Stone

Stone (usually אֶבֶן, eben; but occasionally סֵלֵע, sela, or צוּר, tsur, both of which are rather a rock; λίθος, sometimes πέτρος or ψῆφος). In such rocky countries as Mount Sinai and Syria, stones were naturally of very frequent reference in Biblical language. See ROCK.

The kinds of ordinary stone mentioned by ancient and modern writers as found in Palestine (q.v.) are chiefly limestone (Isa 27:9) [especially marble (q.v.)] and sandstone; occasionally basalt (Josephus, Ant. 8, 7, 4), flint, and firestone (2 Macc. 10:3). (See Wagner, De Lapidibus Judaicis [Hal. 1724]). See MINERAL.

The uses to which stones were applied in ancient Palestine were very various.