Fortifications and Palaces

† מִבְצָר n.m. Is 17:3 fortification—מִבְצָר Nu 32:17 + 18 times; cstr. מִבְצַר Jos 19:29 + 2 times; pl. מִבְצָרִים Nu 13:19 Dn 11:24; מִבְצָרוֹת Dn 11:15; מִבְצְרֵי La 2:2 Dn 11:39; sf. מִבְצָרֶיךָ Ho 10:14 + 2 times; מִבְצָרַיִךְ Na 3:12; מִבְצָרָ֑יִךְ v 14 Je 48:18; מִבְצָרָיו ψ 89:41 La 2:5; מִבְצָרֶיהָ Is 34:13; מִבְצְרֵיהֶם 2 K 8:12;—fortification, especially in phrase (המ׳) מ׳ (ערי) עיר = fortified city Nu 32:17, 36 Jos 10:20; 19:29, 35 1 S 6:18 2 K 3:19; 10:2; 17:9; 18:8 Je 4:5; 5:17; 8:14; 34:7 ψ 108:11 (עיר מ׳ = עיר מָצוֹר ψ 60:11), 2 Ch 17:19 Dn 11:15 (מ׳ in this connexion sing. except Je 5:17 & Dn 11:15 (מבצרות)); Je 1:18 fig. of prophet, so without עיר Je 6:27; fortress, stronghold, lit. without עיר etc. Nu 13:19 2 K 8:12 Je 48:18 Is 17:3; 25:12 (מ׳ משׁגב חומתיך) 34:13) (‖ארמנת), La 2:2, 5 (‖ id.) ψ 89:41 Ho 10:14 Am 5:9 Mi 5:10 Na 3:12, 14 Hb 1:10 Dn 11:24, 39; sq.n.pr. מ׳ צֹר 2 S 24:7 (cf. Jos 19:29 עיר מ׳ צֹר).

† מָעוֹז n.m. Ju 6:26 place or means of safety, protection (MT sfs. as if from עזז, but prob. erron., cf. BuhlLex 13 Ges§ 85 k);—מ׳ abs. Ju 6:26 +, cstr. Is 30:2 +; sf. מָעוּזִי 2 S 22:33 (but read הַמְּאַזְּרֵנִי as ‖ ψ 18:33), מָעוּזִּי ψ 31:5 +, מָעֻזּי Is 27:5 +, מָעוּזּוֹ ψ 52:9 +, מָעֻזֹּה Dn 11:10, etc. (read proposes מְעוֹזִי, etc.); pl. מָעֻזִּים v 38, 39, sf. מָעֻזְּנֶיהָ Is 23:11, read מָעֻזֶּיהָ (Ges§ 20 o CheHeb. Hpt. al.; del. d. f. in all, v. supr.);— 1. lit. place of safety 2 S 22:33, hence (c. collat. idea of strength, as if from עזז) = fastness Ju 6:26; Is 23:11, 14 (in v 14 (CheHeb. Hpt. proposes מְחוֹזְכֶם your city), Ez 24:25; 30:15; Dn 11:7, 10, 19, הַמִּקְדָּשׁ הַמּ׳ v 31, מִבְצְרֵי מָעֻזִּים v 39; מ׳ הַיָּם i.e. harbour Is 23:4, but del. Ol Du CheHpt.; מ׳ מֵאוֹיֵב Na 3:11; cf. עָרֵי מ׳ Is 17:9. 2. a. fig., of God (י׳) as refuge Na 1:7 ψ 27:1; 31:5; 37:39; 52:9; Is 25:4(×2); Jo 4:16, י׳ עֻזִּי וּמָעֻזִּי וּמְנוּסִי Je 16:19, מ׳ יְשׁוּעוֹת מְשִׁיחוֹ ψ 28:8 (‖ עָז־); so צוּר מ׳ Is 17:10 ψ 31:3, אֱלֹהֵי מ׳ 43:2; also יַחֲזֵק בְּמָעֻוִּי Is 27:5 let him lay hold of my refuge (me as refuge); cf. חֶדְוַת י׳ הִיא מָעֻזְּכֶם Ne 8:10, מ׳ לַתֹּם דֶּרֶךְ י׳ Pr 10:29. b. of a heathen god, אֱלוֹהַּ מָעֻזִּים Dn 11:38 (read מְחֹזִים cities Che Is 23:1 Heb. Hpt.). 3. fig. of human protection, מ׳ פַּרְעֹה Is 30:2, 3 (both ‖ צֵל מִצְרַיִם); אֶפְרַיִם מ׳ רֹאשִׁי ψ 60:9 = 108:9, i.e. my helmet; also (of angel) Dn 11:1 (‖ מַחֲזִיק).

