Topical Encyclopedia Throughout the biblical narrative, sieges and the subsequent destruction of cities by fire are recurring themes that illustrate both divine judgment and the consequences of human actions. The Bible records several instances where cities were besieged, captured, and set ablaze, often as a result of disobedience to God or as part of His divine plan.Jericho One of the earliest and most famous sieges recorded in the Bible is the fall of Jericho. Under the leadership of Joshua, the Israelites encircled the city for seven days as instructed by God. On the seventh day, the walls of Jericho fell, and the city was taken. Joshua 6:24 states, "Then they burned the whole city and everything in it. But they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the LORD’s house." Ai Following the victory at Jericho, the Israelites set their sights on Ai. After an initial defeat due to Achan's sin, the Israelites regrouped and successfully captured the city. Joshua 8:28 records, "So Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolate place to this day." Hazor During the conquest of Canaan, Joshua also targeted Hazor, a significant Canaanite city. Joshua 11:11 recounts, "They struck down everyone in it with the sword, devoting them to destruction. Not a single person was left, and Joshua burned Hazor itself." Ziklag David's city of Ziklag was captured and burned by the Amalekites while he and his men were away. Upon returning and finding the city in ruins, David sought the Lord's guidance and pursued the Amalekites, ultimately recovering all that was taken. 1 Samuel 30:1-2 describes the event: "Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it." Jerusalem The destruction of Jerusalem by fire is a pivotal event in biblical history, marking the culmination of God's judgment against Judah for their persistent idolatry and disobedience. In 586 B.C., the Babylonians, led by King Nebuchadnezzar, besieged Jerusalem, eventually breaching its walls. 2 Kings 25:9 states, "He set fire to the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem; every significant building he burned down." Lachish Lachish, a fortified city of Judah, was besieged and destroyed by the Assyrians under King Sennacherib. Although the Bible does not explicitly mention the burning of Lachish, archaeological evidence supports its destruction by fire. The siege is referenced in 2 Kings 18:13-14, where Sennacherib's campaign against Judah is described. Sodom and Gomorrah While not a siege in the traditional sense, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire from heaven serves as a powerful example of divine judgment. Genesis 19:24-25 recounts, "Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus He overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all the inhabitants of the cities and everything that grew on the ground." These accounts of sieges and the destruction of cities by fire serve as sobering reminders of the consequences of sin and the fulfillment of divine prophecy. They underscore the importance of obedience to God's commands and the reality of His righteous judgment. Torrey's Topical Textbook Joshua 8:19And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hurried and set the city on fire. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library Book 9 Footnotes Sargon of Assyria (722-705 BC ) The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal The Rise of the Assyrian Empire Resources Who was Sennacherib in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho are the Branch Davidians? | GotQuestions.org Who was Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz? | 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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