FROM SMITH’S BIBLE DICTIONARY (1884)

Smith’s Bible Dictionary (1884) — public domain, printed whole.

Only a few points need be noticed.

The practice common in Palestine of carrying foundations down to the solid rock, as in the case of the temple, with structures intended to be permanent. (Luke 6:48)

A feature of some parts of Solomon�s buildings, as described by Josephus, corresponds remarkably to the method adopted at Nineveh of incrusting or veneering a wall of brick or stone with slabs of a more costly material, as marble or alabaster.

Another use of walls in Palestine is to support mountain roads Or terraces formed on the sides of hills for purposes of cultivation.

The "path of the vineyards," (Numbers 22:24) is a pathway through vineyards, with walls on each side.

FROM TORREY’S TOPICAL TEXTBOOK (1897)

Torrey’s Topical Textbook (1897) — public domain, printed whole.

- Designed for separation

Eze 43:8; Eph 2:14

- Designed for defence

1Sa 25:16

- MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE

. Of cities

Nu 13:28

. Of temples

1Ch 29:4; Isa 56:5

. Of houses

1Sa 18:11

. Of vineyards

Nu 22:24; Pr 24:31

- Frequently made of stone and wood together

Ezr 5:8; Hab 2:11

- Were probably often strengthened with plates of iron or brass

Jer 15:20; Eze 4:3

- OF CITIES

. Often very high

De 1:28; 3:5

. Strongly fortified

Isa 2:15; 25:12

. Had towers built on them

2Ch 26:9; 32:5; Ps 48:12; So 8:10

. Houses often built on

Jos 2:15

. Were broad and places of public resort

2Ki 6:26,30; Ps 55:10

. Were strongly manned in war

2Ki 18:26

. Kept by watchmen night and day

So 5:7; Isa 62:6

. Houses sometimes broken down to repair, and fortify

Isa 22:10

. Danger of approaching too near to, in time of war

2Sa 11:20,21

. Were battered by besieging armies

2Sa 20:15; Eze 4:2,3

. Adroitness of soldiers in scaling alluded to

Joe 2:7-9

. Sometimes burned

Jer 49:27; Am 1:7

. Frequently laid in ruins

2Ch 25:23; 36:19; Jer 50:15

. Destruction of, a punishment and cause of grief

De 28:52; Ne 1:3; 2:12-17

. The falling of, sometimes occasioned great destruction

1Ki 20:30

. The bodies of enemies sometimes fastened on, as a disgrace

1Sa 31:10

. Custom of dedicating

Ne 12:27

. idolatrous rites performed on

2Ki 3:27

. Instances of persons let down from

Jos 2:15; Ac 9:24,25; 2Co 11:33

- Small towns and villages were not surrounded by

Le 25:31; De 3:5

- OF HOUSES

. Usually plastered

Eze 13:10; Da 5:5

. Had nails or pegs fastened into them when built

Ec 12:11; Isa 22:23

. Liable to leprosy

Le 14:37

. Often infested with serpents

Am 5:19

. Could be easily dug through

Ge 49:6; Eze 8:7,8; 12:5

. The seat next, was the place of distinction

1Sa 20:25

- Hyssop frequently grew on

1Ki 4:33

- MIRACLES CONNECTED WITH

. Falling of the walls of Jericho

Jos 6:20

. Handwriting on the wall of Belshazzar's palace

Da 5:5,25-28

- ILLUSTRATIVE

. Of salvation

Isa 26:1; 60:18

. Of the protection of God

Zec 2:5

. Of those who afford protection

1Sa 25:16; Isa 2:15

. Of the Church as a protection to the nation

So 8:9,10

. Of ordinances as a protection to the Church

So 2:9; Isa 5:5

. Of the wealth of the rich in his own conceit

Pr 18:11

. (Brazen,) of prophets in their testimony against the wicked

Jer 15:20

. (Bowing or tottering,) of the wicked under judgments

Ps 62:3; Isa 30:13

. (Of partition,) of separation of Jews and Gentiles

Eph 2:14

. (Daubed with untempered mortar,) of the teaching of false

prophets

Eze 13:10-15

. (Whited,) of hypocrites

Ac 23:3