† [בָּצַר] vb. cut off, make inaccessible (especially by fortifying), enclose (NH id., Aramaic בְּצַר, ܒܨܰܪ (Pa. diminish, subtract), perhaps cf. Arabic بُصْرٌ side, edge, بِصْرٌ, etc., rough stone, أَرْضٌ بَصِرَةٌ land in wh. are sharp stones (cf. Lane))— Qal Impf. יִבְצֹר ψ 76:13; 2 ms. תִּבְצֹר Lv 25:5 Dt 24:21, וַיִּבְצְרוּ Ju 9:27, תִּבְצְרוּ Lv 25:11; Pt. act. בּוֹצֵר Je 6:9, בֹּֽצְרִים Je 49:9 Ob 5; pass. m. בָּצוּר Zc 11:2 Kt (Qr בָּצִיר), f. בְּצוּרָה Is 2:15 + 3 times + Ez 21:25 v. infr.; pl. f. בְּצוּרוֹת Ez 36:35, בְּצֻרוֹת Nu 13:28 + 14 times, בְּצוּרֹת Dt 1:28 Ne 9:25, בְּצֻרֹת Dt 3:5; 9:1;—cut off, grape-clusters, ענבים Lv 25:5, cf. v 11 (obj. נזיר), Dt 24:21 Ju 9:27 (obj. in both, כרם); hence Pt. act. grape-gathering, -gatherer Je 6:9; 49:9 Ob 5; fig. cut off (= take away) ψ 76:13 (obj. רוח נגידים); most often Pt. pass. cut off, made inaccessible, De Is 2:15 = fortified, always f.; generally adj. c. עיר, ערים; Nu 13:28 Dt 1:28; 3:5; 9:1 Jos 14:12 2 S 20:6 2 K 18:13 = Is 36:1 2 K 19:25 = Is 37:26 2 Ch 17:2; 19:5; 32:1; 33:14 Ne 9:25 Is 25:2; 27:10 Ez 36:35 Ho 8:14 Zp 1:16; rarely c. חומה Dt 28:52 Is 2:15 Je 15:20; יער הב׳ Zc 11:2 (read Kt); once, subst. of secrets, mysteries (= unattainable things) Je 33:3;—ב׳ Ez 21:25 𝔊 Sm Co בְּתוֹכָהּ, doubtless right. Niph. Impf. יִבָּצֵר be withheld Gn 11:6 (מֵהֶם), Jb 42:2 (מִמְּךָ). Pi. Impf. 3 fs. תְּבַצֵּר Je 51:53 fortify; so Inf. לְבַּצֵר Is 22:10.

