JERUSALEM STONE
Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: " 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? (NIV)
Stone is the most readily available building material in Israel; bare rock surfaces are easily accessible throughout the land 
(Isa 28:16, 51:1; Psalm 118:22; 1 Pet 2:4-8). It is well suited to repel the heat of the sun in summer, and to retain warmth in winter. For this reason, most homes were constructed of stone walls with a wood and dirt roof 
(Isa 37:27 Mk 2:4). Stone was also used for city walls and fortifications, as well as famous public buildings mentioned in the Bible such as the Temple in Jerusalem (1 Kg 6:7). In Jesus' day, stone was used for tableware because it could not become ritually unclean like pottery, which was then destroyed. 

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© October 2000