Topical Bible: Fortresses: Often: Deserted

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In biblical times, fortresses were significant structures, often built for protection and defense against enemies. These strongholds were typically constructed in strategic locations, such as on high ground or near vital resources like water. Despite their initial purpose and strength, the Bible frequently depicts fortresses as becoming deserted, symbolizing the futility of relying on human strength and the inevitable desolation that follows divine judgment.

Biblical References:

1. Isaiah 17:9 · "In that day their strong cities will be like the abandoned places of the wooded heights and the hilltops, which they deserted because of the Israelites; and there will be desolation."
This verse highlights the theme of abandonment, where once-mighty fortresses become desolate due to divine intervention. The imagery of deserted strongholds serves as a reminder of the transient nature of human power when contrasted with God's eternal sovereignty.

2. Jeremiah 4:29 · "At the sound of the horsemen and archers, every city takes flight. They enter the thickets; they climb among the rocks. Every city is abandoned; no inhabitant is left."
Here, the prophet Jeremiah describes the desolation that comes upon cities and fortresses when faced with impending judgment. The abandonment of these strongholds underscores the inability of human defenses to withstand the decrees of God.

3. Zephaniah 2:14 · "Flocks will lie down in her midst, all the beasts of the field. The desert owl and the screech owl will roost on her columns. Their calls will echo through the windows; rubble will be in the doorways; the beams of cedar will be exposed."
This passage paints a vivid picture of desolation, where once-bustling fortresses become habitats for wild animals. The imagery of owls and other creatures inhabiting these ruins emphasizes the complete abandonment and the reversal of human achievements.

4. Isaiah 32:14 · "For the palace will be forsaken, the busy city abandoned. The hill and the watchtower will become caves forever, the delight of wild donkeys, and a pasture for flocks."
Isaiah prophesies the desolation of fortresses and cities, illustrating the consequences of turning away from God. The transformation of these places into pastures for animals signifies the totality of their abandonment.

Theological Implications:

The recurring theme of deserted fortresses in the Bible serves as a powerful metaphor for the limitations of human strength and the ultimate authority of God. These passages remind believers of the futility of placing trust in earthly defenses and the importance of seeking refuge in the Lord. The desolation of fortresses is often portrayed as a result of divine judgment, reflecting the consequences of sin and disobedience. Through these narratives, Scripture calls the faithful to recognize the transient nature of worldly power and to place their trust in the eternal security offered by God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 34:13
And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Destruction of Jerusalem.
... them which are sent unto thee, how often would I ... had returned to a wasted and almost
deserted country. ... the erection of towers, walls, and fortresses, adding to ...
/.../1 the destruction of jerusalem.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem
... them which are sent unto thee, how often would I ... had returned to a wasted and almost
deserted country. ... the erection of towers, walls, and fortresses, adding to ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 1 the destruction of.htm

The Prophet Hosea.
... ariseth against thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be ... was done in other things
also, as often as it ... much more dangerous than if they had deserted Him [Pg ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet hosea.htm

The First Theban Empire
... watch over the lands subject to their authority: other fortresses were established ...
plan formed a parallelogram, whose enclosure wall was often divided into ...
/.../chapter iiithe first theban empire.htm

St. Gregory the Great.
... was falling to pieces like a fortress deserted by its ... external cares, so that he
is often in doubt ... Ruined cities, fortresses overthrown, lands laid waste, the ...
/.../allies/the formation of christendom volume vi/chapter v st gregory the.htm

Sargon of Assyria (722-705 BC )
... and that their revolts must often have jeopardised ... the Nile, bristling with fortresses,
Khininsu, Oxyrhynchus ... towns, Shuandakhul and Durdukka, deserted him in ...
/.../chapter iiisargon of assyria 722-705.htm

Caesar Fell Down.
... it was that bishops began to build fortresses for the ... Did not the emperor often hold
his court at ... which Anastasius had not yet openly deserted, nor professed ...
/.../allies/the formation of christendom volume vi/chapter ii caesar fell down.htm

The Memphite Empire
... approach unperceived, and they were often successful in ... These primitive fortresses
were strong enough to overawe ... foe, the workmen immediately deserted the mine ...
/.../chapter iithe memphite empire.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... in which we find stone weapons and implements, besides pottery, often elegant in ...
The mountains, rivers, towns, and fortresses in Palestine and Coele-Syria are ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

The Holy See and the Wandering of the Nations.
... Often they broke into the Roman territory, and carried ... Gothic king inhabited the
vast and deserted halls of ... these vast lands as so many fortresses, first of ...
/.../allies/the formation of christendom volume vi/chapter i the holy see.htm