Human or animal feces. Although dried bricks of human and animal dung were used in Egypt to fuel ovens, the Israelite concept of purity (plus the alternative fuel of Canaan’s trees) made this practice obnoxious to the Hebrews (Ezek 4:12; Ezek 4:15). Still, dung was used as fertilizer (Isa 25:10; Luke 13:8). Cultic legal texts require that human voiding (Deut 23:12-14) occur outside of the camp perimeter and the fecal matter in the intestines of sacrificial animals be burned outside of the camp (Exod 29:14; Lev 4:11; Lev 8:17; Lev 16:27; Num 19:5) because of the impurity of excreta (Mal 2:3). The Dung Gate of Jerusalem’s south wall (Neh 2:13; Neh 3:13-14; Neh 12:31) is probably the exit through which that city’s refuse was removed. The term “dung” is also used to refer to an unburied human corpse left as offal (2Kgs 9:37; Jer 8:2; Jer 9:21; Jer 16:4; Jer 25:33; Ps 83:12) or to the worthless impious (Zeph 1:17; Job 20:7). Paul regarded his religious accomplishments and rank as dung in comparison to his life in Christ (Phil 3:8).
