Reference: Fortification and Siegecraft
Hastings
At the date of the Hebrew invasion of Canaan its inhabitants were found to be in possession of 'cities great and fenced up to heaven' (De 9:1; cf. Nu 13:28; Jos 14:12), most of them, as is now known, with a history of many centuries behind them. The inhabited places, then as always, were of two classes, walled and unwalled (De 3:5), the latter comprising the country villages, the former the very numerous 'cities,' which though small in area were 'fenced,' i.e. fortified (the modern term everywhere adopted by Amer. RV), 'with high walls, gates, and bars.' In this article it is proposed to indicate the nature of the walls by which these cities were fenced in OT times, and of the fortresses or 'strong holds' so frequently mentioned in Hebrew history, and finally, to describe the methods of attack and defence adopted by the Hebrews and their contemporaries.
1. The earliest fortification yet discovered in Palestine is that erected, it may be, as far back as b.c. 4000 by the neolithic cave-dwellers of Gezer. This consisted of a simple bank of earth, between six and seven feet in height, the inside face of which is vertical, the outside sloping, and both cased with random stones (Quarterly Statement of the same, 1903, 113, with section plan 116; 1904, 200; for date see 1905, 29). A similar 'earth rampart' was found at Tell el-Hesy, the ancient Lachish.
The Semitic invaders, who appeared in Canaan about the middle of the third millennium, were able with their tools of bronze to carry the art of fortification far beyond this primitive stage. Their cities were planted for the most part on an outlying spur of a mountain range, or on a more or less isolated eminence or tell. In either case the steep rock-faces of nature's building may be said to have been the city's first line of defence. The walls, of crude brick or stone, with which art supplemented nature, followed the contours of the ridge, the rock itself being frequently cut away to form artificial scarps, on the top of which the city wall was built. Consequently the walls were not required to be of uniform height throughout the enceinte, being lowest where the rock scarp was steepest, and highest on that side of the city from which approach was easiest and attack most to be feared. In the latter case, as at Jerusalem, which was assailable only from the north, it was usual to strengthen the defences by a wide and deep trench. Where, on the other hand, the city was perched upon an elevated tell, as at Gezer, Lachish, and in the Sheph
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Nevertheless surely mighty, are the people that dwell in the land, - and, the cities, walled in, exceeding great, moreover also, the descendants of the
All these, were fortified cities each with a high wall, folding gates and a bar, - besides country towns exceeding many.
Hear O Israel! thou art passing, to-day, over the Jordan, to go in to dispossess nations, greater and stronger than thou, - cities great and fortified into the heavens;
Nevertheless, the tree of which thou knowest that it is, not a tree yielding food, the same, mayest thou destroy, and cut down, - and so build up a siege-work against the city which is making war with thee, until thou hast subdued it.
And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and mustered the people, - and went up - he and the elders of Israel, before the people, to Ai.
Now, therefore, give me this mountain, whereof Yahweh spake, on that day, - for, thou thyself, didst hear, on that day, that, Anakim, were there, and great cities fortified, if so be Yahweh be with me, then shall I dispossess them, as spake Yahweh.
And the house of Joseph sent to spy out Bethel, - now, the name of the city, formerly, was, Luz.
And it came to pass, on the morrow, that the people went forth into the field, - and they told Abimelech.
So, even all the people cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and laid them over the basement, and set it on fire over them who were therein, - even all the men of the tower of Shechem died about a thousand men and women.
Now, a strong tower, was in the midst of the city, and there fled thither all the men and the women, and all the owners of the city, and shut themselves in, - and went up on the roof of the tower. And Abimelech came in as far as the tower, and fought against it, - and so came near, as far as the entrance of the tower, to burn it with fire.
Then went Samson unto Gaza, - and saw there an unchaste woman, and went in unto her. And it was told the Gazites, saying - Samson hath come in hither. So they came round, and lay in wait for him, all the night, in the gate of the city, - but kept themselves quiet all the night, saying, Until the light of the morning, then will we slay him. read more. And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took hold of the doors of the gate of the city, and of the two doorposts, and tare them away, with the bar, and put them on his shoulders, - and carried them up to the top of the hill that faceth Hebron.
