FORTIFICATIONS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

1. FORTIFICATIONS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT Andrew Iverson

2. Thesis • Archaeological findings of fortifications reveal significant insights into biblical narratives and daily life in the Old Testament.

3. Walls • Main form of defense in ancient Israel • An enclosed town was known as an “ir” which means “fortified town” in Hebrew • In Iron Age I (1200 – 1000 BC.) there were no true fortification systems in Israel. • In Iron Age II (1000 -- 586 BC.)there were several kinds of systems of fortification

4. Purpose • Built along trade routes and borders in the Negev, which is the desert region in Israel • Canaanites, Philistines, and the Edomites were all prominent civilizations who displayed hostility towards the Israelites

6. Construction • Stone foundations with mud brick superstructures are known as casemates • Consisted of two thinner, parallel walls with empty space between them • Allowed citizens to live between the walls but also allowed the inhabitants to fill the space with stones or dirt for better defense • It is assumed that Rahab lived in between the walls • Casemates lasted in Judah until the Babylonians invaded in 586 BC

8. Construction • Made of local materials and lower quality stone • Inexpensive and quick to assemble • Most city wall also included turrets • Allowed inhabitants of the city to look out for enemies as well provide their archers with an effective view to protect their city • Ninth century, the casemates were no longer the chief component of fortifications because they could not withstand the Assyrians’ battering rams

10. Construction • Solid walls were more costly but were used in Dan, Hazor, Megiddo, Gezer, and Tel Sheva • Jericho consists of many layers and is an archeological “mess” • Tel Sheva had two types of walls which included a solid city wall and a casemate wall • In Tel Sheva, Iron II four strata were associated with a small fortified city on the summit of the mound • Many cities were built on hills for a defensive position • Wall was protected by earthen ramparts, a dry moat, and towers

11. Gates • The gate had to accommodate civic and military purposes, including parades, public speeches, executions, and assembling the military in times of battle. • Ruth, Boaz went to the city gate to socialize • Despite being a major part of a city, the gate was also the weakest part of the fortification so the gate was often at the forefront of the assault. • Gates were often made of wood but were susceptible of burning • In some instances gates had to be wide enough for chariots, but only the most advanced civilizations with strong militaries used chariots.

12. Offensive on Fortifications • Some instruments used for attacking walls included battering rams and siege machines. • A breach was a gap made in the wall which allowed the attackers to enter through the wall.

13. Sapper operations was the most common means for attacking a city with a wall were scaling the walls, battering rams, or tunneling. • Battering rams were highly feared due to their effectiveness and were used by the brutal Assyrians.

14. Defensive Approach • Each city was defended by a city militia • The most common weapons were swords and bow and arrows • This is most notable in the time of the Judges • Major opposing threats like the Canaanites, Philistines, and Assyrians had standing armies. • This was clearly a threat to the Israelites since their enemies were warlike people and forced the Israelites to fortify.

15. Jericho • “Jericho was a formidable fortified city; it only covered about 320 acres of land. Its turreted walls could be encircled quite readily in about an hour’s march.” • Joshua had no battering rams to assault the city. He possessed no engines of war to scale the walls. • At Jericho, the archaeologist Garstang, found “enormous” blocks of stone which were to counter battering rams located at the base of the wall. • The inhabitants of Jericho feared a greater military threat than the Israelites since they did not have battering rams.

16. Jericho Video • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGHR-kwjEsQ

17. Ai and Hazor • The Ai warriors left the city gate open which allowed the Israelites to massacre the Ai inhabitants.

18. Application • City walls are mentioned literally and figuratively in the Old Testament • Understanding the significance and level of comfort that a city wall provided helps readers of the Bible better understand the story

19. Isaiah and Ruth • 26:1 is a good example of this “In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts.” • This verse states the significance and feeling of comfort a city wall would provide for the inhabitants. • The inhabitants had confidence and would not live in fear. The wall was a reminder to the Israelites that they were God’s people and He would protect them. • Similarly, Ruth 4:1 is an example from the Bible that stresses the importance and purpose of the gate in a city socially. • Since the gate was the entrance to the city, the area would have some open space just inside the gate for social affairs.

20. 2 Chronicles and the Jerusalem Walls • 2 Chronicles 25:23 states that the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate was about four hundred cubits long. • A cubit is the length of one’s forearm so it is roughly a foot in length. • Jerusalem was also protected by the terrain north of the city and was on elevated land. • 2 Chronicles 32:5 stresses how high of a priority the city walls were. “Then he worked hard repairing all the broken sections of the wall and building towers on it. He built another wall outside that one and reinforced the terraces of the City of David.” • A good leader maintains the city walls. This is referencing two parallel walls being built.

22. Proverbs • Proverbs 25:28 is another example the Bible uses in expressing the prevalence and role a wall had on a city: “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.” • Uses the walls of a city as a metaphor for someone without self-control. • Someone without self-control is in danger of allowing themselves to sin more easily. • A city with poor fortification is endangering them and metaphorically allowing sin to invade the mind of the individual.

23. Concluding Thoughts • The fortifications of the Israelites display the volatile and ruthless world that they lived in. • City walls provided comfort and protection from enemies. • Useful to understand the significance of the walls in order to better understand and relate to the Bible.