Bible Dictionaries
Siegeworks

Holman Bible Dictionary

Platforms or towers an army built around and above the city walls of a city under siege. This allowed the besieging army to shoot arrows and throw missiles of war down into the city. Israel's law did not allow fruit trees to be cut down to build such platforms (Deuteronomy 20:19-20 ). Ramps built up to the city walls allowed soldiers to attack the walls and to shoot fire arrows and other weapons into the city. Scaling ladders lifted armies over the walls into the city. Battering rams destroyed city gates. Fires at the base of the walls weakened the sandstone bricks. Tunnels dug under the walls further weakened them. Thus the population's emotions were drained; its supplies were exhausted; and its defenses destroyed.