25 Bible Verses about Sieges

Most Relevant Verses

Deuteronomy 20:12

And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shall besiege it.

Judges 9:50

Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.

1 Samuel 11:1

Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

2 Samuel 11:1

And it came to pass, at the return of the year, at the time when kings go out [to battle], that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they destroyed the sons of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David remain

2 Samuel 20:15

And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maacah, and they cast up a mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart. And all the people who were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.

1 Kings 20:1

And Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together. And there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.

1 Kings 20:15-20

Then he mustered the young men of the rulers of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two. And after them he mustered all the people, even all the sons of Israel, being seven thousand. And they went out at noon. But Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him. And the young men of the rulers of the provinces went out first. And Ben-hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out from Samaria.read more.
And he said, Whether they come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they come out for war, taken them alive. So these went out of the city, the young men of the rulers of the provinces, and the army which followed them. And they killed everyone his man. And the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them. And Ben-hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen.

2 Kings 6:24

And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his army, and went up, and besieged Samaria.

2 Kings 7:3-7

Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate, and they said one to another, Why do we sit here until we die? If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall to the army of the Syrians. If they save us alive, we shall And they rose up in the twilight, to go to the camp of the Syrians. And when they came to the outermost part of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no man there.read more.
For LORD had made the army of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great army. And they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and Therefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their donkeys, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.

2 Kings 17:5-6

Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years. In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away to Assyria, and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

2 Kings 18:9-12

And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it. And at the end of three years they took it. Samaria was taken in the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel. And the king of Assyria carried Israel away to Assyria, and put them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes,read more.
because they did not obey the voice of LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of LORD commanded, and would not hear it, nor do it.

2 Kings 18:17

And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rab-saris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great army to Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they came up, they came and stood by the conduit of the

2 Chronicles 32:1-5

After these things, and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fortified cities, and thought to win them for himself. And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib came, and that he intended to fight against Jerusalem, he took counsel with his rulers and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were outside the city. And they helped him.read more.
So there was gathered together many people. And they stopped all the fountains, and the brook that flowed through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water? And he took courage, and built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised [it] up to the towers, and the other wall outside, and strengthened Millo [in] the city of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance.

Isaiah 29:5-8

But the multitude of thy foes shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones as chaff that passes away. Yea, it shall be in an instant suddenly. She shall be visited by LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire. And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her stronghold, and that distress her, shall be as a dream, a vision of the night.read more.
And it shall be as when a hungry man dreams, and, behold, he eats. But he awakes, and his soul is empty. Or as when a thirsty man dreams, and, behold, he drinks. But he awakes, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul has appetite. S

Isaiah 37:36-37

And the agent of LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and eighty-five thousand. And when men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.

2 Kings 25:1

And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it. And they built forts

2 Kings 25:2-11

So the city was besieged to the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. On the ninth day of the [fourth] month the famine was severe in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land. Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war [fled] by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king's garden (now the Chaldeans were against the city round about), and [the king] went by tread more.
But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. And all his army was scattered from him. Then they took the king, and carried him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah. And they gave judgment upon him. And they killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in fetters, and carried him to Babylon. Now in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. And he burnt the house of LORD, and the king's house. And all the houses of Jerusalem, even every great house, he burnt with fire. And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were [with] the captain of the guard, broke down the walls of Jerusalem round about. And the remnant of the people that were left in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to the king of Babylon, and the remnant of the multitude, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive.

Jeremiah 39:1-10

And it came to pass when Jerusalem was taken, in the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem, and besieged it. In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, a breach was made in the city. And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, [to wit], Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.read more.
And it came to pass that, when Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king's garden, through the gate between the two walls, and he wen But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. And when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he gave judgm Then the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes. Also the king of Babylon killed all the nobles of Judah. Moreover he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him in fetters to carry him to Babylon. And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the residue of the people that remained in the city, the deserters also that fell away to him, and the residue of the people that remained. But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, that had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.

2 Chronicles 36:17-20

Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or virgin, old man or hoary-headed. He gave them all into his And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his rulers, all these he brought to Babylon. And they burnt the house of God, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces of it with fire, and destroyed all the good vessels of it.read more.
And those who had escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon, and they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia,

Jeremiah 52:4-15

And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army against Jerusalem, and encamped against it. And they built forts a So the city was besieged to the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. In the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was severe in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.read more.
Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king's garden, (now the Chaldeans were against the city round a But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was scattered from him. Then they took the king, and carried him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he gave judgment upon him. And the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. He also killed all the rulers of Judah in Riblah. And he put out the eyes of Zedekiah. And the king of Babylon bound him in fetters, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death. Now in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, who stood before the king of Babylon, came into Jerusalem. And he burned the house of LORD, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem. Even every great house, he burned with fire. And all the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down all the walls of Jerusalem round about. Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the poorest of the people, and the residue of the people who were left in the city, and those who fell away, who fell to the king of Babylon, and the residue of the

Luke 19:43

Because the days will come upon thee, and thine enemies will build a barricade around thee, and will surround thee, and enclose thee on every side.

