Battering-rams are ancient siege weapons used to break through walls, gates, and other fortifications during warfare. These formidable instruments of war are mentioned in the Bible, providing insight into the military tactics and technologies of ancient civilizations, particularly those surrounding Israel.

Biblical References:

The use of battering-rams is notably referenced in the prophetic writings of Ezekiel. In Ezekiel 4:2 , the prophet is instructed to portray a siege against Jerusalem, which includes the use of a battering-ram: "Then lay siege against it: build a siege wall, erect a ramp, set up camps, and place battering-rams around it." This vivid imagery underscores the severity and intensity of the impending judgment upon Jerusalem, as God uses the metaphor of a siege to communicate His message through Ezekiel.

Further, in Ezekiel 21:22 , the battering-ram is again mentioned in the context of divine judgment: "Into his right hand comes the divination for Jerusalem, to set up battering-rams, to call for slaughter, to lift the voice with a battle cry, to set battering-rams against the gates, to build a ramp, and to erect a siege wall." Here, the battering-ram symbolizes the determined and relentless assault that will befall the city, emphasizing the certainty of the prophesied destruction.

Historical Context:

Battering-rams were a common feature in the warfare of ancient Near Eastern cultures, including the Assyrians and Babylonians, who were known for their military prowess and engineering skills. These devices typically consisted of a large, heavy beam, often capped with metal, that was swung or driven against fortifications to breach them. The use of battering-rams required significant manpower and coordination, reflecting the organized and strategic nature of ancient military campaigns.

The presence of battering-rams in biblical narratives highlights the historical reality of warfare during the times of the Old Testament. Cities were often fortified with thick walls and strong gates, necessitating the development of siege technologies like battering-rams to overcome these defenses. The biblical accounts of sieges and battles serve as a backdrop for understanding the geopolitical and spiritual struggles faced by the people of Israel.

Symbolic Significance:

In the biblical text, the battering-ram is not merely a tool of war but also a symbol of divine judgment and the fulfillment of prophetic warnings. The imagery of a battering-ram breaking through defenses serves as a powerful metaphor for the unstoppable force of God's will and the consequences of disobedience to His commands. The prophets used such vivid imagery to convey the seriousness of their messages and to call the people to repentance and faithfulness.

The mention of battering-rams in the Bible thus serves both a literal and symbolic purpose, illustrating the historical realities of ancient warfare while also conveying deeper spiritual truths about God's sovereignty and justice.3733c. kar -- a he-lamb, a battering ram
... Word Origin from karar Definition a he-lamb, a battering ram NASB Word Usage battering
rams (3), lamb (1), lambs (8). 3733b, 3733c. kar. 3734 . ...
/hebrew/3733c.htm - 5k

6904. qebol -- something in front, a military siege engine
... Word Origin from qabal Definition something in front, a military siege engine
NASB Word Usage battering rams (1), before (1). war. ...
/hebrew/6904.htm - 6k

When the Banks were Completed and the Battering Rams Brought, and ...
... CHAPTER 4. When The Banks Were Completed And The Battering Rams Brought, And Could
Do Nothing, Titus Gave Orders To Set Fire To The Gates Of The Temple; In No ...
/.../chapter 4 when the banks.htm

Ezekiel's Discourse
... In his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to set battering rams, to open
the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to set ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/vi ezekiels discourse.htm

What the Ruler's Discrimination Should be Between Correction and ...
... it is subjoined, And thou shalt lay siege against it, and build forts, and cast
a mount, and set camps against it, and set battering rams against it round about ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter x what the rulers.htm

That the Miseries Still Grew Worse; and How the Romans Made an ...
... party took care for securing themselves afterward, even in case this wall should
be thrown down, and fell to their work before the battering rams were brought ...
/.../chapter 1 that the miseries.htm

How Pompey when the Citizens of Jerusalem Shut their Gates against ...
... sufficiently raised, and the ditch filled up, though but poorly, by reason of its
immense depth, he brought his mechanical engines and battering-rams from Tyre ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 how pompey when.htm

How Jericho was Captured.
... When men in olden times attacked a city, they tried to batter down the walls with
heavy beams of wood, having heads of iron, called battering rams; but God did ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/how jericho was captured.htm

The Judges Said: Tell Us, O Manes, who Designated the Boundaries ...
... of all the ballista [1649] and projectiles; then he endeavours to cut through the
gates with axes, and to demolish the walls by the battering-rams; and when he ...
/.../24 the judges said tell.htm

The Arians Openly Take Sides with the Heathen in Attacking the ...
... Again, he did not lead forth his armed ranks into the fight, nor did he overthrow
the ramparts of the enemy's walls, with battering rams or other engines of war ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter x the arians openly.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem
... He was a prisoner in the Roman camp during the siege of Jerusalem, and he watched
with dismay the great battering-rams and war engines crashing through the ...
/.../duff/the bible in its making/chapter ix the destruction of.htm

How Caesar Raised Banks Round About the Upper City [Mount Zion] ...
... Now as soon as a part of the wall was battered down, and certain of the towers yielded
to the impression of the battering rams, those that opposed themselves ...
/.../chapter 8 how caesar raised.htm

Battering-rams (2 Occurrences)
Battering-rams. Battering-ram, Battering-rams. Battle . Multi-Version
Concordance Battering-rams (2 Occurrences). Ezekiel ...
/b/battering-rams.htm - 7k

Forts (12 Occurrences)
... 4:2 and lay siege against it, and build forts against it, and cast up a mound against
it; set camps also against it, and plant batteringrams against it all ...
/f/forts.htm - 10k

Ramp (9 Occurrences)
... and builded against it a fortification, and poured out against it a mount, and placed
against it camps, yea, set thou against it battering-rams round about. ...
/r/ramp.htm - 10k

Battering (6 Occurrences)
... 4:2 and lay siege against it, and build forts against it, and cast up a mound against
it; set camps also against it, and plant batteringrams against it all ...
/b/battering.htm - 8k

Erect (17 Occurrences)
... 4:2 and lay siege against it, and build forts against it, and cast up a mound against
it; set camps also against it, and plant batteringrams against it all ...
/e/erect.htm - 12k

Ramps (8 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 21:22 At his right hath been the divination -- Jerusalem, To place
battering-rams, To open the mouth with slaughter, To lift up a voice with shouting ...
/r/ramps.htm - 8k

Mounds (7 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 21:22 In his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to set battering
rams, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting ...
/m/mounds.htm - 8k

Siege-towers (1 Occurrence)
... Ezekiel 21:22 In his right hand is the lot of Jerusalem to appoint battering-rams,
to open the mouth for bloodshed, to lift up the voice with shouting, to ...
/s/siege-towers.htm - 6k

Bloodshed (43 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 21:22 In his right hand is the lot of Jerusalem to appoint battering-rams,
to open the mouth for bloodshed, to lift up the voice with shouting, to ...
/b/bloodshed.htm - 19k

Towers (38 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 21:22 In his right hand is the lot of Jerusalem to appoint battering-rams,
to open the mouth for bloodshed, to lift up the voice with shouting, to ...
/t/towers.htm - 18k

What is the significance of Jesus calming the storm? | GotQuestions.org

What does God want from me? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Feast of Weeks? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus