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
See Verses Found in Dictionary
The people who live there are strong. The cities have walls and are very large. We even saw the descendants of Anak there.
All of these cities were fortified with high walls and double-door gates with bars across the gates. We also captured a large number of unwalled villages.
Hear, O Israel, you are about to cross the Jordan River. You will force out nations that are larger and mightier than you, with big cities that have sky-high walls.
You may destroy trees that you know are not fruit trees. You may cut them down and use them in your blockade until you capture the city.
Joshua rose up early in the morning and mustered his men. He and the elders of Israel went in front of the people to Ai.
Now therefore give me this mountain. This is where Jehovah spoke that day. You heard about the Anakims that day. Their cities were large and fortified and Jehovah helped me drive them out just as Jehovah said.
The next day it was reported to Abimelech that the people of Shechem were planning to go out into the fields.
So everyone cut off a tree limb. They followed Abimelech and piled the wood up against the stronghold. They set the fort on fire. All the people of the fort died. About a thousand men and women died.
There was a strong tower there. The men and women in the city, including the leaders, ran to it. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof. When Abimelech attacked the tower he went to the door to set the tower on fire.
Samson went to the Philistine city of Gaza. He met a prostitute and went to bed with her. The people of Gaza discovered that Samson was there. They surrounded the place and waited for him all night long at the city gate. They were quiet all night, thinking: We will wait until daybreak and kill him. read more. However Samson stayed in bed until midnight. He got up and took hold of the city gate and pulled it up, doors, posts, lock, and all. He put them on his shoulders and carried them far off to the top of the hill overlooking Hebron.
Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and told him to take them back to town.
However, David captured the fortress Zion, that is, the City of David.
David lived in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built the city of Jerusalem around it from the stronghold (citadel) to the palace.
Meanwhile, Joab fought against the Ammonite city of Rabbah and captured its royal fortress.
David was sitting between the two gates. The watchman walked along the roof of the gate by the wall. He looked at the man running alone.
David was sitting between the two gates. The watchman walked along the roof of the gate by the wall. He looked at the man running alone.
David was sitting between the two gates. The watchman walked along the roof of the gate by the wall. He looked at the man running alone.
The king was shaken by the news. He went to the room above the gate and cried. My son Absalom! He said. My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died in your place! Absalom, my son, my son!
Joab and his troops surrounded Abel, so no one could go in or come out. They made a dirt ramp (rampart) up to the town wall. Then they used a battering ram to knock the wall down.
Joab and his troops surrounded Abel, so no one could go in or come out. They made a dirt ramp (rampart) up to the town wall. Then they used a battering ram to knock the wall down.
Joab and his troops surrounded Abel, so no one could go in or come out. They made a dirt ramp (rampart) up to the town wall. Then they used a battering ram to knock the wall down.
Bengeber: the city of Ramoth in Gilead, and the villages in Gilead belonging to the clan of Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, and the region of Argob in Bashan, sixty large towns in all, fortified with walls and with bronze bars on the gates.
King Solomon used forced labor to build the Temple and the palace, to fill in land on the east side of the city, and to build the city wall. He also used it to rebuild the cities of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.
Zimri saw that the city had fallen. So he went into the palace's inner fortress and set the palace on fire. He died in the flames.
Concerning Jezebel, Jehovah says: Dogs will eat her body in the city of Jezreel.
The siege caused a great food shortage in the city. It was so severe that a donkey's head cost eighty pieces of silver, and half a pound of dove's dung cost five pieces of silver.
The king of Israel put the city gate under the command of the officer who was his personal attendant. The officer was trampled to death there by the people and died, as Elisha had predicted when the king went to see him.
The watchman on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu and his company coming. He said: I see a company of people. Joram said: Send out a horseman to them and let him ask: 'Do you come in peace?'
The watchman on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu and his company coming. He said: I see a company of people. Joram said: Send out a horseman to them and let him ask: 'Do you come in peace?'
The children of Israel secretly did things that were not right according to Jehovah their God. They built high places for themselves in all their towns, from the watchtower to the walled towns.
He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its limits, from the tower of the watchman to the walled town.
