Walls.

From: The New Topical Textbook By: Reuben Archer Torrey

• 2 min. read • grade level: 11

Designed for separation. Ezek. 43:8⁸In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger. (Ezekiel 43:8). Eph. 2:14¹⁴For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (Ephesians 2:14).

Designed for defense. 1 Sam. 25:16¹⁶They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. (1 Samuel 25:16).

MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE

Of cities. Num. 13:28²⁸Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. (Numbers 13:28).

Of temples. 1 Chron. 29:4⁴Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal: (1 Chronicles 29:4). Isa. 56:5⁵Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. (Isaiah 56:5).

Of houses. 1 Sam. 18:11¹¹And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice. (1 Samuel 18:11).

Of vineyards. Num. 22:24²⁴But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. (Numbers 22:24). Pro. 24 31.

Frequently made of stone and wood together. Ezra 5:8⁸Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands. (Ezra 5:8). Hab. 2:11¹¹For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it. (Habakkuk 2:11).

Were probably often strengthened with plates of iron or brass. Jer. 15:20²⁰And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brazen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 15:20). Ezek. 4:3³Moreover take thou unto thee an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between thee and the city: and set thy face against it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it. This shall be a sign to the house of Israel. (Ezekiel 4:3).

Or CITIES

Often very high. Deut. 1:28²⁸Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there. (Deuteronomy 1:28). Den. 3:5.

Strongly fortified. Isa. 2:15¹⁵And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, (Isaiah 2:15). Isa. 25:12¹²And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust. (Isaiah 25:12).

Had towers built on them. 2 Chr. 26:9⁹Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them. (2 Chronicles 26:9). 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). Psa. 48:12¹²Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. (Psalm 48:12). SoS. 8:10.

Houses often built on. Josh. 2:15¹⁵Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall. (Joshua 2:15).

Were broad and places of public resort. 2 Kin. 6:26, 30. Psa. 55:10¹⁰Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. (Psalm 55:10).

Were strongly manned in war. 2 Kin. 18:26.

Kept by watchmen night and day. SoS. 5:7. Isa. 62:6⁶I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, (Isaiah 62:6).

Houses sometimes broken down to repair, and fortify. Isa. 22:10¹⁰And ye have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses have ye broken down to fortify the wall. (Isaiah 22:10).

Danger of approaching too near to, in time of war. 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).

Were battered by besieging armies. 2 Sam. 20:15¹⁵And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down. (2 Samuel 20:15). Ezek. 4:2, 3²And 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. ³Moreover take thou unto thee an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between thee and the city: and set thy face against it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it. This shall be a sign to the house of Israel. (Ezekiel 4:2‑3).

Adroitness of soldiers in scaling, alluded to. Joel 2:7-9⁷They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: ⁸Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. ⁹They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. (Joel 2:7‑9).

Sometimes burned. Jer. 49:27²⁷And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Ben-hadad. (Jeremiah 49:27). Amos 1:7⁷But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof: (Amos 1:7).

Frequently laid in ruins. 2 Chr. 25:23²³And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits. (2 Chronicles 25:23). 2 Chr. 36:19¹⁹And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. (2 Chronicles 36:19). Jer. 50:15¹⁵Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the Lord: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her. (Jeremiah 50:15).

Destruction of, a punishment and cause of grief. Deut. 28:52⁵²And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the Lord thy God hath given thee. (Deuteronomy 28:52). Neh. 2:12-17¹²And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon. ¹³And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. ¹⁴Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass. ¹⁵Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned. ¹⁶And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work. ¹⁷Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. (Nehemiah 2:12‑17).

The falling of, sometimes occasioned great destruction. 1 Kin. 20:30.

The bodies of enemies sometimes fastened on, as a disgrace. 1 Sam. 31:10¹⁰And they put his armor in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. (1 Samuel 31:10).

Custom of dedicating. Neh. 12:22²²The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers: also the priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian. (Nehemiah 12:22).

