Definition and Context:
Battering refers to the act of striking repeatedly with force, often with the intent to break down or destroy. In biblical times, battering was commonly associated with warfare, particularly in the context of besieging cities. The use of battering rams and other siege engines was a prevalent military tactic employed to breach fortified walls and gates.

Biblical References:
The concept of battering, while not always explicitly mentioned, is implied in various biblical narratives that describe sieges and military confrontations. One of the most notable examples is the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, where the city walls were breached, leading to the eventual fall of the city.

In Ezekiel 21:22 , the prophet describes the decision-making process of the king of Babylon, who uses divination to determine his military strategy: "Into his right hand comes the divination for Jerusalem, to set up battering rams, to call for a slaughter, to lift the battle cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp, and to erect siege works." This passage highlights the use of battering rams as a critical component of ancient warfare.

Symbolic Usage:
Battering can also be understood symbolically in the Bible, representing the relentless assault of sin or the trials faced by believers. The imagery of a city under siege can be likened to the spiritual battles that individuals face, where faith and perseverance are required to withstand the onslaught.

In Proverbs 25:28 , the lack of self-control is compared to a city with broken walls: "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control." This metaphor suggests that just as a city without defenses is vulnerable to battering, so too is a person without self-discipline susceptible to spiritual and moral attacks.

Moral and Theological Implications:
From a moral and theological perspective, battering in the context of warfare raises questions about the ethics of violence and destruction. The Bible often portrays God as a defender of the oppressed and a judge of nations, suggesting that while human conflicts may involve battering and destruction, divine justice ultimately prevails.

In the New Testament, the focus shifts from physical warfare to spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:12 reminds believers that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." This passage encourages Christians to equip themselves with spiritual armor to withstand the battering of spiritual adversaries.

Historical and Cultural Background:
In ancient Near Eastern cultures, battering rams were sophisticated siege devices, often consisting of a large, heavy beam with a metal head, suspended and swung against fortifications. The use of such technology reflects the strategic and engineering advancements of the time, as well as the importance of fortified cities in ancient warfare.

The biblical accounts of sieges and battering provide insight into the historical context of the biblical narrative, illustrating the geopolitical realities faced by Israel and its neighbors. These accounts also serve as a backdrop for understanding the broader themes of divine protection and judgment found throughout Scripture.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Batter.RAM, BATTERING

See SIEGE.

3733c. kar -- a he-lamb, a battering ram
... 3733b, 3733c. kar. 3734 . a he-lamb, a battering ram. Transliteration:
kar Short Definition: lambs. Word Origin from karar Definition ...
/hebrew/3733c.htm - 5k

6904. qebol -- something in front, a military siege engine
... Word Origin from qabal Definition something in front, a military siege engine
NASB Word Usage battering rams (1), before (1). war. ...
/hebrew/6904.htm - 6k

3733. kar -- basket-saddle
... From karar in the sense of plumpness; a ram (as full-grown and fat), including a
battering-ram (as butting); hence, a meadow (as for sheep); also a pad or ...
/hebrew/3733.htm - 6k

1785. dayeq -- bulwark, siege wall
... 2). fort. From a root corresp. To duwq; a battering-tower -- fort. see HEBREW
duwq. 1784b, 1785. dayeq. 1786 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/1785.htm - 6k

4239. mechi -- a smiting
... Word Origin from machah Definition a smiting NASB Word Usage blow (1). engines.
From machah; a stroke, ie Battering-ram -- engines. see HEBREW machah. ...
/hebrew/4239.htm - 6k

When the Banks were Completed and the Battering Rams Brought, and ...
... CHAPTER 4. When The Banks Were Completed And The Battering Rams Brought, And Could
Do Nothing, Titus Gave Orders To Set Fire To The Gates Of The Temple; In No ...
/.../chapter 4 when the banks.htm

Ezekiel's Discourse
... In his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to set battering rams, to open
the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to set ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/vi ezekiels discourse.htm

What the Ruler's Discrimination Should be Between Correction and ...
... immediately it is subjoined, And thou shalt lay siege against it, and build forts,
and cast a mount, and set camps against it, and set battering rams against ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter x what the rulers.htm

How Pompey when the Citizens of Jerusalem Shut their Gates against ...
... was sufficiently raised, and the ditch filled up, though but poorly, by reason of
its immense depth, he brought his mechanical engines and battering-rams from ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 how pompey when.htm

Vespasian, when He had Taken the City Gadaea Marches to Jotapata. ...
... himself as in a manner besieged by these sallies of the Jews, and when his banks
were now not far from the walls, he determined to make use of his battering ram ...
/.../chapter 7 vespasian when he.htm

That the Miseries Still Grew Worse; and How the Romans Made an ...
... and his party took care for securing themselves afterward, even in case this wall
should be thrown down, and fell to their work before the battering rams were ...
/.../chapter 1 that the miseries.htm

The First Theban Empire
... The peoples of the Nile Valley knew nothing of the swing battering-ram, and no
representation of the hand-worked battering-ram has ever been found in any of ...
/.../chapter iiithe first theban empire.htm

Cheer Up, My Comrades!
... Sir Christopher Wren determined to throw them down by the old Roman
battering-ram. The battering-ram began to work, and the men ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 26 1880/cheer up my comrades.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
... The battering-ram had already reached such a degree of perfection under
Assur-nazir-pal, that it must have been invented some time before the execution ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm

The Song of a City, and the Pearl of Peace
... walls are the mainstay of a city's security; when they are strong, and high, they
keep out the foe, whether he assail by scaling-ladder, or battering-engine. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 31 1885/the song of a city.htm

Battering (6 Occurrences)
... (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Batter. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. RAM, BATTERING.
See SIEGE. Multi-Version Concordance Battering (6 Occurrences). ...
/b/battering.htm - 8k

Battering-rams (2 Occurrences)
Battering-rams. Battering-ram, Battering-rams. Battle . Multi-Version
Concordance Battering-rams (2 Occurrences). Ezekiel ...
/b/battering-rams.htm - 7k

Battering-ram (1 Occurrence)
Battering-ram. Batteringram, Battering-ram. Battering-rams . Easton's Bible
Dictionary (Ezek. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BATTERING-RAM. bat'-er-ing-ram ...
/b/battering-ram.htm - 7k

Ram (96 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) An engine of war used for butting or battering. ... (3) kar, "battering ram"
(Ezekiel 4:2; Ezekiel 21:22); elsewhere "lamb" (Deuteronomy 32:14, etc.). ...
/r/ram.htm - 41k

Forts (12 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 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 plant battering rams against ...
/f/forts.htm - 10k

Ramp (9 Occurrences)
... a siege, and builded against it a fortification, and poured out against it a mount,
and placed against it camps, yea, set thou against it battering-rams round ...
/r/ramp.htm - 10k

Erect (17 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 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 plant battering rams against ...
/e/erect.htm - 12k

Towers (38 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 21:22 In his right hand is the lot of Jerusalem to appoint battering-rams,
to open the mouth for bloodshed, to lift up the voice with shouting, to ...
/t/towers.htm - 18k

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 ...
/r/ramps.htm - 8k

Engines (4 Occurrences)
... arrows (the catapulta). (2.) Hebrews mechi kobollo, ie, the beating of
that which is in front a battering-ram (Ezek. 26:9), the ...
/e/engines.htm - 8k

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