The term "demolished" in the context of the Bible often refers to the destruction or tearing down of physical structures, particularly those associated with idolatry or disobedience to God. This concept is significant in the biblical narrative as it underscores the themes of judgment, purification, and the restoration of true worship.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the demolition of altars, idols, and high places is frequently commanded by God as a means of purifying the land from idolatry. For instance, in Deuteronomy 12:3, the Israelites are instructed to "tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, and burn their Asherah poles in the fire; cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their names from those places" . This command highlights the necessity of removing all traces of pagan worship to maintain the holiness of the land and the people.

The Book of Judges provides several examples of such demolitions. Gideon, for instance, is commanded by God to destroy the altar of Baal and the Asherah pole beside it (Judges 6:25-27). This act of demolition is a pivotal moment in Gideon's account, symbolizing the rejection of false gods and the reaffirmation of allegiance to Yahweh.

Prophetic Warnings and Fulfillment

The prophets often warned of the impending demolition of cities and nations as a consequence of sin and rebellion against God. The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 586 BC by the Babylonians is a significant event in this regard. The prophet Jeremiah foretold this demolition as a result of the people's persistent idolatry and disobedience (Jeremiah 7:14). The physical demolition of the Temple served as a powerful symbol of divine judgment and the loss of God's presence among His people.

New Testament Implications

In the New Testament, the concept of demolition takes on a more spiritual dimension. Jesus Christ speaks of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, which was fulfilled in AD 70 when the Romans demolished it (Matthew 24:1-2). This event is seen as a turning point, marking the end of the old covenant and the establishment of a new covenant through Christ's sacrificial death and resurrection.

The Apostle Paul uses the imagery of demolition in a metaphorical sense to describe the tearing down of spiritual strongholds. In 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, he writes, "The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" . Here, the demolition is not of physical structures but of ideologies and thoughts that oppose the knowledge of God.

Theological Significance

The theme of demolition in the Bible serves as a reminder of God's holiness and the necessity of removing anything that stands in opposition to His will. It underscores the importance of spiritual purity and the rejection of idolatry in all its forms. The physical demolitions in the Old Testament foreshadow the spiritual cleansing and renewal brought about through Christ in the New Testament. Through the demolition of sin and false beliefs, believers are called to build their lives on the foundation of Christ, the cornerstone of their faith.(imp. & p. p.) of Demolish.2034. hariycah -- pregnant
... pregnant. Transliteration: hariycah Phonetic Spelling: (har-ee-saw') Short Definition:
ruin. ruin From harac; something demolished -- ruin. see HEBREW harac. ...
/hebrew/2034.htm - 5k

7665. shabar -- to break, break in pieces
... in pieces (1), broke down (1), broken (55), broken down (1), broken off (1),
brokenhearted* (3), collapse (1), crush (2), crushed (2), demolished (1), destroy ...
/hebrew/7665.htm - 6k

Of the Oracle Found Inscribed an a Stone, when the Walls of ...
... Book IV. Chapter VIII."Of the Oracle found inscribed an a Stone, when the Walls
of Chalcedon were demolished by Order of the Emperor Valens. ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of scholasticus/chapter viii of the oracle found.htm

How Upon the Quarrel Between Antiochus Grypus and Antiochus ...
... How Upon The Quarrel Between Antiochus Grypus And Antiochus Cyzicenus About The
Kingdom Hyrcanus Tooksamaria, And Utterly Demolished It; And How Hyrcaus Joined ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 10 how upon the.htm

How the Entire City of Jerusalem was Demolished, Excepting Three ...
... CHAPTER 1. How The Entire City Of Jerusalem Was Demolished, Excepting Three Towers;
And How Titus Commended His Soldiers In A Speech Made To Them, And ...
/.../chapter 1 how the entire.htm

That the Opinion of Porphyry, that the Soul, in Order to be ...
... Chapter 26."That the Opinion of Porphyry, that the Soul, in Order to Be Blessed,
Must Be Separated from Every Kind of Body, is Demolished by Plato, Who Says ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 26 that the opinion of.htm

What Actions were done by Alexander Janneus, who Reigned Twenty ...
... he enjoined them to pay him tribute, and returned to Areathus; and as Theodorus
was surprised at his great success, he took the fortress, and demolished it. ...
/.../chapter 4 what actions were.htm

How one of the Towers Erected by the Romans Fell Down of Its Own ...
... get possession of this first wall, on the fifteenth day of the siege, which was
the seventh day of the month Artemisius, [Jyar,] when they demolished a great ...
/.../chapter 7 how one of.htm

Alexander
... show it so much as now; but Gabinius, leaving forces to take the citadel, went away
himself, and settled the cities that had not been demolished, and rebuilt ...
/.../chapter 8 alexander.htm

Concerning Macherus, and How Lucilius Bassus Took that Citadel ...
... several parties,] with the tenth legion, and resolved to make war upon Macherus;
for it was highly necessary that this citadel should be demolished, lest it ...
/.../chapter 6 concerning macherus and.htm

The Emperor Constantine Abolishes Paganism and Erects Many ...
... oak, and that pagan sacrifices were offered upon them, censured by letter Eusebius
bishop of C??sarea, and ordered that the altars should be demolished, and a ...
/.../chapter xviii the emperor constantine abolishes.htm

How Scaurus Made a League of Mutual Assistance with Aretas; and ...
... to take the place, and he himself went into other parts of Judea, and gave order
to rebuild all the cities that he met with that had been demolished; at which ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 5 how scaurus made.htm

Demolished (15 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Demolish. Multi-Version Concordance
Demolished (15 Occurrences). Romans 11:3 "Lord, they ...
/d/demolished.htm - 11k

Rebuild (36 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To build again, as something which has been demolished;
to construct anew; as, to rebuild a house, a wall, a wharf, or a city. ...
/r/rebuild.htm - 16k

Demolish (16 Occurrences)

/d/demolish.htm - 11k

Jabneh (1 Occurrence)
... We have no mention of its being captured by Joshua or occupied by Judah until the
reign of Uzziah who captured it and demolished its wall, in connection with ...
/j/jabneh.htm - 10k

Jabneel (2 Occurrences)
... We have no mention of its being captured by Joshua or occupied by Judah until the
reign of Uzziah who captured it and demolished its wall, in connection with ...
/j/jabneel.htm - 11k

Thereby (42 Occurrences)
... Galatians 2:18 Why, if I am now rebuilding that structure of sin which I had demolished,
I am thereby constituting myself a transgressor; (WEY). ...
/t/thereby.htm - 18k

Rebuilding (11 Occurrences)
... Galatians 2:18 Why, if I am now rebuilding that structure of sin which I had demolished,
I am thereby constituting myself a transgressor; (WEY). ...
/r/rebuilding.htm - 9k

Destruction (734 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The state of being destroyed, demolished, ruined, slain, or devastated.
3. (n.) A destroying agency; a cause of ruin or of devastation; a destroyer. ...
/d/destruction.htm - 39k

Mareshah (8 Occurrences)
... ix, 1; x, 2). The city was treated with favor by Pompey (XIV, iv, 4). When the
Parthians invaded Judea in support of Antigonus they demolished Mareshah (xiii, ...
/m/mareshah.htm - 11k

Potter (14 Occurrences)
... existed makes it unlikely that relics of the prehistoric dwellers of that country
will ever be recovered from under the debris of demolished cities and the ...
/p/potter.htm - 28k

Why did Jehu destroy the Baal worship in Israel but not the worship of golden calves? | GotQuestions.org

Who was King Josiah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What was the significance of the horns of the altar (Amos 3:14)? | GotQuestions.org

Demolished: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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