Luke 21:20-24

But when ye see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that the desolation of it has come near. Then let those in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those in the midst of it depart out, and let not those in the countrysides enter into it. Because these are days of vengeance to fulfill all things that are written.read more.
But woe to those who have in the womb, and to those who suckle in those days. For there will be great distress upon the land, and wrath to this people. And they will fall by the jaw of the sword, and will be led away captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Deuteronomy 28:51-57

and shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy ground, until thou be destroyed, that also shall not leave thee grain, new wine, or oil, the increase of thy cattle, or the young of thy flock, until they have caused thee And they shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fortified walls come down, in which thou trusted, throughout all thy land. And they shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which LORD thy God ha And thou shall eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, whom LORD thy God has given thee, in the siege and in the distress with which thine enemies shall distress thee.read more.
The man who is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his sons whom he has remaining, so that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his sons whom he shall eat, because he has nothing left to him, in the siege and in the distress with which thine enemy shall distress thee in all thy gates. The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her and toward her young one who comes out from between her feet, and toward her sons whom she shall bear, for she shall eat them secretly for want of all things, in the siege and in the distress with which thine enemy shall distress t

2 Kings 6:24-29

And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his army, and went up, and besieged Samaria. And there was a great famine in Samaria. And, behold, they besieged it until a donkey's head was sold for eighty [pieces] of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for five [pieces] of silver. And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.read more.
And he said, If LORD does not help thee, from where shall I help thee? Out of the threshing-floor, or out of the winepress? And the king said to her, What troubles thee? And she answered, This woman said to me, Give thy son that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow. So we boiled my son, and ate him. And I said to her on the next day, Give thy son that we may eat him. And she has hid her son.

2 Kings 18:27

But Rabshakeh said to them, Has my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? [Has he] not [sent me] to the men who sit on the wall, to eat their own dung, and to drink their own urine with you?

From Thematic Bible


Armies » March in ranks » Sieges

Jeremiah 39:1

And it came to pass when Jerusalem was taken, in the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem, and besieged it.

Armies » March in ranks » Sieges » Of jericho

Sieges » Cities taken by » Inhabitants of, often put to the sword

Joshua 10:35

And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword. And all the souls that were in it he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.

Joshua 10:28

And Joshua took Makkedah on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king of it. He utterly destroyed them and all the souls that were in it. He left none remaining, and he did to the king of Makkedah as he had do

Joshua 10:30

And LORD delivered it also, and the king of it, into the hand of Israel. And he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were in it. He left none remaining in it, and he did to the king of it as he had done to th

Joshua 10:32

And LORD delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel. And he took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were in it, according to all that he had done to Libnah.

Sieges » Cities invested by » Walls of, defended by the inhabitants

2 Kings 18:26

Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, said to Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language, for we understand it. And do not speak with us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people

2 Samuel 11:20-21

it shall be that, if the king's wrath arise, and he says to thee, Why did ye go so near to the city to fight? Did ye not know that they would shoot from the wall? Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman cast an upper millstone upon him from the wall so that he died at Thebez? Why did ye go so near the wall? Then thou shall say, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.

2 Chronicles 32:18

And they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them, and to trouble them, that they might take the city.

Sieges » Those engaged in » Called upon the city to surrender

2 Kings 18:18

And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.

1 Kings 20:2-3

And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel, into the city, and said to him, Thus says Ben-hadad, Thy silver and thy gold is mine, thy wives also and thy sons, even the best, are mine.

2 Kings 18:20

Thou say (but they are but vain words), [There is] counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom do thou trust that thou have rebelled against me?

Sieges » Cities invested by » Often suffered from famine

Ezekiel 6:12

He who is far off shall die of the pestilence, and he who is near shall fall by the sword, and he who remains and is besieged shall die by the famine. Thus I will accomplish my wrath upon them.

2 Kings 25:3

On the ninth day of the [fourth] month the famine was severe in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.

2 Kings 6:26-29

And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, Help, my lord, O king. And he said, If LORD does not help thee, from where shall I help thee? Out of the threshing-floor, or out of the winepress? And the king said to her, What troubles thee? And she answered, This woman said to me, Give thy son that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow. read more.
So we boiled my son, and ate him. And I said to her on the next day, Give thy son that we may eat him. And she has hid her son.

Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Samaria

1 Kings 20:1

And Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together. And there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.

2 Kings 17:5

Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.

2 Kings 6:24

And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his army, and went up, and besieged Samaria.

Sieges » Cities invested by » Repaired and newly fortified beforehand

2 Chronicles 32:5

And he took courage, and built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised [it] up to the towers, and the other wall outside, and strengthened Millo [in] the city of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance.

Isaiah 22:9-10

And ye saw the breaches of the city of David, that they were many. And to fortify the wall, ye gathered together the waters of the lower pool, and ye numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and ye broke down the houses.

Sieges » Described as » Encamping against

2 Samuel 12:28

Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it, lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.

2 Chronicles 32:1

After these things, and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fortified cities, and thought to win them for himself.

Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Rabbah

2 Samuel 11:1

And it came to pass, at the return of the year, at the time when kings go out [to battle], that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they destroyed the sons of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David remain

2 Samuel 12:26-29

Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and took the royal city. And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah; yea, I have taken the city of waters. Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it, lest I take the city, and it be called after my name. read more.
And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.

Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Jerusalem

2 Kings 24:10

At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.

2 Kings 25:1-2

And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it. And they built forts So the city was besieged to the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.

Sieges » Cities invested by » Often suffered from pestilence

Jeremiah 21:6

And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast. They shall die of a great pestilence.

Jeremiah 32:24

Behold, the mounds. They have come to the city to take it. And the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans who fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence. And what thou have spoken has com

Sieges » Cities invested by » Frequently succored by allies

1 Samuel 11:11

And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies. And they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and smote the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And it came to pass, that those who remaine

1 Samuel 23:5

And David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and killed them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

Sieges » Cities invested by » Frequently taken by assault

2 Samuel 12:29

And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.

Joshua 10:35

And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword. And all the souls that were in it he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.

Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Ramoth-gilead

1 Kings 22:4

And he said to Jehoshaphat, Will thou go with me to battle to Ramoth-gilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou are, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.

1 Kings 22:29

So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.

Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Ai

Joshua 7:2-4

And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, Go up and spy out the land. And the men went up and spied out Ai. And they returned to Joshua, and said to him, Let not all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai. Do not make all the people to toil there, for they are but few. So there went up there of the people about three thousand men. And they fled before the men of Ai.

Joshua 8:1-19

And LORD said to Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed. Take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land. And thou shall do to Ai and her king as thou did to Jericho and her king. Only the spoil of it, and the cattle of it, ye shall take for a prey to yourselves. Set thee an ambush for the city behind it. So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up to Ai. And Joshua chose out thirty thousand men, the mighty men of valor, and sent them forth by night. read more.
And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lay in ambush against the city, behind the city. Go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready, and I, and all the people that are with me, will approach to the city. And it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them. And they will come out after us, till we have drawn them away from the city, for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first. So we will flee before them. And ye shall rise up from the ambush, and take possession of the city, for LORD your God will deliver it into your hand. And it shall be, when ye have seized upon the city, that ye shall set the city on fire. According to the word of LORD shall ye do. See, I have commanded you. And Joshua sent them forth, and they went to the ambushment, and abode between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai, but Joshua lodged that night among the people. And Joshua arose up early in the morning, and mustered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai. And all the people, [even] the [men of] war who were with him, went up, and drew near, and came before the city, and encamped on the north side of Ai. Now there was a valley between him and Ai. And he took about five thousand men, and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. So they set the people, even all the army that was on the north of the city, and their ambushment that were on the west of the city, and Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley. And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hastened and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at the time appointed, before the Arabah, but he did not know And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness. And all the people that were in the city were called together to pursue after them, and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city. And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. And they left the city open, and pursued after Israel. And LORD said to Joshua, Stretch out the javelin that is in thy hand toward Ai, for I will give it into thy hand. And Joshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hand toward the city. And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand, and entered into the city, and took it. And they hastened and set the city on fire.

Sieges » Those engaged in » Employed battering rams, &c against the walls

Ezekiel 26:9

And he shall set his battering engines against thy walls, and with his axes he shall break down thy towers.

Ezekiel 4:2

And lay siege against it, and build forts against it, and cast up a mound against it. Also set camps against it, and plant battering rams against it round about.

Sieges » Those engaged in » Built forts and mounts

Ezekiel 26:8

He shall kill thy daughters in the field with the sword. And he shall make forts against thee, and cast up a mound against thee, and raise up the buckler against thee.