† אַרְמוֹן n.m. Is 32:14 citadel—א׳ abs. Je 30:18 +; cstr. Is 25:2; pl. אַרְמְנוֹת abs. Am 3:9(×2); cstr. 1:4 +; אַרְמְנוֹתֵינוּ Mi 5:4 +, etc.—citadel, castle, palace, not used before royal period, mostly in prophets, especially common in Am & Je; citadel as securely barred (in sim.) Pr 18:19; א׳ בֵּית הַמֶּלֶךְ i.e. the citadel, stronghold 1 K 16:18, cf. 2 K 15:25; usually more general, of castles, palaces, prominent buildings; especially used in speaking of conquest, because the fine buildings would be especially object of attack & plunder, palaces of Isr. Am 6:8; of Jerusalem Is 32:14 (sg. coll.) La 2:5, 7; 2 Ch 36:19; ψ 48:4, 14; 122:7 cf. Ho 8:14; Mi 5:4; Am 2:5; Je 17:27; of Samaria Am 3:10, 11; also Je 6:5; 9:20 belonging to Benhadad (i.e. Aramaic) Am 1:4 Je 49:27; of Tyre Is 23:13; Am 1:10; of Babylon Is 25:2 (sg. coll.), cf. 13:22 where read אַרְמְנוֹתָיו for אלמנותיו so 𝔖 𝔗 𝔙 Che Di (‖ היכלים; cf. Ez 19:7 according to 𝔗 al.; Dl BD xi defends MT in Ez 19:7 & comp. Assyrian almattu, fortress); of Edom Is 34:13, of Gaza Am 1:7, of Rabbah 1:14, of Bozrah 1:12, of Kerioth 2:2, of Ashdod 3:9, of Egypt 3:9.

† I. מָצוֹר n.[m.] siege-enclosure, siege, entrenchment;—always מ׳ abs., exc. cstr. מְצוֹר Ez 4:7, sf. מְצוּרֶ֑ךָ v 8;— 1. siege מ׳ שָׂם עָלֵינוּ Mi 4:14 he hath laid siege to us, cf. וְנָתַתָּ֫ עָלֶיהָ מ׳ Ez 4:2; בּוֹא בַמּ׳ is come into a state of siege Dt 20:19; 2 K 24:10; 25:2; Je 52:5, cf. וְהָֽיְתָה בַמּ׳ Ez 4:3; יוֹשֶׁבֶת֯י בַּמּ׳ Je 10:17; מְצוֹר יְרו׳ Ez 4:7 siege of Jerus., but also מ׳ עַל־יְרו׳ Zc 12:2; יְמֵי מ׳ of duration of siege Ez 4:8; 5:2; מֵי מ׳ Na 3:14 water for a siege; in phr. בְּמ׳ וּבְמָצוֹק in the siege and stress Dt 28:53, 55, 57 Je 19:9. 2. enclosure, i.e. siege-works Dt 20:20; late = rampart Zc 9:3, עִיר מ׳ entrenched city ψ 31:22 (al. besieged), 60:11 (‖ 108:11 ע׳מִבְצָר), cf. 2 Ch 8:5; עָרִים לְמ׳ 11:5, ישְׁבִים בְּמ׳ בִּירוּשָׁלַם 32:10; מ׳ Hb 2:1 according to most (‖ מִשְׁמֶרֶת); but We der. from נצר, i.e. watch-tower, Now conj. מִצְפֶּה (cf. וַאֲצַפֶּה foll.); > Buhl conj. מְצָד—מ׳ n.pr.terr. v. p. 596.

† חֵל, חֵיל n.m. Ob 20 rampart, fortress (perhaps orig. surrounding wall, cf. Sab. Denkm 91 n.2)—abs. חֵיל Na 3:8, חֵל La 2:8 + 3 times (+ ψ 10:10 Qr v. חלכה); cstr. חֵל 1 K 21:23; sf. חֵילֵךְ ψ 122:7, חֵילָהּ Zc 9:4; חֵילָה = חֵילָהּ ψ 48:11, Ol§ 40 c. 75 g. 96 e Sta§ 347 c;— 1. rampart (defined by Jews as בֶּן חוֹמָה, i.e. a little wall, cf. Ki s.v.), of an outer fortification 2 S 20:15 (others, by meton., of space between outer and inner fortif., incl. moat, v. Dr Kit); Is 26:1 La 2:8 (both ‖ חוֹמוֹת); in gen. of defences, or sea-power of Tyre וְהִכָּה בַיָּם חֵילָהּ Zc 9:4 (v. StaZAW i. 1881, 15), of No-Amon (Thebes) אֲשֶׁר חֵיל יָם מִיָּם חוֹמָתָהּ Na 3:8; of Zion ψ 122:7, also 48:14 (חילה = חֵילָהּ, cf. supr.; both ‖ ארמנותיך).—For חֵל 1 K 21:23 read prob. חֵלֶק, q.v. 2. fortress גָּלֻת הַחֵל הַזֶּה Ob 20 the exiles of this fortress (Hi-St; Or AVRV this army, חֵל = חַיִל).

