'Destruction' in the Bible

When the field reverts in the Jubilee, the field shall be holy to the Lord, like a field set apart (devoted); the priest shall possess it as his property.

Balaam looked at Amalek and took up his [fifth] discourse (oracle) and said:“Amalek was the first of the [neighboring] nations [to oppose the Israelites after they left Egypt],But his end shall be destruction.”

“But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim,And shall afflict Asshur (Assyria) and Eber;So they (the victors) also will come to destruction.”

It will happen that when he (a renegade) hears the words of this oath, and he imagines himself as blessed, saying, ‘I will have peace and safety even though I walk within the stubbornness of my heart [rejecting God and His law], in order that the watered land dwindles away along with the dry [destroying everything],’

Then the Lord will single him out for disaster from all the tribes of Israel [making an example of him], according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this Book of the Law.

The city and everything that is in it shall be under the ban [that is, designated to be destroyed as a form of tribute] to the Lord; only Rahab the prostitute and all [the people] who are with her in her house shall [be allowed to] live, because she hid and protected the messengers (scouts) whom we sent.

But as for you, keep yourselves [away] from the things under the ban [which are to be destroyed], so that you do not covet them and take some of the things under the ban [for personal gain], and put the camp of Israel under the ban (doomed to destruction), and bring disaster upon it.

But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully and violated their obligation in regard to the things [off limits] under the ban [those things belonging to the Lord], for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some of the things under the ban [for personal gain]. Therefore the anger of the Lord burned against the Israelites.

Israel has sinned; they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them [to keep]. They have even taken some of the things under the ban, and they have both stolen and denied [the theft]. Moreover, they have also put the stolen objects among their own things.

That is why the soldiers of Israel could not stand [and defend themselves] before their enemies; they turned their backs [and ran] before them, because they have become accursed. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from among you.

Rise up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: “There are things under the ban among you, O Israel. You cannot stand [victorious] before your enemies until you remove the things under the ban from among you.”

Did not Achan the son of Zerah act unfaithfully in the things under the ban, and [as a result God’s] wrath came on the entire congregation of Israel? And that man did not perish alone in his wrongdoing.’”

Then [the warriors of the tribe of] Judah went with [the warriors of the tribe of] Simeon his brother, and they struck the Canaanites living in Zephath and utterly destroyed it. So the city was called Hormah (destruction).

Then the hand of the Lord was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and He caused them to be dumbfounded and struck them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory.

“For the waves of death encompassed me;The torrents of destruction overwhelmed and terrified me.

Then the king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said, “Please observe and see how this man is seeking our destruction. For he sent messengers to me for my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, and I did not refuse him.”

He said to the king, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Because you have released from your hand the man [Ben-hadad] whom I had devoted to destruction, your life shall be required for his life, and your people for his people.’”

So he did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab, for they were his advisers after the death of his father, resulting in his destruction.

But the downfall of Ahaziah was ordained by God, in that he went to Joram (Jehoram). For when he arrived there he went out [as an ally] with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab.

But when Uzziah became strong, he became so proud [of himself and his accomplishments] that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful and sinned against the Lord his God, for he went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.

For how can I endure to see the tragedy that will happen to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?”

“You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue,And you will not be afraid of destruction when it comes.

“You will laugh at violence and famine,And you will not be afraid of the wild beasts of the earth.

“He wanders about for food, saying, ‘Where is it?’He knows that the day of darkness and destruction is already at hand.

“Let his own eyes see his destruction,And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

“That evil men are [now] reserved for the day of disaster and destruction,They will be led away on the day of [God’s] wrath?

“Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) is naked before God,And Abaddon (the place of destruction) has no covering [from His eyes].

“Abaddon (the place of destruction) and Death say,‘We have [only] heard a report of it with our ears.’

“On my right the [rabble] brood rises;They push my feet away, and they build up their ways of destruction against me [like an advancing army].

“For it is a fire which consumes to Abaddon (destruction, ruin, final torment);And [illicit passion] would burn and rage and uproot all my [life’s] increase [destroying everything].

“Have I rejoiced at the destruction of the enemy [who hated me],Or exulted [in malicious triumph] when evil overtook him?

He holds back his soul from the pit [of destruction],And his life from passing over into Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead).

Then the angel is gracious to him, and says,‘Spare him from going down to the pit [of destruction];I have found a ransom [a consideration, or reason for redemption, an atonement]!’

