Topical Encyclopedia In the ancient Near East, the fortification of cities was of paramount importance, especially in times of impending siege. The Bible provides several instances where the inhabitants of a city would dismantle their own houses to reinforce city walls, highlighting the urgency and desperation that accompanied such military threats.One notable example is found in the book of Nehemiah. When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls, he encountered significant opposition from surrounding enemies. The urgency of the task led to extraordinary measures. Nehemiah 4:3-4 records the taunts of the enemies: "Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, 'Even if a fox were to climb up on it, it would break down their wall of stones!' Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity." In response to such threats, the people were willing to sacrifice their own homes to ensure the city's defenses were strong. The practice of dismantling houses for the sake of city walls is also implied in the broader context of ancient warfare. In Isaiah 22:10 , the prophet describes the preparations made by the inhabitants of Jerusalem: "You counted the houses of Jerusalem and tore them down to strengthen the wall." This verse illustrates the drastic measures taken to fortify the city against the Assyrian threat, emphasizing the priority of communal safety over individual property. The willingness to break down houses for the repair of city walls reflects a communal mindset where the security of the city and its inhabitants took precedence over personal loss. This practice underscores the biblical principle of self-sacrifice for the greater good, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture. Moreover, the act of dismantling homes to repair city walls can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual vigilance and preparedness. Just as the physical walls of a city required constant attention and reinforcement, so too do the spiritual defenses of a believer's life. The apostle Paul, in Ephesians 6:11 , exhorts believers to "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes." This call to spiritual readiness parallels the physical preparations made by ancient cities in the face of siege. In summary, the biblical accounts of houses being broken down to repair city walls before sieges serve as a testament to the lengths to which God's people would go to protect their communities. These actions reflect a deep-seated understanding of the importance of collective security and the willingness to make personal sacrifices for the sake of the greater good. Torrey's Topical Textbook Isaiah 22:10And you have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses have you broken down to fortify the wall. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library Sargon of Assyria (722-705 BC ) The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire The Rise of the Assyrian Empire Resources Is it wrong to live in nice houses (Haggai 1:4)? | GotQuestions.orgShould a Christian go to a haunted house? | GotQuestions.org What does it mean to worship the starry host or the host of the heavens (Zephaniah 1:5)? | GotQuestions.org Houses: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Houses in Cities, Built in Streets Houses of Brick or Clay: Easily Broken Through Houses of Brick or Clay: Often Swept Away by Torrents Houses of Brick or Clay: Plastered Houses of Criminals, Desolated Houses: (Building of) of Great Prosperity Houses: (Built and not Inhabited) of Calamity Houses: (Insecurity of) of Earthly Trust Houses: (On a Rock) the Hope of Saints Houses: (On Sand) the Delusive Hope of Hypocrites Houses: (To Inhabit Those, Built by Others) Abundant Feelings Houses: Accessible from the Outside Houses: Admission To, Gained by Knocking at the Door Houses: Apartments of, Were often: Ceiled and Painted Houses: Apartments of, Were often: Hung With Rich Tapestries Houses: Apartments of, Were often: Inlaid With Ivory Houses: Apartments of, Were often: Large and Airy Houses: Apartments of, Were often: Warmed With Fires Houses: Built of Hewn or Cut Stone Houses: Built of Stone and Wood Houses: Custom of Fastening Nails, in Walls of, Alluded To Houses: Deep and Solid Foundations Required For Houses: Desolation of, Threatened As a Punishment Houses: Divided Into Apartments Houses: Doors of, How Fastened Houses: Doors of, Low and Small for Safety Houses: Entered by a Gate or Door Houses: had often Detached Apartments for Secrecy and for Strangers Houses: had often Several Stories Houses: Law Respecting the Sale of Houses: Often Broken Down to Repair City Walls Before Sieges Houses: Often Built on City Walls Houses: Serpents often Lodged in Walls of Houses: Sometimes Built Without Foundation Houses: Street Windows of, High and Dangerous Houses: The Courts of, Large and Used As Apartments Houses: The Flat Roofs of had often Booths on Them Houses: The Flat Roofs of had often Idolatrous Altars on Them Houses: The Flat Roofs of Often Covered With Week Grass Houses: The Flat Roofs of Resorted to in Grief Houses: The Flat Roofs of Surrounded With Battlements Houses: The Flat Roofs of Used for Devotion Houses: The Flat Roofs of Used for Drying Flax Houses: The Flat Roofs of Used for Exercise Houses: The Flat Roofs of Used for Making Proclamations Houses: The Flat Roofs of Used for Secret Conference Houses: Upper Apartments of, the Best, and Used for Entertainments Houses: when Finished Were Usually Dedicated Related Terms |
    |