Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical narrative, sieges were a common military strategy employed by various nations to subdue fortified cities. The process of a siege involved surrounding a city, cutting off its supplies, and waiting for the inhabitants to surrender due to starvation or desperation. This tactic is vividly depicted in several accounts throughout the Scriptures, highlighting the dire consequences for those trapped within the city walls.One of the most notable sieges in the Bible is the siege of Samaria by the Arameans, as recorded in 2 Kings 6:24-25. The text describes the severe famine that ensued: "Some time later, Ben-hadad king of Aram mobilized his entire army and marched up to besiege Samaria. So there was a great famine in Samaria, and they continued the siege until a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter cab of dove’s dung sold for five shekels of silver" . This passage illustrates the extreme scarcity and desperation that resulted from the prolonged siege. Similarly, the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, led by King Nebuchadnezzar, is another significant event marked by famine. In 2 Kings 25:2-3, the Scripture recounts, "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" . The Babylonian siege ultimately led to the fall of Jerusalem and the exile of its people, fulfilling the prophetic warnings given by Jeremiah and other prophets. The siege of Jerusalem by the Romans in AD 70, although not directly recorded in the Bible, is foreshadowed in Jesus' prophecy in Luke 21:20-24. Jesus warns, "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near" . Historical accounts, such as those by the Jewish historian Josephus, detail the horrific famine and suffering experienced by the inhabitants during this siege. Theologically, these accounts of sieges and the resulting famines serve as a sobering reminder of the consequences of disobedience and rebellion against God. In Deuteronomy 28, the Lord outlines the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience, including the threat of siege and famine: "They will lay siege to all the cities throughout your land until the high fortified walls in which you trust have fallen down" (Deuteronomy 28:52). Throughout the biblical narrative, sieges and the famines they caused are depicted as instruments of divine judgment, yet they also serve as calls to repentance and reliance on God's provision. The accounts of sieges in the Bible underscore the importance of faithfulness to God and the dire consequences of turning away from His commandments. Torrey's Topical Textbook 2 Kings 6:26-29And as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, there cried a woman to him, saying, Help, my lord, O king. Torrey's Topical Textbook 2 Kings 25:3 Ezekiel 6:12 Library The Rise of the Assyrian Empire The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire Resources What is the history of Masada? | GotQuestions.orgWhen and how was Israel conquered by the Assyrians? | GotQuestions.org Who was Ben-Hadad in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Siege: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Siege by Rezin, King of Syria, and Pekah, Son of Remaliah, King of Israel Siege: An offer of Peace Must be Made to the City Before Beginning A Siege: Conducted by Erecting Embankments Parallel to the Walls of the Besieged City Siege: Distress of the Inhabitants During A Sieges: Being Against Round About Sieges: Cities Invested by Frequently Helped by Allies Sieges: Cities Invested by Frequently Taken by Ambush Sieges: Cities Invested by Frequently Taken by Assault Sieges: Cities Invested by Inhabitants of, Exhorted to be Courageous Sieges: Cities Invested by Often Demanded Terms of Peace Sieges: Cities Invested by Often Suffered from Famine Sieges: Cities Invested by Often Suffered from Pestilence Sieges: Cities Invested by Repaired and Newly Fortified Beforehand Sieges: Cities Invested by Sometimes Used Ambushes or Sorties Sieges: Cities Invested by Supplied With Water Beforehand Sieges: Cities Invested by The Inhabitants of, Cut off Beforehand Supplies of Water Sieges: Cities Invested by Walls of, Defended by the Inhabitants Sieges: Cities Invested by Were Strictly Shut Up Sieges: Cities of Israel in Galilee Sieges: Cities Taken by Frequently Broken Down Sieges: Cities Taken by Frequently Destroyed by Fire Sieges: Cities Taken by Given up to Pillage Sieges: Cities Taken by Inhabitants of, often Put to the Sword Sieges: Cities Taken by Sometimes Called After the Name of the Captor Sieges: Cities Taken by Sometimes Sown With Salt Sieges: Compassing About With Armies Sieges: Extreme Difficulty of Taking Cities By, Alluded To Sieges: Fenced Cities Invested By Sieges: Great Noise and Tumult of, Alluded To Sieges: Often Lasted for a Long Time Sieges: Setting in Array Against Sieges: The Jews Forbidden to Cut Down Fruit Trees for the Purpose of Sieges: The Omnipresence of God Sieges: Those Engaged in Built Forts and Mounts Sieges: Those Engaged in Called Upon the City to Surrender Sieges: Those Engaged in Cast Arrows and Other Missiles Into the City Sieges: Those Engaged in Cut off all Supplies Sieges: Those Engaged in Dug a Trench Round the City Sieges: Those Engaged in Employed Battering Rams Against the Walls Sieges: Those Engaged in Frequently Laid Ambushes Sieges: Those Engaged in Invested the City on Every Side Sieges: Those Engaged in Often Suffered Much During Sieges: Threatened As a Punishment Sieges: Zion in Her Affliction Related Terms Battering-rams (2 Occurrences) Nebuchadrezzar (31 Occurrences) |
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