pillar Summary and Overview

used to support a building (Judg. 16:26, 29); as a trophy or memorial (Gen. 28:18; 35:20; Ex. 24:4; 1 Sam. 15:12, A.V., "place," more correctly "monument," or "trophy of victory," as in 2 Sam. 18:18); of fire, by which the Divine Presence was manifested (Ex. 13:2). The "plain of the pillar" in Judg. 9:6 ought to be, as in the Revised Version, the "oak of the pillar", i.e., of the monument or stone set up by Joshua (24:26).

The notion of a pillar is of a shaft or isolated pile either supporting or not supporting a roof. But perhaps the earliest application of the pillar was the votive or monumental, This in early times consisted of nothing but a single stone or pile of stones. #Ge 28:18; 31:40| etc. The stone Ezel, #1Sa 20:19| was probably a terminal stone or a way-mark. The "place" set up by Saul #1Sa 15:12| is explained by St, Jerome to be a trophy. So also Jacob set up a pillar over Rachel's grave. #Ge 36:20| The monolithic tombs and obelisks of Petra are instances of similar usage. Lastly, the figurative use of the term "pillar," in reference to the cloud and fire accompanying the Israelites on their march or as in #So 3:6| and Reve 10:1 is plainly derived from the notion of an isolated column not supporting a roof.

PIL'LAR . This word is often used metaphorically in the Bible, thus a pillar of fire, cloud, smoke, etc., denoting a fire, a cloud, or a mass of smoke in the form of a pillar. Ex 13:21; Jud 20:40. Besides, in architecture, where it was employed both as support and ornament, it was common to erect a pillar as a monument of some distinguished person or event. Gen 28:18; Gen 35:20; Josh 24:26. "The plain of the pillar," Jud 9:6, properly the "oak of the pillar," a tree near Shechem under which Abimelech was crowned.