the Week of Proper 26 / Ordinary 31
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Bible Encyclopedias
Treasure
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (prop. אָצָר, to hoard, θησαυρός, in Scripture signifies anything collected together in stores, e.g. a treasure of corn, of wine, of oil; treasures of gold, silver, brass; treasures of coined money. Snow, winds, hail, rain, waters, are in the treasuries of God (Psalm 1357; Jeremiah 51:16). We read also of a treasure of good works, treasures of iniquity, to lay up treasures in heaven, to bring forth good or evil out of the treasures of the heart. Joseph told his brethren, when they found their money returned in their sacks, that God had given them treasures (Genesis 43:23). The kings of Judah had keepers of their treasures, both in city and country (1 Chronicles 27:25; 2 Chronicles 32:27, etc.), and the places where these magazines were laid up were called treasure-cities. Pharaoh compelled the Hebrews to build him treasure-cities, or magazines (Exodus 1:11). The word treasures is often used to express anything in great abundance, "In Jesus Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). The wise man says that wisdom contains in its treasuries understanding, the knowledge of religion, etc. Paul (Romans 2:5) speaks of heaping up a treasure of wrath against the day of wrath; and the prophet Amos says (Amos 3:10) they treasure up iniquity, they lay up iniquity as it were in a storehouse, which will bring them a thousand calamities. The treasures of impiety or iniquity (Proverbs 10:2) express ill-gotten riches. The treasures of iniquity, says the wise man, will eventually bring no profit; and, in the same sense, Christ calls the riches of iniquity mammon of unrighteousness, an estate wickedly acquired (Luke 16:9). Gospel faith is the treasure of the just; but Paul says, "We have this treasure in earthen vessels" (2 Corinthians 4:7). Isaiah says of a good man, "The fear of the Lord is his treasure" (33, 6). On the Scripture allusions to "hidden treasures" see Thomson, Land and Book, 1, 195 sq.; Freeman, Hand-book of Bible Manners, p. 350 sq. (See STORE).
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Treasure'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/t/treasure.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