† II. מְצוּדָה n.f. fastness, stronghold;—abs. מ׳ 1 S 22:4 +, מְצֻדָה 2 S 5:9, cstr. מְצֻדַת v 7; sf. מְצוּדָתִי ψ 18:3 +, מְצֻדָתִי 2 S 22:2; pl. מְצוּדוֹת ψ 31:3;—fastness of David, 1 S 22:4, 5; 24:23 (Gi v 22) 2 S 5:17; 23:14 = 1 Ch 11:16; read also מְצֻדַת עֲדֻלָּם 1 S 22:1 2 S 23:13 1 Ch 11:15, for MT מְעָרַת (v. מְעָרָה p. 792 b); of Jerus., מְצֻדַת צִיּוֹן 2 S 5:7 = 1 Ch 11:5, cf. 2 S 5:9; home of eagle Jb 39:28 (+ שֶׁן־סֶלַע); elsewhere fig. of י׳ ψ 18:3 = 2 S 22:2, ψ 31:4; 71:3 (all + סַלְעִי), 91:2 (+ מַחְסִי), 144:2 (+ חַסְדִּי, but this dub., Krochm Gr Che חִסְנִי, Dy חִזְקִ, Du סַלְעִי; poss. is מַחְסִי); also בֵּית מְצוּדוֹת 31:3.

† בִּירָה n.f. castle, palace (late & prob. loan-word; cf. Assyrian bîrtu, fortress DlHA 22; Pers. bâru = Skr. bura, bari, v. Ry Ne 2:8)— 1. of temple at Jerusalem 1 Ch 29:1, 19 הַבִּירָה; of fortress near temple Ne 2:8; 7:2 (cf. βᾶρις 𝔊L Ne 1:1; 2:8; 7:2—B ἁβιρά, βειρά—and later βᾶρις JosAnt. xv, 11, 4). 2. בְּשׁוּשַׁן הַבִּירָה Ne 1:1 Est 1:2, 5; 2:3, 5, 8; 3:15; 8:14; 9:6, 11, 12 Dn 8:2; in these passages it appar. means a fortress in the city bearing the same name (cf. especially Est 3:15; 8:14, 15; 9:6, 12, 15, 18).

† I. מִשְׂגָּב n.[m. AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 60] secure height, retreat;—מ׳ ψ 9:10 +; cstr. מִשְׂגַּב Is 25:12; sf. מִשְׂגַּבִּי ψ 18:3 +, etc.;— 1. a. = stronghold, מִבְצַר מ׳ חֹמֹתֶיךָ Is 25:12. b. fig. of security Is 33:16. 2. fig. of God as refuge ψ 9:10(×2), 18:3 = 2 S 22:3, ψ 46:8, 12; 48:4; 59:10, 17, 18; 62:3, 7; 94:22; 144:2.

παρεμ-βολή, ἡ, insertion, interpolation, ἑτέρων πραγμάτων Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 Grammars, parenthesis, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __II drawing up in battle-order, Refs 2nd c.BC+; in Tactics, insertion of men in the ranks (distinct from παρένταξις and παρεμπλοκή), Refs 1st c.BC+ __II.b company of soldiers, etc., LXX; host, Refs 2nd c.BC+ __II.2 encampment, LXX+4th c.BC+: generally, soldiers' quarters, Refs 2nd c.BC+; barracks, NT+2nd c.AD+; name of an ἄμφοδον, Refs 3rd c.AD+ __III ={παρεξειρεσία} (which see), Refs 2nd c.BC+ __IV in boxing and wrestling, π. βάλλειν trip an adversary by a twist of the leg, Refs 1st c.AD+

† סֹלְלָה n.f. mound;—ס׳ 2 S 20:15 + 7 times; סוֹלְלָה Dn 11:15; pl. סֹלְלוֹת Je 32:24; 33:4.—שָׁפַךְ ס׳ עַל־הָעִיר cast up mound against the city, besieging it, 2 K 19:32 = Is 37:33, Je 6:6; Ez 4:2; 26:8; c. אֶל 2 S 20:15 (error for על); without על העיר Ez 17:17; 21:27; Dn 11:15; without vb. Je 32:24; 33:4.

