Sieges.

• 2 min. read • grade level: 12

Fenced cities invested by. 2 Kin. 18: 13.

Threatened as a punishment. Deu. 28:52.

DESCRIBED AS

Encamping against. 2 Sam. 12:28²⁸Now 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 Samuel 12:28). 2 Chr. 32:1¹After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself. (2 Chronicles 32:1).

Pitching against. 2 Kings 25:1¹And 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 host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about. (2 Kings 25:1).

Compassing about with armies. 2 Kings 6:14¹⁴Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. (2 Kings 6:14). Luke 21:20²⁰And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. (Luke 21:20).

Setting in array against. Jer. 50:9⁹For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain. (Jeremiah 50:9).

Being against round about. Jer. 51:2²And will send unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about. (Jeremiah 51:2).

Often lasted for a long time. 2 Kings 17:5⁵Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years. (2 Kings 17:5).

Great noise and tumult of, alluded to. Joel. 2:5.

THOSE ENGAGED IN,

Built forts and mounts. Ezek. 4:2²And lay siege against it, and build a fort against it, and cast a mount against it; set the camp also against it, and set battering rams against it round about. (Ezekiel 4:2). Ezek. 26:8⁸He shall slay with the sword thy daughters in the field: and he shall make a fort against thee, and cast a mount against thee, and lift up the buckler against thee. (Ezekiel 26:8).

Dug a trench round the city. Luke 19:43⁴³For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, (Luke 19:43).

Invested the city on every side. Ezek. 23:24²⁴And they shall come against thee with chariots, wagons, and wheels, and with an assembly of people, which shall set against thee buckler and shield and helmet round about: and I will set judgment before them, and they shall judge thee according to their judgments. (Ezekiel 23:24).

Cut off all supplies. 2 Kin. 19-24.

Frequently laid ambushes. Judg. 9:34³⁴And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies. (Judges 9:34).

Called upon the city to surrender. 1 Kin. 20:2, 3. 2 Kin. 18:18, 20.

Employed battering rams, etc. against the walls. Ezek. 4:2²And lay siege against it, and build a fort against it, and cast a mount against it; set the camp also against it, and set battering rams against it round about. (Ezekiel 4:2). Ezek. 26:9⁹And he shall set engines of war against thy walls, and with his axes he shall break down thy towers. (Ezekiel 26:9).

Cast arrows and other missiles into the city. 2 Kin. 19:32.

Often suffered much during. Eze. 29:18¹⁸Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it: (Ezekiel 29:18).

The Jews forbidden to cut down fruit trees for purposes of. Deut. 20:19, 20¹⁹When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man's life) to employ them in the siege: ²⁰Only the trees which thou knowest that they be not trees for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued. (Deuteronomy 20:19‑20).

Extreme difficulty of taking cities by, alluded to. Prov. 18:19¹⁹A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. (Proverbs 18:19).

CITIES IN VESTED BY

Repaired and newly fortified beforehand. 2 Chr. 32:5⁵Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance. (2 Chronicles 32:5). Isa. 22:9, 10⁹Ye have seen also the breaches of the city of David, that they are many: and ye gathered together the waters of the lower pool. ¹⁰And ye have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses have ye broken down to fortify the wall. (Isaiah 22:9‑10). Nah. 3:14¹⁴Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strong holds: go into clay, and tread the mortar, make strong the brickkiln. (Nahum 3:14).

Supplied with water beforehand. Nah. 3:14¹⁴Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strong holds: go into clay, and tread the mortar, make strong the brickkiln. (Nahum 3:14).

The inhabitants of, cut off beforehand supplies of water outside, useful to besiegers. 2 Chr. 32:3, 4³He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him. ⁴So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water? (2 Chronicles 32:3‑4).

Were strictly shut up. Josh. 6:1¹Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. (Joshua 6:1).

Walls of, defended by the inhabitants. 2 Sam. 11:20, 21²⁰And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall? ²¹Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. (2 Samuel 11:20‑21). 2 Kin. 18:26. 2 Chr. 32:18¹⁸Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city. (2 Chronicles 32:18).

Sometimes used ambushes or sorties. Jer. 51:12¹²Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the Lord hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon. (Jeremiah 51:12).

Often suffered from famine. 2 Kin. 6:26-29. 2 Kin. 25:3. Ezek. 6:12¹²He that is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine: thus will I accomplish my fury upon them. (Ezekiel 6:12).

Often suffered from pestilence. Jer. 21:6⁶And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence. (Jeremiah 21:6). Jer. 32:24²⁴Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it. (Jeremiah 32:24).

Often demanded terms of peace. 1 Sam. 11:1-3¹Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. ²And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel. ³And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee. (1 Samuel 11:1‑3).

Frequently taken by ambush. Judg. 9:43, 44⁴³And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them. ⁴⁴And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them. (Judges 9:43‑44).

Frequently taken by assault. Jos. 10:35³⁵And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish. (Joshua 10:35). 2 Sam. 12:29²⁹And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it. (2 Samuel 12:29).

Frequently succored by allies. 1 Sam. 11:11¹¹And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together. (1 Samuel 11:11). 1 Sam. 23:5⁵So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. (1 Samuel 23:5).

