boundary stones

Stones erected to delineate boundaries between nations or private individuals, the latter type frequently also registering special tax exemptions. The many royal stelae found throughout the ancient Near East also served as indications of national boundaries. In Israel, boundary stones were set up “by former generations” (Deut 19:14) to guarantee the demarcation of private fields (Prov 22:28). Allusions to implicit abuse of such rights are found, however (Deut 27:17; Hos 5:10; Prov 23:10; Job 24:2).