‘God has redeemed my life from going to the pit [of destruction],And my life shall see the light.’”

To bring his life back from the pit [of destruction],That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

For there is nothing trustworthy or reliable or truthful in what they say;Their heart is destruction [just a treacherous chasm, a yawning gulf of lies].Their throat is an open grave;They [glibly] flatter with their [silken] tongue.

For without cause they hid their net for me;Without cause they dug a pit [of destruction] for my life.

Let destruction come upon my enemy by surprise;Let the net he hid for me catch him;Into that very destruction let him fall.

He brought me up out of a horrible pit [of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay,And He set my feet upon a rock, steadying my footsteps and establishing my path.

But You, O God, will bring down the wicked to the pit of destruction;Men of blood and treachery will not live out half their days.But I will [boldly and unwaveringly] trust in You.

Surely You set the wicked-minded and immoral on slippery places;You cast them down to destruction.

Will Your lovingkindness be declared in the graveOr Your faithfulness in Abaddon (the underworld)?

Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,Nor of the destruction (sudden death) that lays waste at noon.

He sent His word and healed them,And rescued them from their destruction.

Wise men store up and treasure knowledge [in mind and heart],But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.

The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the upright,But it is ruin to those who do evil.

Whoever despises the word and counsel [of God] brings destruction upon himself,But he who [reverently] fears and respects the commandment [of God] will be rewarded.

Pride goes before destruction,And a haughty spirit before a fall.

He who loves transgression loves strife and is quarrelsome;He who [proudly] raises his gate seeks destruction [because of his arrogant pride].

Sheol (the place of the dead) and Abaddon (the underworld) are never satisfied;Nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied.

A man who is burdened with the guilt of human blood (murder)Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him or give him refuge.

But rebels and sinners will be crushed and destroyed together,And those who abandon (turn away from) the Lord will be consumed (perish).

“And though a tenth [of the people] remain in the land,It will again be subject to destruction [consumed and burned],Like a massive terebinth tree or like an oakWhose stump remains when it is chopped down.The holy seed [the elect remnant] is its stump [the substance of Israel].”

For though your people, O Israel, may be as the sand of the sea,Only a remnant within them will return;The destruction is determined [it is decided and destined for completion], overflowing with justice (righteous punishment).

For yet a very little while and My indignation [against you] will be fulfilled and My anger will be directed toward the destruction of the Assyrian.”

Wail, for the day of the Lord is at hand!It will come as destruction from the Almighty (All Sufficient One—Invincible God)!

“I will also make Babylon a possession of the hedgehog and of swamps of water, and I will sweep it away with the broom of destruction,” declares the Lord of hosts.

My heart cries out for Moab;His fugitives are [fleeing] as far as Zoar and Eglath-shelishiyah.For they go up the ascent of Luhith weeping;For on the road to Horonaim they raise a cry of distress over their destruction.

“Let our outcasts of Moab live among you;Be a [sheltered] hiding place to them from the destroyer.”For the extortioner has come to an end, destruction has ceased,Oppressors [who trample men] have completely disappeared from the land,

In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of [the Hebrews of] Canaan and swear allegiance to the Lord of hosts. One [of them] will be called the City of Destruction.

Therefore I say, “Look away from me;Let me weep bitterly.Do not try to comfort me over the destruction of the daughter of my people.”

Terror and pit [of destruction] and snareConfront you, O inhabitant of the earth.

Now do not carry on as scoffers,Or the bands which bind you will be made stronger;For I have heard from the Lord God of hosts [a decree]Of decisive destruction on all the earth.

His breath is like an overflowing river,Which reaches to the neck,To sift the nations back and forth in a sieve [of disaster],And to put in the jaws of the peoples the bridle which leads to ruin.

“For your ruins and desolate places and your land [once the scene] of destruction—Certainly now [in the coming years] will be too cramped for the inhabitants,And those who once engulfed you will be far away.

The [captive] exile will soon be set free, and will not die in the dungeon, nor will his food be lacking.

These two tragedies have befallen you;Who will show sympathy for you and mourn with you?The desolation and destruction [on the land and city], famine and sword [on the inhabitants];How shall I comfort you?

“You will be firmly established in righteousness:You will be far from [even the thought of] oppression, for you will not fear,And from terror, for it will not come near you.

Their feet run to evil,And they rush to shed innocent blood.Their thoughts are thoughts of wickedness [of sin, of injustice, of wrongdoing];Devastation and destruction are in their highways.