Inhabitants of, exhorted to be courageous. 2 Chr. 32:6-8⁶And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying, ⁷Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: ⁸With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. (2 Chronicles 32:6‑8).

CITIES TAKEN BY,

Given up Inhabitants to pillage. Jer. 50:26, 27²⁶Come against her from the utmost border, open her storehouses: cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left. ²⁷Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation. (Jeremiah 50:26‑27).

Inhabitants of, often put to the sword. Josh. 10:28, 30, 32, 35²⁸And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho. (Joshua 10:28)
³⁰And the Lord delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho. (Joshua 10:30)
³²And the Lord delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah. (Joshua 10:32)
³⁵And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish. (Joshua 10:35). Jer. 50:30³⁰Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 50:30).

Frequently broken down. Judg. 9:45⁴⁵And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt. (Judges 9:45).

Frequently destroyed by fire. Jos. 8:19¹⁹And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire. (Joshua 8:19).

Sometimes sown with salt. Jud. 9:45.

Sometimes called after the name of the captor. 2 Sam. 12:28²⁸Now 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 Samuel 12:28).

MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE;

Jericho. Josh. 6:2-20²And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor. ³And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. ⁴And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. ⁵And it shall come to pass, 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 ascend up every man straight before him. ⁶And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord. ⁷And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the Lord. ⁸And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the Lord, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them. ⁹And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. ¹⁰And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout. ¹¹So the ark of the Lord compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp. ¹²And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. ¹³And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the Lord, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. ¹⁴And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days. ¹⁵And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times. ¹⁶And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city. ¹⁷And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. ¹⁸And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. ¹⁹But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord. ²⁰So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. (Joshua 6:2‑20).

Ai. Josh. 7:2-4²And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on the east side of Beth-el, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. ³And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labor thither; for they are but few. ⁴So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. (Joshua 7:2‑4). Josh. 8:1-19¹And the Lord said unto 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: ²And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it. ³So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valor, and sent them away by night. ⁴And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready: ⁵And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them, ⁶(For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them. ⁷Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand. ⁸And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, that ye shall set the city on fire: according to the commandment of the Lord shall ye do. See, I have commanded you. ⁹Joshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, and abode between Beth-el and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people. ¹⁰And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai. ¹¹And all the people, even the people of war that were with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between them and Ai. ¹²And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Beth-el and Ai, on the west side of the city. ¹³And when they had set the people, even all the host that was on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley. ¹⁴And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city. ¹⁵And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness. ¹⁶And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city. ¹⁷And there was not a man left in Ai or Beth-el, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel. ¹⁸And the Lord said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city. ¹⁹And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire. (Joshua 8:1‑19).

Makkedah. Josh. 10:28²⁸And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho. (Joshua 10:28).

Libnah. Josh. 10:29, 30²⁹Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah: ³⁰And the Lord delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho. (Joshua 10:29‑30).

Lachish. Josh. 10:31, 32³¹And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it: ³²And the Lord delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah. (Joshua 10:31‑32).

Eglon. Josh. 10:34, 35³⁴And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it, and fought against it: ³⁵And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish. (Joshua 10:34‑35).

Hebron. Josh. 10:36, 37³⁶And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron; and they fought against it: ³⁷And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that were therein. (Joshua 10:36‑37).

Debir. Josh. 10:38, 39³⁸And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it: ³⁹And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king. (Joshua 10:38‑39).

Shechem. Judg. 9:34, 45³⁴And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies. (Judges 9:34)
⁴⁵And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt. (Judges 9:45).

Thebez. Judg. 9:50⁵⁰Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it. (Judges 9:50).

Jabesh-gilead. 1 Sam. 11:1¹Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. (1 Samuel 11:1).

Keilah. 1 Sam. 23:1¹Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors. (1 Samuel 23:1).

Ziklag. 1 Sam. 30:1, 2¹And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; ²And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. (1 Samuel 30:1‑2).

Rabbah. 2 Sam. 11:1¹And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 11:1). 2 Sam. 12:26-29²⁶And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city. ²⁷And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters. ²⁸Now 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. ²⁹And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it. (2 Samuel 12:26‑29).

Gibbethon. 1 Kin. 16:15.

Tirzah. 1 Kin. 16:17.

Samaria. 1 Kin. 20:1. 2 Kin. 6:24. 2 Kin. 17:5.

Ramoth-gilead. 1 Kin. 22:4, 29.

Cities of Israel in Galilee. 2 Kin. 15:29.

Cities of Judah. 2 Kin. 18:13.

Jerusalem. 2 Kin. 24:10, 11. 2 Kin. 25:1, 2.

ILLUSTRATIVE OF

The omnipresence of God. Psa. 139:5⁵Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. (Psalm 139:5).

The judgments of God. Mic. 5:1¹Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. (Micah 5:1).

Zion in her affliction. Isa. 1:8⁸And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. (Isaiah 1:8).

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The New Topical Textbook

• Scorning and Mocking.

• Sealing of the Holy Ghost.

• Seals.

• Second Coming of Christ, the.

• Self-Righteousness.

• Self-Will and Stubbornness.

• Sieges.

• Simeon, the Tribe of.

• Simplicity.