In biblical times, besiegers played a significant role in warfare, often determining the fate of cities and nations. The act of besieging involved surrounding a city or fortress with armed forces to isolate it from support and supplies, compelling those inside to surrender. This tactic is frequently mentioned in the Bible, illustrating both divine judgment and human conflict.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament provides numerous accounts of sieges, reflecting the turbulent history of Israel and its neighbors. One of the earliest mentions is the siege of Jericho, where the Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, encircled the city as instructed by God. The walls of Jericho fell after the Israelites marched around them for seven days, demonstrating divine intervention in warfare (Joshua 6:1-20).

Another significant siege is that of Samaria by the Arameans. The city experienced severe famine, leading to desperate conditions. The Bible records a miraculous deliverance when the Lord caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots and horses, prompting them to flee and abandon their camp (2 Kings 6:24-7:7).

The siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians is perhaps the most consequential in the Old Testament. King Nebuchadnezzar's forces besieged the city, leading to its eventual fall in 586 BC. This event marked the beginning of the Babylonian exile, a pivotal moment in Israel's history. The prophet Jeremiah warned of this judgment, urging repentance, but the people did not heed his message (Jeremiah 21:4-10).

New Testament Context

While the New Testament does not focus extensively on sieges, it does reference the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 by the Romans, as foretold by Jesus. In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus warned His disciples of the coming desolation: "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near" (Luke 21:20). This prophecy was fulfilled when Roman forces, led by General Titus, besieged and destroyed the city, a significant event in Jewish and Christian history.

Symbolism and Spiritual Lessons

Besiegers in the Bible often symbolize divine judgment and the consequences of sin. The prophets frequently used the imagery of siege to convey God's impending wrath on a rebellious people. For instance, Ezekiel was instructed to enact a siege against a clay model of Jerusalem, symbolizing the coming judgment (Ezekiel 4:1-3).

Moreover, the concept of siege can be applied spiritually, representing the trials and pressures believers face. The Apostle Paul, in his letters, encourages Christians to stand firm against spiritual adversaries, using the metaphor of warfare to describe the Christian life (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Conclusion

The role of besiegers in the Bible underscores the themes of judgment, deliverance, and the sovereignty of God in the affairs of nations. Through these historical accounts, believers are reminded of the importance of faithfulness and the assurance of God's ultimate victory over all forms of opposition.4692. matsor -- siege enclosure, siege, entrenchment
... Or matsuwr {maw-tsoor'}; from tsuwr; something hemming in, ie (objectively) a mound
(of besiegers), (abstractly) a siege, (figuratively) distress; or ...
/hebrew/4692.htm - 6k

971. bachin -- tower
... Word Origin see bachun. tower Another form of bachan; a watch-tower of besiegers --
tower. see HEBREW bachan. 970, 971. bachin. 972 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/971.htm - 5k

5550. solelah -- a mound
... bank, mount. Or cowllah {so-lel-aw'}; active participle feminine of calal, but used
passively; a military mound, ie Rampart of besiegers -- bank, mount. ...
/hebrew/5550.htm - 6k

5341. natsar -- to watch, guard, keep
... root Definition to watch, guard, keep NASB Word Usage besieged (2), Besiegers (1),
cunning (1), guard (2), guarding (1), guards (2), hidden things (1), keep (7 ...
/hebrew/5341.htm - 6k

Historical Criticism of Medi??val Amplifications.
... idolatry"the answer of the new-born babe that cleared him from calumny"the crowned
phantom on the walls of Nisibis that scared the besiegers"the plague ...
/.../v historical criticism of mediaeval amplifications.htm

How the War of the Jews with the Romans Began, and Concerning ...
... because those that assaulted them were so numerous; but they distributed themselves
into the breast-works and turrets, and shot at the besiegers, whereby many ...
/.../chapter 17 how the war.htm

The Revolt of Babylon.
... Besiegers could advance sufficiently close to a castle or citadel to parley insultingly
with the garrison upon the walls, and yet be safe from the showers of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/darius the great/chapter vii the revolt of.htm