So Jonathan gave his weapons unto his lad, and said to him, Go carry them into the city.
So then David captured the citadel of Zion, - the same, is the city of David.
So then David dwelt in the citadel, and called it, The City of David, - and David built round about, from Millo and inwards.
And Joab fought against Rabbah, of the sons of Ammon, - and captured the royal city.
Now, David, was sitting between the two gates, - and the watchman went on to the top of the gate-house, upon the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and lo! a man, running alone.
Now, David, was sitting between the two gates, - and the watchman went on to the top of the gate-house, upon the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and lo! a man, running alone.
Now, David, was sitting between the two gates, - and the watchman went on to the top of the gate-house, upon the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and lo! a man, running alone.
Then was the king deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept, - and, thus, he said as he went - O my son Absolom, my son - my son - Absolom! could, I, but have died in thy stead, O Absolom, my son - my son!
So they came, and laid siege against him, in Abel, Beth-maachah, and they cast up a mound against the city, so that it stood within a rampart, - and, all the people who were with Joab, were battering the wall to throw it down.
So they came, and laid siege against him, in Abel, Beth-maachah, and they cast up a mound against the city, so that it stood within a rampart, - and, all the people who were with Joab, were battering the wall to throw it down.
So they came, and laid siege against him, in Abel, Beth-maachah, and they cast up a mound against the city, so that it stood within a rampart, - and, all the people who were with Joab, were battering the wall to throw it down.
Ben-geber, in Ramoth-gilead, - to him, belonged the towns of Jair, son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, his, was the region of Argob which is in Bashan, sixty great cities, with walls and with bars of bronze;
Now, the following, is an account of the tax which King Solomon raised, for building the house of Yahweh and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, - and Hazor and Megiddo, and Gezer.
And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was captured, that he entered into the citadel of the house of the king, - and burned over him the house of the king, with fire, and died:
Moreover also, concerning Jezebel, hath Yahweh spoken, saying, - The dogs, shall eat Jezebel, in the town-land of Jezreel:
And there came to be, a great famine, in Samaria, and lo! they continued the siege against it, - until an ass's head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and one pint of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.
Now, the king, had set the officer on whose hand he leaned, in charge over the gate, and the people trode upon him in the gate, that he died, - as spake the man of God, who said it when the messenger came down to him.
Now, the watchman, was standing upon the tower, in Jezreel, so he saw the great company of Jehu, when he came, and said - A great company, can I see! Then said Jehoram - Take a horseman and send to meet them, that he may say - Is it peace?
Now, the watchman, was standing upon the tower, in Jezreel, so he saw the great company of Jehu, when he came, and said - A great company, can I see! Then said Jehoram - Take a horseman and send to meet them, that he may say - Is it peace?
And the sons of Israel did, secretly, things which were not right, against Yahweh their God, - and built for themselves high places in all their cities, from the watchmen's tower, to the fortified city.
He, smote the Philistines, as far as Gazah, and her boundaries, - from the watchmen's tower even to the fortified city.
Therefore - Thus, saith Yahweh, concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not enter this city, nor shoot there, an arrow, - nor attack it with shield, nor cast up against it, a mound;
And it came to pass, in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came - he and all his force, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it, - and they built against it a siege wall, round about.
And the inhabitants of Jebus said unto David, Thou shalt not come in hither, - But David captured the citadel of Zion, the same, is the city of David. And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites, first, shall become a chief, and a ruler, - So then Joab son of Zeruiah, went up first, and became a chief.
And he strengthened the fortified places, - and put therein captains, and stores of food, and oil and wine;
And Uzziah built towers, in Jerusalem, over the corner-gate, and over the valley-gate, and over the angle, - and he made them strong.
And he made in Jerusalem, inventions invented of the inventor, to be upon the towers and upon the turrets, for throwing with arrows, and with great stones, - so that his name went forth afar, for he was marvellously helped, until that he was strong.
And he made in Jerusalem, inventions invented of the inventor, to be upon the towers and upon the turrets, for throwing with arrows, and with great stones, - so that his name went forth afar, for he was marvellously helped, until that he was strong.
Cities also, built he, in the hill country of Judah, - and, in the thick woods, built he fortresses and towers.
also a letter unto Asaph, keeper of the park that belongeth unto the king, that he may give me timber to build up the gates of the fortress which pertaineth to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house whereinto I shall enter. And the king gave me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.
And it came to pass, when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah and to Geshem the Arabian and to the rest of our enemies, that I had built the wall, and there was left therein no breach, - though, up to that time, the doors, had I not set up in the gates,
that I gave Hanani my brother, and Hananiah captain of the castle, charge over Jerusalem, for, he, was a truly faithful man, and revered God above many.
His bones, are barrels of bronze, his frame, is like hammered bars of iron:
For he brake in pieces the doors of bronze, And, the bars of iron, he hewed asunder.
A city of heroes, doth a wise man scale, and bringeth down the strength of its confidence.
Even this, had I seen of wisdom, under the sun, - and, of great import, was the same unto me: -
In that day, shall be sung this song, in the land of Judah, - A strong city, have we! Salvation, will he set for walls and rampart,
Even a spirit of justice - to him that presideth over justice, And strength to them who would turn back the battle at the gate.
And I will encamp round about against thee, - And lay siege against thee with a fort, And raise against thee siege-works;
Therefore, thus, saith Yahweh, concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not enter this city, Nor shoot there, an arrow, - Nor attack it with shield, Nor cast up against it a mound:
Thus, saith Yahweh, to his Anointed, to Cyrus - Whose right hand I have firmly grasped To subdue before him, nations, And the loins of kings, will I ungird, - To open, before him, the two-leaved doors, And, the gates, shall not be shut: I, before thee, will go, And the hills, will I level - The doors of bronze, will I break in pieces, e And the bars of iron, will I cut asunder;
And make rubies, thy battlements, And thy gates, sparkling stones, -
when, the force of the king of Babylon, was fighting against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that were left, - against Lachish and against Azekah, for they, remained among the cities of Judah as fortified cities.
Then shalt thou lay siege against it And bud up against it a siege-wall And cast up against it, a mound, - And set against it camps, And place against it battering-rams, round about.
Then shalt thou lay siege against it And bud up against it a siege-wall And cast up against it, a mound, - And set against it camps, And place against it battering-rams, round about.
Then shalt thou lay siege against it And bud up against it a siege-wall And cast up against it, a mound, - And set against it camps, And place against it battering-rams, round about.
Neither shall Pharaoh with a great force. or with a large gathered host, work with him in the war, by casting up an earthwork and by building a siege-wall, - to the cuting off of many lives.
On his right hand, hath come the divination - Jerusalem! To plant battering-rams. To open a hole by breach To lift up the voice with a war-shout, - To plant battering-rams against the gates, To cast up an earth-work To bud a siege-wall.
Thy daughters in the field - with the sword, shall he slay,- And shall set against thee a siege-wall And cast up against thee an earthwork, And set up against thee a large shield; And the stroke of his attacking-engine, will he direct against thy walls, - And thy tower., will he break down with his axes.
And, through fissures, shall ye go out, every woman, straight before her, - and ye shall be thrust forth towards the castle, Declareth Yahweh.
Let him call to mind his nobles, they shall stumble as they go - let them hasten to her wall, yet the storming cover, is prepared.
day of horn, and war-shout, - against the fortified cities, and against the high towers.
Because days will have come upon thee, that thine enemies will throw around a rampart against thee, and enclose thee; and hem thee in from every side, -
but, others, were calling out, something else, in the multitude; and so, as he could not get to know the certainty, because of the tumult, he ordered him to be brought into the castle.
the captain ordered him to be brought into the castle, saying, that, with scourging, he should be put to the test, - that he might find out, for what cause they were, thus, clamouring against him.
With all, having taken up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall have power, all the ignited darts of the wicked one, to quench;