Topical Bible: Sieges: Cities Invested by Frequently Taken by Ambush

◄ Sieges: Cities Invested by Frequently Taken by Ambush ►

Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical narrative, sieges were a common military strategy employed by various nations and armies to capture fortified cities. The tactic of laying siege involved surrounding a city to cut off supplies and reinforcements, often leading to the city's surrender due to starvation, disease, or demoralization. Ambushes, on the other hand, were surprise attacks that could decisively turn the tide of a siege or battle. The Bible provides numerous accounts of sieges and ambushes, illustrating both divine intervention and human strategy.

Jericho: A Divine Siege (Joshua 6)

One of the most famous sieges in the Bible is the fall of Jericho. The Israelites, led by Joshua, were commanded by God to march around the city once a day for six days, with seven priests carrying trumpets of rams' horns before the Ark of the Covenant. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times, and the priests were to blow the trumpets. When the people heard the long blast of the trumpets, they were to shout, and the walls of Jericho would collapse. This miraculous event is recorded in Joshua 6:20 : "So when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, they raised a great shout, and the wall collapsed. Then all the people charged straight into the city and captured it."

Ai: A Tactical Ambush (Joshua 8)

Following the initial defeat at Ai due to Achan's sin, Joshua employed a strategic ambush to capture the city. God instructed Joshua to set an ambush behind the city. Joshua and his men pretended to flee, drawing the men of Ai out of the city. Meanwhile, the ambush force entered the city, set it on fire, and trapped the men of Ai between the two Israelite forces. Joshua 8:19 describes the moment: "As soon as he had stretched out his hand, the men in ambush rose quickly from their position, ran, and entered the city and captured it. They quickly set the city on fire."

Lachish: A Prolonged Siege (2 Kings 18-19)

The siege of Lachish by the Assyrian king Sennacherib is another significant event. Lachish was a fortified city in Judah, and its capture was part of Sennacherib's campaign against the kingdom. The siege is depicted in Assyrian reliefs and mentioned in the Bible. While the Bible does not provide detailed tactics of the siege, it highlights the Assyrian threat to Jerusalem and the divine deliverance that followed. In 2 Kings 19:35 , it is recorded: "That night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies!"

Jerusalem: A Siege and Prophecy (2 Kings 25)

The siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, marked a pivotal moment in Israel's history. The city was besieged for an extended period, leading to severe famine. Eventually, the Babylonians breached the walls, destroyed the city, and carried the people into exile. This event fulfilled the prophetic warnings given by Jeremiah and other prophets. 2 Kings 25:2-3 states: "And the city was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food."

Gibeah: An Ambush in Civil Conflict (Judges 20)

The civil war between the tribe of Benjamin and the other Israelite tribes involved a strategic ambush. After initial defeats, the Israelites set an ambush around Gibeah. They pretended to retreat, drawing the Benjamites out of the city. The ambush force then attacked and set the city on fire. Judges 20:37 recounts: "The men in ambush rushed suddenly against Gibeah; they advanced and put the whole city to the sword."

These accounts of sieges and ambushes in the Bible demonstrate the interplay of divine guidance and human military strategy. They serve as reminders of God's sovereignty and the importance of obedience and faith in His plans.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Judges 9:43,44
And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.
Torrey's Topical Textbook