† מִלּוֹא n.pr.loc. (Thes ‘fill’ of earth, earthwork, but v. GFM Ju 9:6) SchwallyZMG lii (1898), 137 cp. Assyrian mulû = earthwork, mound, terrace, Dl 411 M-A 544;— 1. בֵּית מִלּוֹא Ju 9:6 (‖ בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם) so v 20(×2); near Shechem, site unknown; 𝔊 οἶκος Βηθμααλων. 2. citadel in Jerus. הַמִּלּוֹא 2 S 5:9 1 K 9:15, 24; 11:27; 1 Ch 11:8 2 Ch 32:5. 𝔊 usually ἡ ἄκρα (A 1 K 9:15, 24 also Μελω). 3. בֵּית מִלֹּא 2 K 12:21 (+ הַיֹּרֵד סִלָּא) dub.; = 2? 𝔊 οἴκῳ Μααλω.

† מְצָד, מְצַד n.f. Je 48:41 fastness, stronghold (prop. hunting-place?);—abs. מְצָד 1 Ch 11:7; 12:6, מְצַד 12:8; pl. abs. מְצָדוֹת 1 S 23:14 +, cstr. id. v 29 (Gi, 24:1 van d. H. Baer), Is 33:16;— 1. mountain-fastness Ju 6:2 1 S 23:14, 19, 19 (v. supr.), Ez 33:27; 1 Ch 12:8(9), 16(17); מְצָדוֹת סְלָעִים Is 33:16. 2. more gen., stronghold Je 48:41; 51:30; Ez 19:9 (Baer Gi van d. H. מְצֹדוֹת id. [ii. מְצוֹדָה] Ew Hi-Sm Da al.; nets [i. מְצוֹדָה] Krae; del. Co Oort Toy); citadel of Jerusalem 1 Ch 11:7.

† מְצוּרָה n.f. siege-works, rampart;—abs. מ׳ Na 2:2 2 Ch 14:5; pl. מְצוּרוֹת 2 Ch 11:11 +, מְצֻרֹת Is 29:3, etc.;— 1. siege-works Is 29:3. 2. rampart נָצוֹר מ׳ Na 2:2 guard the rampart! (‖ צַפֵּה דֶרֶךְ; We Now der. from נצר, i.e. keep watch!), 2 Ch 11:11, עָרֵי מְצוּרָה 14:5 fortified cities, so עָרֵי (הַ)מְצֻרוֹת 11:10, 23; 12:4; 21:3.

† דָּיֵק n.m. bulwark, siege-wall—דָּיֵק 2 K 25:1 + 5 times—בנה ד׳ עליה סביב 2 K 25:1 = Je 52:4; cf. Ez 4:2; 17:17; 21:27 (all ‖ שׁפך סֹלֲלָה); נתן ד׳ על Ez 26:8 (‖ id.)

† צְרִיחַ n.[m.] perhaps excavation, underground chamber;—צ׳ abs. Ju 9:49, cstr. v 46; pl. צְרִחִים 1 S 13:6;—used as hiding-places 1 S 13:6 (+ מְעָרוֹת, חֲוָחִים, סְלָעִים, בֹּרוֹת); as refuge Ju 9:46 (where connected with shrine), v 49 (Vrss stronghold; on uncertainty of meaning v. GFM).

† [בִּירָנִית] n.f. fortress, fortified place (late); only pl. abs. בִּירָנִיּוֹת וְעָרֵי מִסְכְּנוֹת 2 Ch 17:12 built by Jehoshaphat; בּ׳ וּמִגְדָּלִים 27:4 built by Jotham.

