And put siegeworks against it, and build a siege wall against it, and cast up a mound against it. Set camps also against it, and plant battering rams against it all around.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse doesn't just list siege tools; it describes the complete and systematic encirclement of Jerusalem. Every detail, from the ramparts to the battering rams, paints a picture of an inescapable doom, emphasizing that no part of the city will be left untouched by God's judgment.
And put siegeworks against it, and build a siege wall against it, and cast up a mound against it. Set camps also against it, and plant battering rams against it all around.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following God's command to draw Jerusalem on a brick, Ezekiel is now instructed to draw the implements of war surrounding it. This isn't a literal battle; rather, he must depict the various siege engines and encampments that will be used against the city. These detailed drawings represent the inevitable destruction and exile that will soon come upon Jerusalem and its people.
Imagine the most devastating siege engine you can think of. Now imagine more. God's instructions to Ezekiel are incredibly detailed, leaving no room for doubt about the severity of the coming judgment.
In Ezekiel 4:2, God commands Ezekiel to meticulously outline every aspect of a siege against a symbolic representation of Jerusalem:
Every single one of these elements was to be depicted. This wasn't just a casual drawing; it was a comprehensive, almost obsessive, recreation of warfare's most destructive force.
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It might seem like a strange, almost childish, thing for a prophet to do – drawing on a brick. But God makes it clear this is no mere play.
The instructions for Ezekiel to draw these siege works are embedded within a divine command. While the physical act might appear simple, God elevates it to a sacred sign:
The detailed description of siege engines like battering rams in Ezekiel 4:2 is significant because it marks one of the earliest known accounts of their use in warfare, highlighting the brutal technological advancements of the Babylonian military against Jerusalem.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, conquers Judah and takes Jehoiakim captive along with members of the royal family and elite, including Daniel. This marks the beginning of Babylonian dominance over Judah.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
After a brief rebellion, Jerusalem is besieged and conquered again. King Jehoiachin and more of the elite, including the prophet Ezekiel, are exiled to Babylon. Zedekiah is placed on the throne as a vassal king.
c. 588 BC— this verse
Zedekiah's Rebellion
Despite warnings from Jeremiah and Ezekiel, King Zedekiah rebels against Babylon, possibly encouraged by a promise of aid from Egypt. This act seals Jerusalem's fate.
c. 588-587 BC
Siege of Jerusalem Begins
Nebuchadnezzar's forces lay siege to Jerusalem. The prophet Ezekiel, from his exile in Babylon, is commanded to act out the siege on a tile as a sign to the people back home and in Jerusalem.
c. 587-586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
After a prolonged siege, Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians. The city is plundered, its walls are torn down, and the Temple is destroyed. Most of the remaining population is deported to Babylon.
This passage describes a similar siege scenario, with God commanding the destruction of Jerusalem using battering rams and mounds, highlighting the widespread nature of divine judgment.
Luke 19:43Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, foretelling the siege and destruction that would come upon the city, echoing the judgment Ezekiel's symbolic actions represented.
Isaiah 37:33This verse describes Sennacherib's siege of Jerusalem, mentioning the construction of mounds and siege towers, illustrating the historical reality of the warfare Ezekiel was symbolizing.
2 Kings 25:1This passage recounts the actual historical event of Nebuchadnezzar's army laying siege to Jerusalem, building forts and using battering rams, fulfilling Ezekiel's prophecy.
Ezekiel 4:3The following verse describes the 'iron wall' Ezekiel sets up, further developing the symbolic language of siege and separation, reinforcing the divine judgment being depicted.
pooleEzekiel 4:2: "And lay siege against it, and build a fort against it, and cast a mount against it; set the camp also against it, and set battering rams against it round about."
Draw the figure of a siege about the city; raise a tower and bulwarks which may annoy the besieged, and defend the besiegers, from which may be shot either darts against men, or mighty stones against the walls and towers of the city. Cast a mount; which made large, high, and strong, and near as they can, might thence by h…
clarkeEzekiel 4:2: "And lay siege against it, and build a fort against it, and cast a mount against it; set the camp also against it, and set battering rams against it round about."
Battering rams - כרים carim. This is the earliest account we have of this military engine. It was a long beam with a head of brass, like the head and horns of a ram, whence its name. It was hung by chains or ropes, between two beams, or three legs, so that it could admit of being drawn backward and forward some yards. Se…
The verse doesn't just list siege tools; it describes the complete and systematic encirclement of Jerusalem. Every detail, from the ramparts to the battering rams, paints a picture of an inescapable doom, emphasizing that no part of the city will be left untouched by God's judgment.
Following God's command to draw Jerusalem on a brick, Ezekiel is now instructed to draw the implements of war surrounding it. This isn't a literal battle; rather, he must depict the various siege engines and encampments that will be used against the city. These detailed drawings represent the inevitable destruction and exile that will soon come upon Jerusalem and its people.
Following God's command to draw Jerusalem on a brick, Ezekiel is now instructed to draw the implements of war surrounding it. This isn't a literal battle; rather, he must depict the various siege engines and encampments that will be used against the city. These detailed drawings represent the inevitable destruction and exile that will soon come upon Jerusalem and its people.
"And put siegeworks against it, and build a siege wall against it, and cast up a mound against it. Set camps also against it, and plant battering rams against it all around." — The verse doesn't just list siege tools; it describes the complete and systematic encirclement of Jerusalem. Every detail, from the ramparts to the battering rams, paints a picture of an inescapa…
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Last reviewed October 2026