Ezekiel 4:2

And lay siege against it, and build forts against it, and cast up a mound against it. Also set camps against it, and plant battering rams against it round about.

Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Shechem

Judges 9:34

And Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.

Judges 9:45

And Abimelech fought against the city all that day. And he took the city, and killed the people that were in it, and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

Sieges » Described as » Compassing about with armies

2 Kings 6:14

Therefore he sent there horses, and chariots, and a great army. And they came by night, and encompassed the city about.

Sieges » The jews forbidden to cut down fruit trees for the purpose of

Deuteronomy 20:19-20

When thou shall besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shall not destroy the trees of it by wielding an axe against them, for thou may eat of them. And thou shall not cut them down, for is the tree of Only the trees of which thou know that they are not trees for food, thou shall destroy and cut them down. And thou shall build bulwarks against the city that makes war with thee, until it falls.

Sieges » Cities invested by » The inhabitants of, cut off beforehand supplies of water outside, useful to besiegers

2 Chronicles 32:3-4

he took counsel with his rulers and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were outside the city. And they helped him. So there was gathered together many people. And they stopped all the fountains, and the brook that flowed through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?

Sieges » Cities invested by » Inhabitants of, exhorted to be courageous

2 Chronicles 32:6-8

And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the broad place at the gate of the city, and spoke encouragingly to them, saying, Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid nor dismayed of the king of Assyria, nor of all the multitude that is with him. For there is a greater with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

Sieges » Cities taken by » Given up to pillage

Jeremiah 50:26-27

Come against her from the utmost border. Open her store-houses. Cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly; let nothing of her be left. Kill all her bullocks. Let them go down to the slaughter. Woe to them! For their day has come, the time of their visitation.

Sieges » Threatened as a punishment

Deuteronomy 28:52

And they shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fortified walls come down, in which thou trusted, throughout all thy land. And they shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which LORD thy God ha

Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Lachish

Joshua 10:31-32

And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, to Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it. And LORD delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel. And he took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were in it, according to all that he had done to Libnah.

Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Ziklag

1 Samuel 30:1-2

And it came to pass, when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid upon the South, and upon Ziklag, and had smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women [and all] that were in it, both small and great. They did not kill any, but carried them off, and went their way.

Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Libnah

Joshua 10:29-30

And Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, to Libnah, and fought against Libnah. And LORD delivered it also, and the king of it, into the hand of Israel. And he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were in it. He left none remaining in it, and he did to the king of it as he had done to th

Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Eglon

Joshua 10:34-35

And Joshua passed from Lachish, and all Israel with him, to Eglon. And they encamped against it, and fought against it. And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword. And all the souls that were in it he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.

Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Debir

Joshua 10:38-39

And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir, and fought against it. And he took it, and the king of it, and all the cities of it. And they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were in it. He left none remaining. As he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir

Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Hebron

Joshua 10:36-37

And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, to Hebron. And they fought against it, and they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king of it, and all the cities of it, and all the souls that were in it. He left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon, but he utterly destroye

Sieges » Cities invested by » Often demanded terms of peace

1 Samuel 11:1-3

Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. And Nahash the Ammonite said to them, On this condition will I make it with you, that all your right eyes be put out, and I will lay it for a reproach upon all Israel. And the elders of Jabesh said to him, Give us seven days' respite that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel, and then, if there be none to save us, we will come out to thee.

Sieges » Cities invested by » Sometimes used ambushes or sorties

Jeremiah 51:12

Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon. Make the watch strong. Set the watchmen. Prepare the ambushes. For LORD has both purposed and done that which he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.

Sieges » Cities invested by » Frequently taken by ambush

Judges 9:43-44

And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field. And he looked, and, behold, the people came forth out of the city. And he rose up against them, and smote them. And Abimelech, and the companies who were with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city, and the two companies rushed upon all who were in the field, and smote them.

Sieges » Extreme difficulty of taking cities by, alluded to

Sieges » Sometimes called after the name of the captor

2 Samuel 12:28

Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it, lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.

Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Cities of israel in galilee

2 Kings 15:29

In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maacah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali. And he carried them captive to As

Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Cities of judah

2 Kings 18:13

Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them.

Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Jabesh-gilead

1 Samuel 11:1

Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Gibbethon

1 Kings 16:15

In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah. Now the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.

Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Tirzah

1 Kings 16:17

And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.

Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Keilah

1 Samuel 23:1

And they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and are robbing the threshing-floors.

Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Jericho

Joshua 6:2-20

And LORD said to Joshua, See, I have given Jericho into thy hand, and the king of it, and the mighty men of valor. And ye shall encompass the city, all the men of war, going around the city once. Thus shall thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. And the seventh day ye shall encompass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. read more.
And it shall be, that, when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout. And the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall g And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said to them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of LORD. And they said to the people, Pass on, and encompass the city, and let the armed men pass on before the ark of LORD. And it was so, that, when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before LORD passed on, and blew the trumpets. And the ark of the covenant of LORD followed them. And the armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rearward went behind the ark, [the priests] blowing the trumpets as they went. And Joshua commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor let your voice be heard, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth until the day I bid you shout. Then ye shall shout. So he caused the ark of LORD to encompass the city, going around it once. And they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp. And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of LORD. And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of LORD went on continually, and blew the trumpets. And the armed men went before them, and the rearward came behind the ark of LORD, [the priests] blow And the second day they encompassed the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did six days. And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early at the dawning of the day, and encompassed the city according to the same manner seven times. Only on that day they encompassed the city seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, Shout, for LORD has given you the city. And the city shall be set apart, even it and all that is in it, to LORD. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. But as for you, only keep yourselves from what is set apart, lest when ye have set it apart, ye take from what is set apart. So ye would make the camp of Israel accursed, and trouble it. But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are holy to LORD. They shall come into the treasury of LORD. So the people shouted, and [the priests] blew the trumpets. And it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, that the people shouted with a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up in

Sieges » Those engaged in » Cast arrows and other missiles into the city

2 Kings 19:32

Therefore thus says LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come to this city, nor shoot an arrow there, neither shall he come before it with shield, nor cast up a mound against it.

Sieges » Those engaged in » Invested the city on every side

Ezekiel 23:24

And they shall come against thee with weapons, chariots, and wagons, and with a company of peoples. They shall set themselves against thee with buckler and shield and helmet round about. And I will commit the judgment to them, and

Sieges » Those engaged in » Cut off all supplies

2 Kings 19:24

I have dug and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet I will dry up all the rivers of Egypt.

Sieges » Those engaged in » A large amount » Suffered

Ezekiel 29:18

Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyre. Every head was made bald, and every shoulder was worn, yet he had no wages, nor his army, from Tyre, for the service that he had serv

Sieges » Described as » Being against round about

Jeremiah 51:2

And I will send strangers to Babylon, who shall winnow her, and they shall empty her land. For in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about.

Sieges » Described as » Setting in array against

Jeremiah 50:9

For, lo, I will stir up and cause to come up against Babylon a company of great nations from the north country, and they shall set themselves in array against her. From there she shall be taken. Their arrows shall be as of an exper

Sieges » Fenced cities invested by

2 Kings 18:13

Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them.

Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Makkedah

Joshua 10:28

And Joshua took Makkedah on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king of it. He utterly destroyed them and all the souls that were in it. He left none remaining, and he did to the king of Makkedah as he had do

Sieges » Described as » Pitching against

2 Kings 25:1

And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it. And they built forts

Sieges » Often lasted for a long time

2 Kings 17:5

Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.

Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Thebez

Judges 9:50

Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.

Sieges » Those engaged in » Frequently laid ambushes

Judges 9:34

And Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.

Sieges » Illustrative of » The omnipresence of God

Psalm 139:5

Thou have beset me behind and before, and laid thy hand upon me.

Sieges » Frequently destroyed by fire

Joshua 8:19

And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand, and entered into the city, and took it. And they hastened and set the city on fire.

Sieges » Sometimes sown with salt

Judges 9:45

And Abimelech fought against the city all that day. And he took the city, and killed the people that were in it, and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

Sieges » Frequently broken down

Judges 9:45

And Abimelech fought against the city all that day. And he took the city, and killed the people that were in it, and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

Sieges » Cities invested by » Supplied with water beforehand

Nahum 3:14

Draw thee water for the siege. Strengthen thy fortresses. Go into the clay, and tread the mortar. Make strong the brick kiln.

Sieges » Cities invested by » Were strictly shut up

Joshua 6:1

Now Jericho was shut up tight because of the sons of Israel. None went out, and none came in.

Sieges » Those engaged in » Dug a trench round the city

Luke 19:43

Because the days will come upon thee, and thine enemies will build a barricade around thee, and will surround thee, and enclose thee on every side.

Sieges » Illustrative of » Zion in her affliction

Isaiah 1:8

And the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a shed in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

Sieges » Illustrative of » The judgments of God

Micah 5:1

Now thou shall gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops. He has laid siege against us. They shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.

Sieges » Great noise and tumult of, alluded to

Joel 2:5

They leap like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

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