† II. [מְצוֹדָה] n.f. fastness, stronghold;—sf. מְצֹדָתָהּ Is 29:7 (of Ariel);—pl. Ez 19:9 v. מְצָד.

ὀχῠρ-ωμα, ατος, τό, stronghold, fortress, prison, LXX+5th c.BC+

συγ-κάμπτω, bend, τὸ σκέλος Refs 5th c.BC+; of legs, arms, spine, etc., LXX: intransitive, bend down,LXXpassive, opposed to ἐκτείνεσθαι, Refs 5th c.BC+; συγκεκαμμένος τοῖς δακτύλοις with the fingers doubled up. Refs 3rd c.AD+; especially of the action of sitting down, συγκαμφθεὶς κάθημαι Refs 5th c.BC+; of the foetus in the womb, Refs 2nd c.AD+; of the chest in phthisis, Refs 5th c.BC+; of animals lying down with their knees bent under them, σ. ἡ βοῦς Refs 4th c.BC+:—in passive also, bend together with, ἐπιφανείας -εσθαι τοῖς σώμασιν Refs 1st c.AD+

συγκύπτω, bend forwards, stoop and lay heads together, παιδάρια συγκύψανθ᾽ ἅμα βληχᾶται Refs 5th c.BC+; σ. πρὸς ἀλλήλας, of mares, Refs 4th c.BC+ they do it in concert, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 draw together, ἢν συγκύπτῃ τὰ κέρατα τοῦ πλαισίου Refs 5th c.BC+ __II to be bowed down, bent double, as under a burden, NT+2nd c.AD+; μελανίᾳLXX

† בִּירְתָא (Baer -תָּא) n.f. emph. castle (so Egyptian Aramaic RÉS 361, A 5; B 1, 2 S-C Pap. B 3, C 16 +; Nab. = temple CIS ii. 164. 3; BH בִּירָה);—Ezr 6:2.

† בִּצָּרוֹן n.[m.] stronghold, לְב׳ Zc 9:12.

† חֵל, חֵיל n.m. Ob 20 rampart, fortress (perhaps orig. surrounding wall, cf. Sab. Denkm 91 n.2)—abs. חֵיל Na 3:8, חֵל La 2:8 + 3 times (+ ψ 10:10 Qr v. חלכה); cstr. חֵל 1 K 21:23; sf. חֵילֵךְ ψ 122:7, חֵילָהּ Zc 9:4; חֵילָה = חֵילָהּ ψ 48:11, Ol§ 40 c. 75 g. 96 e Sta§ 347 c;— 1. rampart (defined by Jews as בֶּן חוֹמָה, i.e. a little wall, cf. Ki s.v.), of an outer fortification 2 S 20:15 (others, by meton., of space between outer and inner fortif., incl. moat, v. Dr Kit); Is 26:1 La 2:8 (both ‖ חוֹמוֹת); in gen. of defences, or sea-power of Tyre וְהִכָּה בַיָּם חֵילָהּ Zc 9:4 (v. StaZAW i. 1881, 15), of No-Amon (Thebes) אֲשֶׁר חֵיל יָם מִיָּם חוֹמָתָהּ Na 3:8; of Zion ψ 122:7, also 48:14 (חילה = חֵילָהּ, cf. supr.; both ‖ ארמנותיך).—For חֵל 1 K 21:23 read prob. חֵלֶק, q.v. 2. fortress גָּלֻת הַחֵל הַזֶּה Ob 20 the exiles of this fortress (Hi-St; Or AVRV this army, חֵל = חַיִל).

† I. [מָצוֹד] n.m. in pl., dub., usually siege-works;—מְצוֹדִים גְּדֹלִים Ec 9:14, but read מְצוּרִים WklAltor. Forsch. i. 353, v. מָצוֹר 2, p. 849 a.

† II. מִשְׂגָּב perhaps n.pr.loc. in Moab;—הַמּ׳ Je 48:1 (v. SchwallyZAW viii (1888), 196 Albrl.c.), Αμαθ; Gf thinks appell. of Ḳir Moab (v. ii. קִיר); most sub i. מ׳ 1.