Judges 3:26 - "Ehud escaped while they delayed, and passed beyond the sculptored ‘stones, and escaped to Seirah.’ "

Sculpture was a very early form of art. When prehistoric man shaped sticks, stones, or clay into images that represented ideas, he was creating sculpture. The oldest known work of this kind dates from the end of the Old Stone Age, perhaps 20,000 years ago. Although wood may have been used, the examples that have survived through the centuries are in stone, ivory, bone, or clay.

The early sculptors combined remarkable visual observations with purposes of magic and religion. They probably believed that by carving animal images on a stone weapon they were giving it magical powers over that animal. The very early small female figures like the "Venus of Willendorf," carved in the round, were probably associated with agricultural and human fertility.

It was for this reason that sculpturing was not highly developed as an art among the Hebrews; the Second Commandment forbade the making of graven images. And, to further add insult to injury, the cursed fertility rites were involved. However, in more lax times, sculptors were often called upon to make idols.

However, because the Hebrews were not adept at this art, when sculpture was used, it was generally imported from Egypt, Pheonicia, Syria, or Mesopotamia. The ancient sculptor worked in clay, wax, plaster, or some other soft material which was hardened by baking, and, because of this hardness, many have survived.

I’m sure that we are all familiar with the masterpieces of sculpture which have come down to us through the ages. And, even today, we have many men and women who are geniuses in this art. Perhaps, in some instances, their works might not be commensurate with what we might judge to be "fine art" and we may not always understand the sculpture, but tastes and techniques change, and the sculptor will probably always remain as a very important member of the aesthetic scene.