Topical Encyclopedia
The term "besiege" in the biblical context refers to the military practice of surrounding and isolating a city or stronghold with the intent of capturing it. This tactic was commonly employed in ancient warfare and is frequently mentioned in the Bible, illustrating both physical and spiritual battles.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, besieging was a prevalent method of warfare. Cities were often fortified with walls, making direct assaults difficult. As a result, armies would encircle a city, cutting off supplies and escape routes, to force a surrender. This is vividly depicted in several biblical narratives.
One of the earliest mentions of a siege is found in the account of the conquest of Jericho.
Joshua 6:1-5 describes how the Israelites, under God's command, besieged Jericho. The city was tightly shut up, and the Israelites marched around it for seven days until its walls miraculously fell.
Another significant siege is that of Samaria by the Arameans, as recorded in
2 Kings 6:24-25. The siege led to a severe famine, demonstrating the dire consequences of such military tactics. The text states, "Afterward, Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army, marched up, and laid siege to 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 for five shekels of silver."
The siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians is another pivotal event. In
2 Kings 25:1-2, the Bible recounts, "So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army. They encamped outside the city and built siege works all around it. And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah’s eleventh year."
Prophetic and Spiritual ImplicationsThe act of besieging is not only a historical reality but also carries prophetic and spiritual significance. The prophets often used the imagery of a siege to describe God's judgment on Israel and other nations due to their disobedience and idolatry. For instance, in
Isaiah 29:3, God declares, "I will camp in a circle around you; I will besiege you with towers and set up siege works against you."
In a spiritual sense, besieging can symbolize the trials and pressures believers face from the world and spiritual adversaries. The Apostle Paul, while not using the term "besiege," speaks to the spiritual warfare Christians endure, urging believers to put on the full armor of God (
Ephesians 6:10-18).
New Testament ContextWhile the New Testament does not frequently mention physical sieges, the concept is echoed in the spiritual battles faced by the early church. The siege mentality can be seen in the perseverance of the apostles and early Christians who, despite being surrounded by hostile forces, remained steadfast in their faith.
ConclusionThe concept of besieging in the Bible serves as a powerful metaphor for both physical and spiritual struggles. It underscores the reality of conflict in the believer's life, whether through historical events or spiritual warfare, and highlights the need for reliance on God's strength and deliverance.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
v. t.) To beset or surround with armed forces, for the purpose of compelling to surrender; to lay siege to; to beleaguer; to beset.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BESIEGEbe-sej'.
SeeSIEGE.
Greek
2944. kukloo -- to encircle... to encircle. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kukloo Phonetic Spelling:
(koo-klo'-o) Short Definition: I encircle,
besiege, surround Definition: I encircle
...Strong's Hebrew
6696a. tsur -- to confine, bind,besiege... 6696, 6696a. tsur. 6696b . to confine, bind,
besiege. Transliteration:
tsur Short Definition: besieged. Word Origin a prim. root
...6696. tsuwr -- to confine, bind,besiege
... 6695b, 6696. tsuwr. 6696a . to confine, bind,besiege. Transliteration:
tsuwr Phonetic Spelling: (tsoor) Short Definition: adversary....
935. bo -- to come in, come, go in, go
... abide, apply, attain, be, befall,besiege, bring forth, in,. A primitive root;
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) -- abide...
6887. tsarar -- to bind, tie up, be restricted, narrow, scant, or...
... rar') Short Definition: adversary. adversary, be in affliction,besiege,
bind up, be in, bring distress, narrower, A primitive root...
6887a. tsarar -- to bind, tie up, be restricted, narrow, scant, or...
... root Definition to bind, tie up, be restricted, narrow, scant, or cramped NASB Word
Usage afflicted (1),besiege (3), besieges (1), bind (1), binds (1), bound...
3803. kathar -- to surround
... A primitive root; to enclose; hence (in a friendly sense) to crown, (in a hostile
one) tobesiege; also to wait (as restraining oneself) -- beset round...
5437. sabab -- to turn about, go around, surround
... as follows) -- bring, cast, fetch, lead, make, walk, X whirl, X round about, be
about on every side, apply, avoid, beset (about),besiege, bring again, carry...
5921. al -- upon, above, over
... attention* (1), because (82), because* (49), before (10), before* (19), behalf
(18), behind* (2), beside (47), beside* (6), besides (5),besiege* (1), besieged...
Library
That the King of Babylon Repented of Making Jehoiachin King, and...
... king of Babylon knew this, he made war against him: he laid his country waste, and
took his fortified towns, and came to the city Jerusalem itself tobesiege it...
The Oration of Moses at the Rehearsal of the Blessing and the...
... And he shallbesiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come
down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shallbesiege...
A Sedition against Sabinus; and How Varus Brought the Authors of...
... the king's palace was. Their work tended entirely tobesiege the Romans,
and to enclose them on all sides. Now Sabinus was afraid...
To the Honourable Mr Yorke.
... Twice told the period spent on stubborn Troy,. Court favour, yet untaken,
Ibesiege; Ambition's ill-judged effort to be rich. Alas!...
The Travelers
... form is most welcome to them. Titus approacheth reluctantly. He had rather
deliver Jerusalem thanbesiege it. I am of the loved and...
But Maximian, who Knew the Outrageous Temper of Galerius...
... There was no hope of carrying the place by storm, and tobesiege it was an arduous
undertaking; for Galerius had not brought with him an army sufficient to...
I Will Pray with the Spirit and with the Understanding Also-
... When the troops of Emmanuelbesiege Mansoul, their great effort was to gain "eargate"
as a chief entrance to Mansoul, and at that important gate there were...
Here Beginneth the Story of Judith
... He called all the princes of Moab and dukes of Ammon and said to them: Say ye to
me, what people is this thatbesiege the mountains, or what or how many cities...
Light through Darkness
... exhortations of the prophets were seemingly of but little avail; and as the armies
of the Chaldeans came for the third and last time tobesiege Jerusalem, hope...
Carried Captive into Babylon
... In the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign "Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he,
and all his host, against Jerusalem," tobesiege the city.2 Kings 25:1. The...
Thesaurus
Besiege (17 Occurrences)... beset. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
BESIEGE. be-sej'. See SIEGE.
Multi-Version Concordance
Besiege (17 Occurrences). Luke
...Besieging (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) ofBesiege. 2. (a.) That besieges;
laying siege to. Multi-Version Concordance Besieging (9 Occurrences)....
Besieged (34 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofBesiege. Multi-Version Concordance
Besieged (34 Occurrences). Deuteronomy 20:19 When you...
Locusts (33 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 8:37 If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, if there be
blasting or mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemybesiege them in the...
Fenced (61 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 28:52 And he shallbesiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and
fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and...
Trusted (82 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 28:52 They shallbesiege you in all your gates, until your high and
fortified walls come down, in which you trusted, throughout all your land; and...
Trustedst (3 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 28:52 And he shallbesiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and
fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and...
Blasting (4 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 8:37 If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew,
locust, or if there be caterpillar; if their enemybesiege them in the...
Beset (16 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v.) Tobesiege on all sides. 2... 3. (vt) To
hem in; to waylay; to surround; tobesiege; to blockade. 4...
Keilah (16 Occurrences)
... great slaughter." Saul hearing that David and his men were within a fortified town
"summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, tobesiege David and...
Resources
Summary of the Book of Lamentations - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that the kingdom of God suffers violence? | GotQuestions.orgBesiege: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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