The Hebrew word ʼăvêrâh, represented by H220, is a term for a cote or stall. It is noted as a transposition of the word for stall, H723. This specific term is exceptionally rare, appearing only 1 time in a single verse in the entire Bible.
The sole use of H220 is found in 2 Chronicles 32:28, which details the immense wealth and provisions amassed by Hezekiah. The verse lists "Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks." In this context, H220 refers to a specific type of shelter built to house flocks, highlighting the organized and extensive nature of the kingdom's agricultural assets. It functions alongside other terms for storage and housing, emphasizing a comprehensive system for managing livestock and produce.
Several related words provide a fuller picture of the context in which H220 appears:
- H723 ʼurvâh (stall): This word is the source from which H220 is transposed. It appears in the same verse, referring to a herding-place for animals and demonstrating a parallel function for housing livestock 2 Chronicles 32:28.
- H5739 ʻêder (flock, herd): This word identifies the animals for which the cotes H220 were built. It signifies a muster of animals and is used throughout scripture in the context of shepherding and livestock management 2 Chronicles 32:28.
- H4543 miçkᵉnâh (store-house): Used in the same list, this term refers to a magazine or storehouse for agricultural produce. Its inclusion alongside H220 paints a picture of comprehensive national wealth, encompassing both harvested crops and sheltered animals 2 Chronicles 32:28.
- H8393 tᵉbûwʼâh (increase, revenue): This term describes the agricultural products like corn, wine, and oil that were kept in storehouses. The provision of cotes H220 for flocks shows that the care of livestock was an equally important part of this overall "increase" 2 Chronicles 32:28.
While rare, the appearance of H220 carries thematic weight within its specific context, underscoring principles of blessing and stewardship.
- Abundance and Divine Provision: The construction of cotes is part of a long list of Hezekiah's resources, including storehouses for corn H1715, wine H8492, and oil H3323. This collection represents immense material blessing and divine favor, where every aspect of agricultural wealth, including livestock, is provided for 2 Chronicles 32:28.
- Wise Stewardship: The existence of specialized structures like stalls H723 and cotes H220 signifies careful management and protection of the assets God had provided. It reflects a practical outworking of responsible leadership over a kingdom's resources.
- Agricultural Wealth: The term is firmly rooted in an agrarian economy. Its use highlights that a nation's strength and stability were visibly demonstrated through its ability to not only produce but also to house and sustain its flocks H5739 and beasts H929.
In summary, H220 ʼăvêrâh is a specific and seldom-used term for an animal enclosure. Its single biblical appearance in 2 Chronicles 32:28 is significant, placing it squarely within a portrait of national prosperity under Hezekiah. The word contributes to a theme of abundant blessing, where the careful stewardship of flocks was a key component of the kingdom's God-given wealth.
TRV