Idolatrous rites performed on. 2 Kin. 3:27.

Instances of persons let down from. Josh. 2:15¹⁵Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall. (Joshua 2:15). Acts 9:24, 25²⁴But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. ²⁵Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. (Acts 9:24‑25). 2 Cor. 11:33³³And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands. (2 Corinthians 11:33).

Small towns and villages were not surrounded by. Lev. 25:31³¹But the houses of the villages which have no wall round about them shall be counted as the fields of the country: they may be redeemed, and they shall go out in the jubilee. (Leviticus 25:31). Deut. 3:5⁵All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars; beside unwalled towns a great many. (Deuteronomy 3:5).

OF HOUSES

Usually plastered. Ezek. 13:10¹⁰Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered mortar: (Ezekiel 13:10), with Dan. 5:5⁵In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. (Daniel 5:5).

Had nails or pegs fastened into them when built. Ecc. 12:11. Isa. 22:23²³And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house. (Isaiah 22:23).

Liable to leprosy. Lev. 14:37³⁷And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, if the plague be in the walls of the house with hollow strakes, greenish or reddish, which in sight are lower than the wall; (Leviticus 14:37). Often infested with serpents. Amos 5:19¹⁹As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. (Amos 5:19).

Could be easily dug through. Gen. 49:6⁶O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. (Genesis 49:6). Ezek. 8:7, 8⁷And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall. ⁸Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door. (Ezekiel 8:7‑8). Ezek. 12:5⁵Dig thou through the wall in their sight, and carry out thereby. (Ezekiel 12:5).

The seat next, was the place of distinction. 1 Sam. 20:25²⁵And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty. (1 Samuel 20:25).

Hyssop frequently grew on. 1 Kin. 4:33.

MIRACLES CONNECTED WITH

Falling of the walls of Jericho. Josh. 6:20²⁰So 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 6:20).

Handwriting on the wall of Belshazzar's palace. Dan. 5:5, 25 -28⁵In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. (Daniel 5:5)
²⁵And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. ²⁶This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. ²⁷TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. ²⁸PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. (Daniel 5:25‑28).

ILLUSTRATIVE

Of salvation. Isa. 26:1¹In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. (Isaiah 26:1). Isa. 60:18¹⁸Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. (Isaiah 60:18).

Of the protection of God. Zech. 2:5⁵For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. (Zechariah 2:5).

Of those who afford protection. 1 Sam. 25:16¹⁶They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. (1 Samuel 25:16). Isa. 2:15¹⁵And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, (Isaiah 2:15).

Of the Church as a protection to the nation. SoS. 8:9, 10.

Of ordinances as a protection to the Church. SoS. 2:9. Isa. 5:5⁵And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: (Isaiah 5:5).

Of the wealth of the rich in his own conceit. Prov. 18:11¹¹The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. (Proverbs 18:11).

(Brazen,) of prophets in their testimony against the wicked. Jer. 22:20²⁰Go up to Lebanon, and cry; and lift up thy voice in Bashan, and cry from the passages: for all thy lovers are destroyed. (Jeremiah 22:20).

(Bowing or tottering,) of the wicked under judgments, Psa. 62:3³How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence. (Psalm 62:3). Isa. 30:13¹³Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. (Isaiah 30:13).

(Of partition,) of separation of Jews and Gentiles. Eph. 2:14¹⁴For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (Ephesians 2:14).

(Daubed with untempered mortar,) of the teaching of false prophets. Ezek. 13:10-15¹⁰Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered mortar: ¹¹Say unto them which daub it with untempered mortar, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it. ¹²Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it? ¹³Therefore thus saith the Lord God; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it. ¹⁴So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the Lord. ¹⁵Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered mortar, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it; (Ezekiel 13:10‑15).

(Whited,) of hypocrites. Acts 23:3³Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? (Acts 23:3).

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