“Violence will not be heard again in your land,Nor devastation or destruction within your borders;But you will call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise [to God].

For we all have become like one who is [ceremonially] unclean [like a leper],And all our deeds of righteousness are like filthy rags;We all wither and decay like a leaf,And our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing], like the wind, takes us away [carrying us far from God’s favor, toward destruction].

“Raise a banner toward Zion [to mark the way for those seeking safety inside Jerusalem’s walls]!Seek refuge, do not stand [immobile],For I am bringing evil from the north (the army of Babylon),And great destruction.

“An appalling and horrible thing [bringing desolation and destruction]Has come to pass in the land:

“Run for safety, you children of Benjamin,Out of the midst of Jerusalem!And blow a trumpet in Tekoa [in Judah]And raise a signal-fire in Beth-haccherem [near Jerusalem];For evil is looking down [with eager anticipation] from the north,And great destruction.

“As a fountain springs up and pours out its fresh waters,So she [continually] pours out her fresh wickedness.Violence and destruction are heard inside her [walls];Sickness and wounds are always before Me.

Thus says the Lord of hosts,“They will thoroughly gather like [fruit on] a vine what is left of Israel;Pass your hand [over the vine] again and again [Babylon, tool of destruction] like a grape gatherer,Over the branches [stripping the tendrils off the vine].”

Let those who persecute me be shamed, but as for me, protect me from shame;Let them lose courage, but let me be undaunted.Bring on them a day of tragedy,And destroy them with double destruction!

For whenever I speak, I must shout out;I shout violence and destruction,Because the word of the Lord has become to meA reprimand and a mockery and has brought me insult all day long.

“Egypt is a very pretty heifer,But a horsefly (Babylonia) is coming [against her] out of the north!

“The sound of an outcry from Horonaim,‘Desolation and great destruction!’

“For the Ascent of LuhithWill be climbed by [successive groups of] fugitives with continual weeping;For on the descent of HoronaimThey have heard the distress of the cry of destruction.

“The destruction of Moab will come soon,And his disaster hurries quickly.

“Flee, turn back, dwell in the depths [of the desert to escape the judgment of Edom],O inhabitants of Dedan,For I will bring the destruction of Esau (Edom) upon himWhen I inspect and punish him.

“The noise of battle is in the land,And [the noise of] great destruction.

Listen to the voice of the refugees who flee and escape from the land of Babylon,Proclaiming in Zion the vengeance of the Lord our God,The vengeance [of the Lord against the Chaldeans] for [plundering and destroying] His temple.

Flee out of Babylon,Let every one of you save his life!Do not be destroyed in her punishment,For this is the time of the Lord’s vengeance;He is going to pay her what she has earned.

Sharpen the arrows, take up the shields [and cover yourselves]!The Lord has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes,Because His purpose concerning Babylon is to destroy it;For that is the vengeance of the Lord, vengeance [on Babylon] for [plundering and destroying] His temple.

The sound of an outcry [comes] from Babylon,And [the sound] of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!

My eyes fail because of tears [mourns Jeremiah],My spirit is deeply disturbed;My heart is poured out on the earth [in grief]Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people [Jerusalem],When little ones and infants faintIn the streets of the city.

Panic and pitfall (traps, danger) have come on us,Devastation and destruction.

My eyes overflow with streams of tearsBecause of the destruction of the daughter of my people (Jerusalem).

The hands of compassionate womenBoiled their own children;They became food for themBecause of the destruction of the daughter of my people [Judah].

When I send against them the deadly arrows of hunger which were for the destruction of those whom I will send to destroy you, then I will increase the famine upon you and break your staff of bread.

When anguish comes, they [of Judah] shall seek peace, but there will be none.

So Ezekiel will be a sign to you; in accordance with all that he has done you will do. And when this [destruction of the temple] comes, then you will know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord God.’”

that on that day a survivor will come to you to let you hear [of the destruction of Jerusalem] with your [own] ears.

‘They will bring you down to the pit [of destruction],And you will die the death of all those who dieIn the heart of the seas.

I will also put fear into the hearts of many peoples when I bring your destruction [and captivity] among the nations, into countries which you have not known.

and you will go up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. In the last days it will come about that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I show Myself holy through you before their eyes, O Gog.”

And it was like the appearance of the vision which I saw, like the vision I saw when He came to destroy the city. And the visions were like the vision I saw beside the River Chebar [near Babylon]; and I fell face downward.