In biblical times, the encampment of armies before cities was a common military strategy employed by various nations, including the Israelites. This tactic involved surrounding a city with military forces to prepare for an assault, cut off supplies, or force a surrender. The Bible provides several accounts of such sieges, highlighting both divine intervention and human strategy.

Jericho
One of the most famous instances of an army encamped before a city is the siege of Jericho. Under the leadership of Joshua, the Israelites encamped around Jericho as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. The strategy was unique, as it involved divine instructions rather than conventional military tactics. The Israelites marched around the city once a day for six days, and on the seventh day, they circled it seven times. At the sound of the trumpets and the people's shout, the walls of Jericho fell, allowing the Israelites to take the city (Joshua 6:1-20).

Ai
Following the victory at Jericho, the Israelites set their sights on the city of Ai. Initially, they suffered a defeat due to Achan's sin, but after addressing the sin, Joshua led the Israelites in a successful ambush. The army encamped on the north side of Ai, with an ambush set to the west. This strategic positioning allowed them to draw out the men of Ai and capture the city (Joshua 8:1-29).

Aram and Samaria
The Aramean army, under King Ben-Hadad, encamped against Samaria, leading to a severe famine in the city. The siege was lifted miraculously when the Lord caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots and horses, prompting them to flee, leaving behind their supplies (2 Kings 6:24-7:7).

Assyria and Jerusalem
The Assyrian army, led by King Sennacherib, encamped against Jerusalem during the reign of King Hezekiah. Despite the overwhelming threat, Hezekiah sought the Lord's help. The prophet Isaiah assured him of divine intervention, and the angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, forcing Sennacherib to withdraw (2 Kings 18:13-19:36).

Babylon and Jerusalem
The Babylonian siege of Jerusalem was a pivotal event in Israel's history. King Nebuchadnezzar's forces encamped around the city, leading to its eventual fall and the exile of the Jewish people. This siege was a fulfillment of prophetic warnings due to the nation's persistent disobedience (2 Kings 25:1-21).

Roman Siege of Jerusalem
Though not recorded in the Old Testament, the New Testament alludes to the Roman siege of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Jesus prophesied the destruction of the city, which occurred when Roman forces, led by General Titus, encamped around Jerusalem, leading to its fall and the destruction of the Second Temple (Luke 21:20-24).

The encampment of armies before cities in the Bible often served as a backdrop for demonstrating God's power and faithfulness to His people. Whether through miraculous victories or as a consequence of disobedience, these events underscore the sovereignty of God in the affairs of nations.Joshua 10:5
Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Samuel 11:1
Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Call of Isaiah
... the invasion of Judah by the combined armies of northern Israel and of Syria; he
was to behold the Assyrian hosts encamped before the chief cities of the ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 25 the call of.htm

The Calamities and Slaughters that came Upon the Jews.
... every city was divided into two armies, encamped one against ... It was then common to
see cities filled with ... and preferred their own safety before their relation ...
/.../chapter 18 the calamities and.htm

The Retreat from Scythia.
... The two armies were encamped at a ... While in this position, and before any hostile
action was commenced by either party, it was observed from the camp of ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/darius the great/chapter ix the retreat from.htm

The Invasion of Greece and the Battle of Marathon.
... The two armies were at this time encamped in sight ... the desperate violence of the
onset they were to make upon the vast masses of men spread out before them ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/darius the great/chapter xi the invasion of.htm

Herod Ejects Antigonus, the Son of Aristobulus Out of Judea, and ...
... of them took their provinces or their armies by the ... had, though it were but one day
before Caius Cassius ... and was held by garrisons there encamped, while they ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 12 herod ejects antigonus.htm

The Conquest of Lydia.
... of the year than it had been known before; and he ... river at this point, and to be
encamped there, as ... The two armies accordingly halted and began to prepare for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/cyrus the great/chapter vii the conquest of.htm

Matt. xxii. 1-14.
... burns up their cities, and sent His armies and slew ... He knew this indeed even before,
but that He might ... pitched their tents, even so are they encamped far off ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxix matt xxii 1-14.htm

Following the Cloud.
... through a country without cities or armies, where they ... to bring them into obedience
and faith before he brought ... below, and there the people encamped and waited ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xii following the cloud.htm

Canaan
... The army, we are told, had encamped in "the land ... than two centuries no more Egyptian
armies found their ... in the sixteenth and fifteenth centuries before our era ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter ii canaan.htm

Expedition of Julian into Persia; He was Worsted and Broke
... At daybreak, the two armies engaged in battle; and ... Romans returned by the river,
and encamped near Ctesiphon. ... taken prisoner, and was brought before the emperor ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/chapter i expedition of julian into.htm

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