Ecclesiastes 3:5

“A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together, etc.] To cast stones out of a field or vineyard where they are hurtful, and to gather them together to make walls and fences of, or build houses with; and may be understood both of throwing down buildings, as the temple of Jerusalem, so that not one stone was left upon another; of pouring out the stones of the sanctuary, and of gathering them again and laying them on one another; which was done when the servants of the Lord took pleasure in the stones of Zion, and favoured the dust thereof. Some understand this of precious stones, and of casting them away through luxury, wantonness, or contempt, and gathering them again: and…”

“cast away stones--as out of a garden or vineyard (Isa 5:2). gather--for building; figuratively, the Gentiles, once castaway stones, were in due time made parts of the spiritual building (Eph 2:19-20), and children of Abraham (Mat 3:9); so the restored Jews hereafter (Psa 102:13-14; Zac 9:16). refrain . . . embracing-- (Joe 2:16; Co1 7:5-6).”

“Stones may be regarded either as materials for building, or as impediments to the fertility of land (see 2 Kings 3:19, 2 Kings 3:25; Isaiah 5:2). return to 'Top of Page'”

“Stones - Which were brought together in order to the building of a wall or house. To embrace - When persons perform all friendly offices one to another. Ecclesiastes 3:6”

“to cast: Jos 4:3-9, Jos 10:27; Sa2 18:17, Sa2 18:18; Kg2 3:25 a time to embrace: Exo 19:15; Sa1 21:4, Sa1 21:5; Sol 2:6, Sol 2:7; Joe 2:16; Co1 7:5 refrain from: Heb. be far from Ecclesiastes 3:6”

“"To throw stones has its time, and to gather together stones has its time; to embrace has its time, and to refrain from embracing has its time." Did the old Jewish custom exist at the time of the author, of throwing three shovelfuls of earth into the grave, and did this lead him to use the phrase השׁ אבּ? But we do not need so incidental a connection of the thought, for the first pair accords with the specific idea of life and death; by the throwing of stones a field is destroyed, Kg2 3:25, or as expressed at Kg2 3:19 is marred; and by gathering the stones together and removing them (which is called סקּל), it is brought under cultivation. Does לה, to embrace, now follow because it is done…”