And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.
So they came and surrounded Sheba in the city of Abel Beth Maacah, and they built up a ramp of dirt against the city wall. The ramp reached up to the outer defenses, and all of Joab's soldiers attacked the wall, trying to knock it down.
This verse describes Joab's army using ancient siege warfare tactics - building dirt ramps and battering the walls - to capture the rebel Sheba who had taken refuge in a fortified city.
📚 Historical Context
This takes place during King David's reign when a man named Sheba led a rebellion against David's rule. Ancient armies used siege warfare techniques like building earthen ramps against city walls to overcome fortified defenses, as cities were often built with high walls for protection.
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