The Siege. (xxi, xxxii-xxxiv, xxxvii, xxxviii. )
... Isaiah inspired resistance to the Assyrian besiegers of Jerusalem in his day with
as Divine authority as Jeremiah denounced resistance to the Chaldean ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/3 the siege xxi xxxii-xxxiv.htm

Essay v. Whose Powers Shed Round Him in the Common Strife...
... During the siege of Valetta, especially during the sore distress to which the besiegers
were for some time exposed from the failure of provision, Sir Alexander ...
/.../coleridge/confessions of an inquiring spirit etc/essay v whose powers shed.htm

Knox in St. Andrews Castle: the Galleys: 1547-1549
... especially to wanton widows. His death must be revenged." {23a} Knox avers
that the besiegers of St. Andrews Castle, despairing of ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter iii knox in st.htm

The Tangled Web
... At this ravine and that debouching upon Golgotha, the Vale of Hinnom and the
Valley of Tophet, whole legions of besiegers were stationed. ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter xvii the tangled web.htm

Sacrifice.
... to starve to death. When he was freed and the besiegers gave him the
opportunity, he would not go over to them. Even when the city ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/3 sacrifice.htm

Micah
... Again, iv.10 describes a siege of Jerusalem, which is to issue in exile, iv.11-13,
a siege which is to end in the annihilation of the besiegers. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/micah.htm

Then Maximian Returned into Gaul; and after Having Made Some Stay ...
... Constantine. Then, of a sudden, the gates on the opposite side having
been unbarred, the besiegers were admitted into the city. ...
/.../chap xxix then maximian returned.htm

Besiegers (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Besiegers (1 Occurrence). Jeremiah 4:16 Inform
the nations; behold, make Jerusalem to hear: Besiegers come ...
/b/besiegers.htm - 6k

Siege (63 Occurrences)
... to force a surrender; the surrounding or investing of a place by an army, and
approaching it by passages and advanced works, which cover the besiegers from the ...
/s/siege.htm - 51k

Besieged (34 Occurrences)

/b/besieged.htm - 16k

Fortified (79 Occurrences)
... (7) dayeq, "fort" (for the siege of a city, the wall of circumvallation cast up
by the besiegers, 2 Kings 25:1 Jeremiah 52:4 Ezekiel 4:2; Ezekiel 17:17 ...
/f/fortified.htm - 63k

Fort (8 Occurrences)
... (7) dayeq, "fort" (for the siege of a city, the wall of circumvallation cast up
by the besiegers, 2 Kings 25:1 Jeremiah 52:4 Ezekiel 4:2; Ezekiel 17:17 ...
/f/fort.htm - 41k

Fortress (75 Occurrences)
... (7) dayeq, "fort" (for the siege of a city, the wall of circumvallation cast up
by the besiegers, 2 Kings 25:1 Jeremiah 52:4 Ezekiel 4:2; Ezekiel 17:17 ...
/f/fortress.htm - 60k

Fortification (5 Occurrences)
... (7) dayeq, "fort" (for the siege of a city, the wall of circumvallation cast up
by the besiegers, 2 Kings 25:1 Jeremiah 52:4 Ezekiel 4:2; Ezekiel 17:17 ...
/f/fortification.htm - 40k

Gihon (6 Occurrences)
... On the occasion of the approach of the Assyrian army under Sennacherib, Hezekiah,
in order to prevent the besiegers from finding water, "stopped the upper ...
/g/gihon.htm - 16k

Watchman (19 Occurrences)
... between the various words is clear, tsopheh having the idea of "outlooker" and notser
that of "careful watcher" (being applied even to besiegers from outside ...
/w/watchman.htm - 14k

Issue (59 Occurrences)
... enclosed place. 12. (vi) To go out; to rush out; to sally forth; as, troops
issued from the town, and attacked the besiegers. 13. (vi ...
/i/issue.htm - 29k

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