i.e. twin caves; BETH-HORON, i.e. place in the hollow), or חוּר. Chur (also rendered "hole"); once מחַלָּה, mechillah´, Isa 2:19. Grottoes seem also to be indirectly denoted by the terms חֲגָוַים, chagavim´ (refuges in the rocks, "clefts," Song 2:4; Jer 49:16; Ob 1:3), and מַנהָרָה, minharah´ (a fissure through which a stream flows, "den," Jg 6:2); both of which are combined in the Greek term ὀπή (" cave," Heb 11:38; " place" of water, Jas 3:11). See DEN.

1. As natural Features. — The geological formation of Syria is highly favorable to the production of caves. It consists chiefly of limestone, in different degrees of density, and abounds with subterranean rivulets. The springs issuing from limestone generally contain carbonate of lime, and most of them yield a large quantity of free carbonic acid upon exposure to the air. To the erosive effect upon limestone rocks of water charged with this acid the formation of caves is chiefly to be ascribed (Enc. Metropol. art. Geology, p. 692, 693). Many of these have also been artificially enlarged and adapted to various purposes both of shelter and defense (Page, Text-Book of Geology, p. 141; Kitto, Phys. Geogr. of Pal. p. 72). This circumstance has also given occasion to the use of so large a number of words as are employed in the Scriptures to denote caves, holes, and fissures, some of them giving names to the towns and places and their neighborhood (Ge 14:6; Ge 36:21; De 2:12; Job 30:6; comp. Strabo, 1:42; 16:775, 776; see Burckhardt, Syria, 410; Robin. son, 2:424; Stanley, Sinai and Palest. Append. § 6871). The subordinate strata of Syria, sandstone, chalk, basalt, natron, etc. favor the formation of caves; consequently the whole region abounds with subterranean hollows of different dimensions. Some of them are of immense extent; these are noticed by Strabo, who speaks of a cavern near Damascus capable of holding 4000 men (16, p. 1096, edit. 1707). This cavern is shown to the present day. Modern travels abound with descriptions of the caves of Syria. The Crusade writers record the local traditions respecting them current in their times (William of Tyre; Quaresmius, Elucid. Ter. Sane.). Tavernier (Voyage de Perse, part 2, chap. 4) speaks of a grotto between Aleppo and Bir which would hold near 3000 horse. Maundrell has described a large cavern under a high rocky mountain, in the vicinity of Sidon, containing 200 smaller caverns (Travels, p. 158,159). Shaw mentions the numerous dens, holes, and caves in the mountains on the sea-coast, extending through a long range on each side of Joppa. An innumerable multitude of excavations are found in the rocks and valleys round Wady Musa, which were probably formed at first as sepulchres, but afterwards inhabited, like the tombs of Thebes (Robinson's Researches, 2:529). Other excavations occur at Deir Dubbân (2:353); others in the Wady leading to Santa Hanneh (2:395). " In the mountains of Kul'at Ibn Ma'an, the natural caverns have been united by passages cut in the rocks, in order to render them more commodious habitations. In the midst of these caverns several cisterns have been built; the whole would afford refuge for 600 men" (Burckhardt's Travels, p. 331). Almost all the habitations at Om-keis (Gadara) are caves (Burckhardt, p. 273). An extensive system of caves exists between Bethlehem and Hebron (Irby and Mangles, p. 103).