Topical Encyclopedia
Battering-rams are ancient siege weapons used to break through walls, gates, and other fortifications during warfare. These formidable instruments of war are mentioned in the Bible, providing insight into the military tactics and technologies of ancient civilizations, particularly those surrounding Israel.
Biblical References:The use of battering-rams is notably referenced in the prophetic writings of Ezekiel. In
Ezekiel 4:2 , the prophet is instructed to portray a siege against Jerusalem, which includes the use of a battering-ram: "Then lay siege against it: build a siege wall, erect a ramp, set up camps, and place battering-rams around it." This vivid imagery underscores the severity and intensity of the impending judgment upon Jerusalem, as God uses the metaphor of a siege to communicate His message through Ezekiel.
Further, in
Ezekiel 21:22 , the battering-ram is again mentioned in the context of divine judgment: "Into his right hand comes the divination for Jerusalem, to set up battering-rams, to call for slaughter, to lift the voice with a battle cry, to set battering-rams against the gates, to build a ramp, and to erect a siege wall." Here, the battering-ram symbolizes the determined and relentless assault that will befall the city, emphasizing the certainty of the prophesied destruction.
Historical Context:Battering-rams were a common feature in the warfare of ancient Near Eastern cultures, including the Assyrians and Babylonians, who were known for their military prowess and engineering skills. These devices typically consisted of a large, heavy beam, often capped with metal, that was swung or driven against fortifications to breach them. The use of battering-rams required significant manpower and coordination, reflecting the organized and strategic nature of ancient military campaigns.
The presence of battering-rams in biblical narratives highlights the historical reality of warfare during the times of the Old Testament. Cities were often fortified with thick walls and strong gates, necessitating the development of siege technologies like battering-rams to overcome these defenses. The biblical accounts of sieges and battles serve as a backdrop for understanding the geopolitical and spiritual struggles faced by the people of Israel.
Symbolic Significance:In the biblical text, the battering-ram is not merely a tool of war but also a symbol of divine judgment and the fulfillment of prophetic warnings. The imagery of a battering-ram breaking through defenses serves as a powerful metaphor for the unstoppable force of God's will and the consequences of disobedience to His commands. The prophets used such vivid imagery to convey the seriousness of their messages and to call the people to repentance and faithfulness.
The mention of battering-rams in the Bible thus serves both a literal and symbolic purpose, illustrating the historical realities of ancient warfare while also conveying deeper spiritual truths about God's sovereignty and justice.
Strong's Hebrew
3733c. kar -- a he-lamb, a battering ram... Word Origin from karar Definition a he-lamb, a battering ram NASB Word Usage
batteringrams (3), lamb (1), lambs (8). 3733b, 3733c. kar. 3734 .
...6904. qebol -- something in front, a military siege engine
... Word Origin from qabal Definition something in front, a military siege engine
NASB Word Usagebattering rams (1), before (1). war....
Library
When the Banks were Completed and theBattering Rams Brought, and...
... CHAPTER 4. When The Banks Were Completed And TheBattering Rams Brought, And Could
Do Nothing, Titus Gave Orders To Set Fire To The Gates Of The Temple; In No...
Ezekiel's Discourse
... In his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to setbattering rams, to open
the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to set...
What the Ruler's Discrimination Should be Between Correction and...
... it is subjoined, And thou shalt lay siege against it, and build forts, and cast
a mount, and set camps against it, and setbattering rams against it round about...
That the Miseries Still Grew Worse; and How the Romans Made an...
... party took care for securing themselves afterward, even in case this wall should
be thrown down, and fell to their work before thebattering rams were brought...
How Pompey when the Citizens of Jerusalem Shut their Gates against...
... sufficiently raised, and the ditch filled up, though but poorly, by reason of its
immense depth, he brought his mechanical engines andbattering-rams from Tyre...
How Jericho was Captured.
... When men in olden times attacked a city, they tried to batter down the walls with
heavy beams of wood, having heads of iron, calledbattering rams; but God did...
The Judges Said: Tell Us, O Manes, who Designated the Boundaries...
... of all the ballista [1649] and projectiles; then he endeavours to cut through the
gates with axes, and to demolish the walls by thebattering-rams; and when he...
The Arians Openly Take Sides with the Heathen in Attacking the...
... Again, he did not lead forth his armed ranks into the fight, nor did he overthrow
the ramparts of the enemy's walls, withbattering rams or other engines of war...
The Destruction of Jerusalem
... He was a prisoner in the Roman camp during the siege of Jerusalem, and he watched
with dismay the greatbattering-rams and war engines crashing through the...
How Caesar Raised Banks Round About the Upper City [Mount Zion]...
... Now as soon as a part of the wall was battered down, and certain of the towers yielded
to the impression of thebattering rams, those that opposed themselves...
Thesaurus
Battering-rams (2 Occurrences)Battering-
rams. Battering-ram,
Battering-
rams. Battle . Multi-Version
Concordance
Battering-
rams (2 Occurrences). Ezekiel
...Forts (12 Occurrences)
... 4:2 and lay siege against it, and build forts against it, and cast up a mound against
it; set camps also against it, and plantbatteringrams against it all...
Ramp (9 Occurrences)
... and builded against it a fortification, and poured out against it a mount, and placed
against it camps, yea, set thou against itbattering-rams round about....
Battering (6 Occurrences)
... 4:2 and lay siege against it, and build forts against it, and cast up a mound against
it; set camps also against it, and plantbatteringrams against it all...
Erect (17 Occurrences)
... 4:2 and lay siege against it, and build forts against it, and cast up a mound against
it; set camps also against it, and plantbatteringrams against it all...
Ramps (8 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 21:22 At his right hath been the divination -- Jerusalem, To place
battering-rams, To open the mouth with slaughter, To lift up a voice with shouting...
Mounds (7 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 21:22 In his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to setbattering
rams, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting...
Siege-towers (1 Occurrence)
... Ezekiel 21:22 In his right hand is the lot of Jerusalem to appointbattering-rams,
to open the mouth for bloodshed, to lift up the voice with shouting, to...
Bloodshed (43 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 21:22 In his right hand is the lot of Jerusalem to appointbattering-rams,
to open the mouth for bloodshed, to lift up the voice with shouting, to...
Towers (38 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 21:22 In his right hand is the lot of Jerusalem to appointbattering-rams,
to open the mouth for bloodshed, to lift up the voice with shouting, to...
Resources
What is the significance of Jesus calming the storm? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does God want from me? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Feast of Weeks? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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