In biblical times, turrets were small towers that were often part of the fortifications of a city or a castle. These structures served both defensive and offensive purposes, providing a vantage point for watchmen and archers. Turrets were integral to the military architecture of ancient Israel and its neighboring nations, reflecting the constant need for protection against invaders and the strategic importance of high ground in warfare.

Biblical References

While the term "turret" itself is not frequently used in most English translations of the Bible, the concept is closely related to the descriptions of towers and fortifications found throughout the Scriptures. For instance, in the context of city defenses, the Bible often mentions towers, which would have included turrets as part of their structure.

In 2 Chronicles 26:15, we read about King Uzziah of Judah, who "made devices in Jerusalem, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and on the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones." This passage highlights the use of elevated structures for military defense, which would have included turrets as platforms for launching projectiles.

The Song of Solomon also uses the imagery of towers to convey strength and beauty. In Song of Solomon 4:4, the beloved's neck is compared to "the tower of David, built in rows of stones, on which hang a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors." This metaphorical use underscores the association of towers and turrets with protection and might.

Historical and Cultural Context

In the ancient Near East, cities were often fortified with walls and towers to protect against enemy attacks. Turrets, as part of these fortifications, were strategically placed to maximize visibility and defensive capabilities. They allowed defenders to observe approaching threats from a distance and provided a platform for archers and soldiers to repel attackers.

The construction of turrets required significant resources and skilled labor, reflecting the importance of military preparedness in ancient societies. The presence of turrets in a city’s defenses was a testament to its strength and the wisdom of its leaders in safeguarding their people.

Symbolic Significance

In biblical literature, turrets and towers often symbolize strength, security, and vigilance. They serve as reminders of the need for spiritual watchfulness and the protection that comes from reliance on God. Proverbs 18:10 states, "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." This verse uses the imagery of a tower to convey the security and refuge found in God’s name.

The concept of turrets also invites reflection on the spiritual defenses believers are called to maintain. Just as ancient cities relied on their fortifications, Christians are encouraged to be vigilant and to "put on the full armor of God" (Ephesians 6:11) to stand firm against spiritual adversaries.

Conclusion

While the specific term "turret" may not appear frequently in the Bible, the concept is deeply embedded in the biblical narrative through references to towers and fortifications. These structures serve as powerful symbols of strength, protection, and the importance of vigilance, both in the physical and spiritual realms.

The Description of Jerusalem.
... After this, it was erected with great diligence by the Jews, as high as twenty cubits,
above which it had battlements of two cubits, and turrets of three ...
/.../chapter 4 the description of.htm

What was Heard in the Basilica of Peace
... of alfa-grass which surround it, with its quadrangular enclosure, its roads on the
projection of the walls behind the battlements, its squat turrets, it has a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/ii what was heard in.htm

Liii. Repentance Enjoined. Parable of the Barren Fig-Tree.
... What tower this was is not known. As the city wall ran through the district of that
fountain, it may possibly have been one of the turrets of that wall. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/liii repentance enjoined parable of.htm

"But to Return to Avitianus: While at Every Other Place...
... The building had been constructed of the most polished stones and furnished with
turrets; and, rising on high in the form of a cone, it preserved the ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter viii but to return.htm

Anon.
... Thy gates are of right orient pearl,. Exceeding rich and rare. Thy turrets and thy
pinnacles. With carbuncles do shine; Thy very streets are paved with gold,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/xvi anon.htm

Urbs Coelestis Ierusalem
... Jerusalem, that place divine, The vision of sweet peace is named; In heaven her
glorious turrets shine,. Her walls of living stone are framed; ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/xxxv urbs coelestis ierusalem.htm

The Church Exulting in the Government of Jehovah.
... 3 So shall his favored Zion live: In vain confed'rate nations strive Her sacred
turrets to destroy; Her Sov'reign sits enthroned above, And endless power and ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/314 the church exulting.htm

The King's Highway
... be. It is of no avail that we see the shining turrets far off on the hill,
if all the valleys between are unknown and trackless. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the kings highway.htm

Useful Phrases
... caressing grasp. carping critic. castellated towers [castellated = with turrets
and battlements like a castle]. casual violation. cataclysmic elements. ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section i useful phrases.htm

The Temples and the Gods of Chaldaea
... Narrow turrets projected at intervals of every fifty feet along the face of the
wall: the excavations have not been sufficiently pursued to permit of our ...
/.../chapter iithe temples and the.htm

Turrets (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Turrets (3 Occurrences). 2 Kings 25:1 And it
came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth ...
/t/turrets.htm - 7k

Turret (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (n.) A revolving tower constructed of thick iron plates, within which cannon
are mounted. Turrets are used on vessels of war and on land. ...
/t/turret.htm - 7k

Turtle (5 Occurrences)

/t/turtle.htm - 9k

Jezreel (37 Occurrences)
... Here Naboth was stoned to death (1 Kings 21:13). Jezreel, Tower of. One of the turrets
which guarded the entrance to the city (2 Kings 9:17). Jezreel, Valley of ...
/j/jezreel.htm - 27k

Monitor (1 Occurrence)
... 4. (n.) An ironclad war vessel, very low in the water, and having one or
more heavily-armored revolving turrets, carrying heavy guns. ...
/m/monitor.htm - 7k

Persepolis
... 9:2; Persepolis, Persaipolis, in Ptolemy Persopolis; original Persian name unknown;
Pahlavi Stakhr, now Ictakhr and Shihil Minar, "Forty Turrets"): 1. Location ...
/p/persepolis.htm - 7k

Principal (28 Occurrences)
... 13. (n.) One of turrets or pinnacles of waxwork and tapers with which the posts
and center of a funeral hearse were formerly crowned. 14. ...
/p/principal.htm - 18k

Armory (5 Occurrences)
... builded for an armory, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty
men." the Revised Version margin renders "builded with turrets." T. Nicol. ...
/a/armory.htm - 9k

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