walls Summary and Overview

Only a few points need be noticed. 1. The practice common in Israel of carrying foundations down to the solid rock, as in the case of the temple, with structures intended to be permanent. #Lu 6:48| 2. 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. 3. Another use of walls in Israel is to support mountain roads Or terraces formed on the sides of hills for purposes of cultivation. 4. The "path of the vineyards," #Nu 22:24| is a pathway through vineyards, with walls on each side.

WALLS . The walls with which, in ancient times, all cities were surrounded, in contradistinction from open or unwalled villages, were generally built of earth or clay or sun-dried brick. Hence it was necessary to build them of great thickness, in order to ensure their permanency. Houses were often erected on top of them, or they were provided with fortifications (fenced walls). When any breach took place in such a mass of earth, either by heavy rains or some defect in the foundation, the consequences were very serious. Ps 62:3; Isa 30:13. See City.

(See HOUSE.) Foundations were often carried down to the solid rock, as in the case of the temple. The foundation stones are often of enormous size, 20 to 30 ft. long, by three to 6 ft. 6 inches wide, and five to 7 ft. 6 inches thick; three at Baalbek are each 68 ft. long, and one in the quarry 68 ft. 4 in. long, 17 ft. 2 in. broad, and 14 ft. 7 in. thick. Slabs of marble or alabaster line the walls of Solomon's buildings, as those of Nineveh.