Footstool

The footstool is the figurative seat-of-the-feet that pairs with a throne. The umbrella collects the figurative uses where the footstool belongs to God: the earth itself, the sanctuary, the ark, and — in one prophetic lament — the city Jerusalem.

The Earth as Footstool

The clearest figurative claim is Yahweh's own. "Thus says Yahweh, Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what manner of house will you⁺ build to me? And what place will be my rest?" (Isa 66:1). The two-element image — heaven the throne, earth the footstool — sets up the rhetorical question against the building of any earthly house. The same image stands behind the description of the restored sanctuary in Isaiah 60: "The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the fir-tree, the pine, and the box-tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious" (Isa 60:13). The "place of my feet" — the same footstool concept — is what is to be made glorious in the restored worship.

The Sanctuary and Ark as Footstool

The earlier history-narrative use locates the footstool more concretely. David, charging Israel with the plan for the temple, identifies the ark and the planned house with the divine footstool. "Then David the king stood up on his feet, and said, Hear me, my brothers, and my people: as for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and for the footstool of our God; and I had made ready for the building" (1Ch 28:2). The footstool here is the ark within its house — the ground where the worshipper bows.

The Psalter takes the same image as a call to worship. "Exalt⁺ Yahweh our God, And worship at his footstool: He is holy" (Ps 99:5). The plural-you imperative summons the assembly to the place where the feet rest, and the holiness predicate locates the footstool with the throne.

Jerusalem as Footstool in Lament

Lamentations picks up the same figure to describe Jerusalem's fall as a footstool God has stopped honoring. "How has the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger! He has cast down from heaven to the earth the beauty of Israel, And has not remembered his footstool in the day of his anger" (La 2:1). What was the place of his feet has been "not remembered" in the day of judgment.

Enemies as Footstool

A second figurative use turns the footstool into a picture of subdued enemies. The Davidic Psalm puts the words in Yahweh's mouth: "A Psalm of David. Yahweh says [by his Speech] to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a stool for your feet" (Ps 110:1). The same line, applied to the Christ, is taken up in Hebrews. "But of which of the angels has he said at any time, Sit at my right hand, Until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?" (He 1:13). And the waiting-Christ context: "from now on expecting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet" (He 10:13).