This is what Jehovah said about the Assyrian king: 'He will not enter this city or shoot a single arrow against it. No soldiers with shields will come near the city. No siege mounds will be built around it.'
Now in the ninth year of his rule, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked Jerusalem with all his army. He took his position and laid siege to it. They built earthworks all round the town.
Then the inhabitants of Jebus said to David: You shall not come in here! Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion that is, the City of David. David said: Whoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and became chief.
He strengthened the cities and put army officers with reserves of food, olive oil, and wine in them.
Uzziah strengthened the fortifications of Jerusalem. He built towers at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and where the wall turned.
In Jerusalem he manufactured machines designed by inventive people. The machines were placed on the towers and corners to shoot arrows and hurl large stones. Uzziah's fame spread far and wide because he had strong support until he became powerful.
In Jerusalem he manufactured machines designed by inventive people. The machines were placed on the towers and corners to shoot arrows and hurl large stones. Uzziah's fame spread far and wide because he had strong support until he became powerful.
He built cities in the hills of Judah. He also built forts and towers in the wooded areas.
I need a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's park, so that he may give me wood to make boards for the doors of the tower of the house, and for the wall of the town, and for the house which is to be mine. The king gave me this, for the hand of my God was on me.
Word was given to Sanballat and Tobiah and to Geshem the Arabian and to the rest of our enemies, that I had done the building of the wall and that there were no more broken places in it though even then I had not put up the gates in the gateways.
I appointed my brother Hanani, and Hananiah, the ruler of the tower, responsible for the government of Jerusalem. For he was a man of good faith, respecting God more than most.
His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like rods of iron.
He shattered bronze gates and cut iron bars in two.
A wise man attacks the city of the mighty, and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
I have seen this wisdom under the sun, and it seemed important to me.
We have a strong city. God makes salvation its walls and ramparts.
He will be a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, a source of strength to those who repel the attack at the gate.
I will surround you with a military blockade and attack you from all sides.
Therefore this is what Jehovah says concerning the king of Assyria: He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here. He will not come before it with shield, or build a siege ramp against it.
This is WHAT JEHOVAH SAYS ABOUT CYRUS, his anointed one: I have held him by his right hand so he could conquer the nations ahead of him; that he could strip kings of their power, and open doors ahead of him so that the gates would not be shut. I will go ahead of you, Cyrus. I will smooth out the rough places. I will break down the copper doors and cut through the iron bars.
I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones.
He did this when the army of the king of Babylon was attacking Jerusalem and the cities of Lachish and Azekah. These were the only fortified cities of Judah that were left.
Then lay siege to it. Erect siege works against it. Build a ramp up to it. Set up camps against it and put battering rams around it.
Then lay siege to it. Erect siege works against it. Build a ramp up to it. Set up camps against it and put battering rams around it.
Then lay siege to it. Erect siege works against it. Build a ramp up to it. Set up camps against it and put battering rams around it.
Even the powerful army of the king of Egypt will not be able to help him fight when the Babylonians build earthworks and dig trenches in order to kill many people.
The divination (omens) will indicate that he should go to the right, to Jerusalem. So he will set up his battering rams there, and give the order to kill. He will raise a battle cry and aim the battering rams against the city gates. He will put up ramps and set up blockades (siege walls).
He will slay your daughters on the mainland with the sword. He will make siege walls against you, cast up a ramp against you and raise up a large shield against you. He will direct the blow of his battering rams against your walls. He will break down your towers with his axes.
You will go out through the holes in the city wall straight before her. You will be thrown into Harmon (a place of exile), said Jehovah.
He remembers his majestic ones. They stumble as they march. They hurry to the wall to prepare the barricade.
That day will be a day of alarm signals and battle cries against the fortified cities and against the high corner towers.
The time is coming when your enemies will surround you and blockade you with a rampart (wall) on all sides. They will close in on you.
Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another. The commander could not find out the facts because of the uproar so he commanded him to be brought into the barracks.
The Roman commander ordered his men to take Paul into the barracks. He told them to whip him in order to find out why the Jews were screaming like this against him.
Also take up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.