Topical Bible: Sieges: Those Engaged in Often Suffered Much During

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In the biblical narrative, sieges were a common form of warfare, often resulting in significant suffering for those involved. The Bible provides numerous accounts of sieges, highlighting the physical, emotional, and spiritual toll they exacted on both the besieged and the besiegers.

Historical Context and Biblical Accounts

Sieges in the ancient Near East were prolonged military blockades aimed at capturing fortified cities. The attacking army would surround a city, cutting off supplies and reinforcements, with the goal of forcing a surrender. This tactic is vividly illustrated in several biblical accounts.

One of the most notable sieges is the Assyrian siege of Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. In 2 Kings 17:5-6, the Bible records, "Then the king of Assyria invaded the entire land, marched up to Samaria, and besieged it for three years. In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria." This siege led to the fall of Samaria and the exile of the Israelites, marking a significant moment in Israel's history.

Another significant siege is the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, which culminated in the destruction of the city and the First Temple in 586 BC. The prophet Jeremiah provides a harrowing account of the suffering endured by the inhabitants of Jerusalem during this time. Lamentations 4:9-10 poignantly describes the desperation: "Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields produce no food. The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people."

Suffering and Hardship

The suffering during sieges was multifaceted. Starvation was a common consequence, as food supplies dwindled and famine set in. The psychological strain of being trapped within city walls, coupled with the constant threat of attack, led to despair and hopelessness. The Bible often uses the imagery of siege to convey the severity of divine judgment and the consequences of disobedience.

In Deuteronomy 28:52-53 , God warns the Israelites of the curses that would befall them if they turned away from His commandments: "They will besiege all the cities throughout the land that the LORD your God has given you. Then you will eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you."

Spiritual Implications

Sieges also carried spiritual implications, serving as a backdrop for prophetic messages and divine intervention. The siege of Jerusalem by the Assyrians during the reign of King Hezekiah is a prime example. In 2 Kings 19:32-34 , God promises deliverance through the prophet Isaiah: "Therefore this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: 'He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here. He will not come before it with a shield or build up a siege ramp against it. By the way that he came, he will return; he will not enter this city,' declares the LORD. 'I will defend this city and save it for My sake and for the sake of My servant David.'"

This divine intervention underscores the belief in God's sovereignty and His ability to deliver His people from seemingly insurmountable circumstances.

Moral and Ethical Considerations

The accounts of sieges in the Bible also raise moral and ethical questions about warfare, human suffering, and the consequences of sin. The narratives often serve as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God and the dire consequences of turning away from His commandments.

In summary, biblical sieges were periods of intense suffering and hardship, reflecting both the physical realities of ancient warfare and the spiritual lessons that emerge from these historical events. The Bible's portrayal of sieges serves as a powerful reminder of the human condition and the need for reliance on divine providence.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezekiel 29:18
Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... allowed their critical faculties, and often their imagination as ... the Medes had been
frequently engaged against such well-drilled troops as those of Assyria ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
... ram in motion severely taxed the strength of those engaged in the ... made, so that in
a few days, often in a ... as a rule, both in strength and numbers, much on a par ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm

Extracts No. vii.
... the numerous wars in which they had been engaged, when their ... for he fought at nine
battles or sieges in person ... He assured those who should fall in battle, that ...
/.../ballou/a series of letters in defence of divine revelation/extracts no vii.htm

The Rise of the Assyrian Empire
... the mountain districts"Camps, battles, sieges; cruelty shown ... which it was composed
were engaged henceforward in ... period, and beneath these those belonging to ...
/.../chapter iithe rise of the.htm

Sargon of Assyria (722-705 BC )
... in Susa, and that their revolts must often have jeopardised ... the Kalda rulers used
to consign those of their ... he on his part was actively engaged in organising ...
/.../chapter iiisargon of assyria 722-705.htm

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... of troops accustomed to conquer, must have suffered more keenly ... from the country;
and one of those crises of ... a nation after an undue strain, often causing its ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria 2.htm