Does the Bible Disapprove of Masseboth?

Tradition identifies the stone shown below, outside of Shechem (present-day Nablus), as the stone Joshua erected at the renewal of the covenant (Joshua 24:25). Physical reminders such as these, along with numerous Biblical references, amply testify to the centrality of masseboth in ancient religious ritual. The word massebah and its variants appear 34 times in the Bible; additional references to synonyms such as “stone” (even) or “pillar” (‘amud) also abound. As might be expected, most of the time the Bible condemns masseboth.

A surprising 13 references, however, are neutral or even positive. Eight occur in the Book of Genesis alone. Remarkably, Isaiah contains one of the most positive references to masseboth.

Here is a sample of citations, categorized by their apparent attitudes toward standing stones.

Negative

You shall not make idols for yourselves, or set up for yourselves carved images or massebah, or place figured stones in your land to worship upon, for I the Lord am your God.

Leviticus 26:1

Instead, this is what you shall do to [worshipers of other gods]: you shall tear down their altars, smash their masseboth, cut down their Asherah and consign their images to the fire.

Deuteronomy 7:5