Cave of Hinnom

Thomas Hardy in his 1874 novel, ,Far From The Madding Crowd, in Chapter Thirty Seven compare Gabriel Oaks strenuous efforts to save the corn and hay of Bathsheba Everdene from the impending rain, on the day of her Wedding Celebration.

At the beginning of the celebration, being aware of the change in weather, and expecting a rain Gabriel Oak requested a meeting with sergeant Troy, which was refused. Then Gabriel sent a message to him that the rain was coming.  But Troy ignored him.

Troy sent out women and children from the hall before merry-making and served brandy with hot water. All the men including Troy fell asleep after the drinks.

Gabriel Oak himself engaged in saving the corn and hay. All the wheat and hay were saved. The barley was remaining. In the course of his efforts to save them, the wind came followed by lightning and thunder. The only soul in the house who could not sleep, other than Gabriel Oak was Bathsheba Everdene. She assisted Oak carrying the sheaves of barley to the top of the pile. Light, shadows, darkness and the horrible sound of the thunder accompanied the efforts of the two.  The picture of destruction created by lightning and thunder was compared to the cave of Hinnom. A dark oppressive and miserable scene in the minds of the characters as well as in the surroundings outside.  Black as a cave in Hinnom is a metaphor reflecting a literary allusion to a site near Jerusalem which became synonymous with hell. It looks at the hell-hole situation in which Bathsheba Everdene and Gabriel Oak had trapped in.  The allusion to Biblical imagery serves to elevate the emotional intensity of the scene.