or voicing an opinion of either innocence or guilt. White pebbles were used for pronouncing innocence, acquittal; black ones for pronouncing guilt, condemnation. The white pebble given to the conqueror therefore appears to mean Jesus’ judgment of him as innocent, pure, clean, passing Christ’s approval as a disciple.—See JEWELS AND PRECIOUS STONES; ROCK-MASS

STONECUTTER

A hewer of stone; one who cuts, carves or dresses stones to be used for building purposes. (2 Ki 12:11, 12; 2 Chron. 24:12) King David made alien residents in Israel stone hewers “to hew squared stones” (cutting them to the proper size) for the prospective temple of Jehovah.—1 Chron. 22:2, 15; compare 1 Kings 6:7; see QUARRY.

STONE PAVEMENT

A paved place at Jerusalem where Roman Governor Pontius Pilate sat on the judgment seat when Jesus Christ was before him for trial. The site was called, in Hebrew, “Gabʹba·tha,” a word of uncertain derivation and possibly meaning “hill,” “height” or “open space.” Another name for it, Li·thoʹstro·ton in Greek, may indicate a tessellated pavement, one of ornamental mosaic work. However, some suggest that “The Stone Pavement” was an elevated marble platform. (John 19:13) Suetonius, Roman historian and biographer of the second century C.E., says that Julius Caesar had pre-fitted pieces of marble carried along on military expeditions so that these might be laid down as a platform where he gave judicial decisions.

The first-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, citing a certain disturbance, said that “Pilate sat upon his tribunal, in the open market-place.” (Wars of the Jews, Book II, chap. IX, par. 3) “The Stone Pavement” where Jesus appeared before Pilate may have been an open area in front of the palace of Herod the Great; many scholars favor identification with a site near or once occupied by the Castle of Antonia, NW of the temple grounds. But the exact site of The Stone Pavement remains unknown.—See ANTONIA, CASTLE OF.

STONING

Under the Law, a wrongdoer deserving capital punishment usually was pelted to death with stones. (Lev. 20:2) This was to ‘clear out what was bad from their midst.’ All Israel would hear of the punishment, and fear of such wrongdoing would be instilled in their hearts. (Deut. 13:5, 10, 11; 22:22, 23) In stoning an evildoer, they showed that they were zealous for true worship, anxious to see that no reproach came upon God’s name and desirous of maintaining a clean congregation.

Before stoning, at least two witnesses had to give harmonious testimony against the wrongdoer, and thereafter they cast the first stones. (Lev. 24:14; Deut. 17:6, 7) The prospect of being the executioner made a person think searchingly in giving evidence and doubtless was a deterrent against false testimony, which, if discovered, would cost the lying witness his own life.—Deut. 19:18-20.

Stoning no doubt usually took place outside the city. (Num. 15:34, 35; 1 Ki. 21:13; contrast Deuteronomy 22:21.) Thereafter, as a warning, the corpse might be impaled on a stake, but not beyond sunset. It was buried that same day.—Deut. 21:21-23.

Jesus spoke of Jerusalem as “the killer of the prophets and stoner of those sent forth to her.” (Matt. 23:37; compare Hebrews 11:37.) Christ himself was threatened with stoning. (John 8:59; 10:31-39; 11:8) Stephen was killed in this manner. (Acts 7:58-60) At Lystra fanatical Jews “stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, imagining he was dead.”—Acts 14:19; compare 2 Corinthians 11:25.

For offenses carrying the penalty of stoning, see CRIME AND PUNISHMENT.

STORAGE CITIES

Cities especially designed as government storage centers. Reserves of provisions such as grain, as well as other things, were preserved in warehouses and granaries built at these locations.

Under Egyptian oppression, the Israelites were compelled to build “cities as storage places for Pharaoh, namely, Pithom and Raamses.” (Ex. 1:11) Storage cities were also built by Solomon. (1 Ki. 9:17-19; 2 Chron. 8:4-6) Later, as King Jehoshaphat prospered, “he went on building fortified places and storage cities in Judah.”—2 Chron. 17:12; 1 Chron. 27:25; 2 Chron. 16:4; 32:27-29; see STOREHOUSE.

STORAX

[Heb., liv·nehʹ].

The name of this tree in Hebrew means “white” and the related Arabic word lubna is applied to the storax tree (Styrax officinalis). The storax grows as a tall shrub or small tree, seldom exceeding twenty feet (6 meters) in height. It is plentiful in Syria, where Jacob made use of its staffs (Gen. 30:37), and throughout Palestine, often growing on dry hillsides and rocky places, where its shade would be appreciated. (Hos. 4:13) Its oval-shaped leaves, growing on long flexible twigs, are green on top but woolly white underneath. The showy flowers with their white petals and delightful fragrance are very similar to orange blossoms. When incisions are made in the branches and stem, a balsamic resin with vanillalike flavor is exuded, and this is used in perfumes. Some believe this gum provided the “stacte drops” (Heb., na·taphʹ, meaning “a drop” [compare Job 36:27]), used in the sacred incense of the tabernacle.—Ex. 30:34.

STOREHOUSE

A warehouse or building in which foodstuffs, wine, oil, even precious metals or stones and other articles are stored. A garner or granary is a structure used to store threshed grain. Barns, towers and other storage facilities were common in ancient times (1 Chron. 27:25; 2 Chron. 32:27, 28; Joel 1:17; Hag. 2:19), and certain cities served principally as storage centers.—Ex. 1:11.

Storehouses were needed in conjunction with the sanctuary to take care of the tithes and contributions from the fields, orchards and vineyards given by Israel to the Levites. (Mal. 3:10) Certain Levites were put in charge of the stores and distributed such provisions to their brothers.—1 Chron. 26:15, 17; Neh. 12:44; 13:12, 13.

In ancient Egypt granaries varied in structure, one type resembling the present-day silo. It had a door at the top for depositing grain (by ascending a ladder) and small sliding doors at ground level for its removal. Underground granaries have also long been used in the Middle East, these evidently being preferred in sparsely populated areas because they are concealed from marauders.

ILLUSTRATIVE USE

Jesus Christ, in urging his disciples not to be anxious about material needs, but to seek only their “bread for this day,” reminded them that God feeds the birds though they do not gather things into storehouses or barns. (Matt. 6:11, 25, 26; Luke 12:22, 24) To show that life does not result from the things one possesses, Jesus gave an illustration of a rich man who considered replacing his storehouses with bigger ones to hold his many goods, only to face death, his material riches therefore being of no benefit to him.—Luke 12:13-21.

Rather than looking to earthly goods and accordingly building up a great store of them, the wise writer of Proverbs says: “Honor Jehovah with your valuable things . . . Then your stores of supply will be filled with plenty.” (Prov. 3:9, 10) This was exemplified in the experience of the nation of Israel, which, when obediently serving Jehovah and bringing full tithes to the sanctuary, was blessed with abundance. (Deut. 28:1, 8; 1 Ki. 4:20; 2 Chron. 31:4-10; Mal. 3:10) Apparently King David uses contrast at Psalm 144:11-15 to show who are the really happy people. In view of the context (see verses 11, 12), it seems likely that he is depicting those who trust in their hoard of material