Siege Ramp

An dirt mound built against a city wall to help attackers climb over it.

Siege ramp at Masada, built by the Romans to attack the Jewish rebels who had taken refuge there
Siege ramp at Masada, built by the Romans to attack the Jewish rebels who had taken refuge there (© Andrew Shiva / Wikipedia, via Wikimedia Commons) Siege ramp, siege mound

About Siege Ramp

The siege ramp was a road leading up to the walls of a city that was under attack. Fortified cities were often built on high ground and were difficult to approach. Battering rams (see Battering ram) were very heavy and hard to move. The attackers would build a ramp or road over which they could bring their battering ram and other siege instruments.

Read full article

Key References

2 Samuel 20:15

And Joab’s troops came and besieged Sheba in Abel-beth-maacah and built a siege ramp against the outer rampart of the city. As all the troops with Joab were battering the wall to topple it,

Isaiah 37:33

So this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: ‘He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow into it. He will not come before it with a shield or build up a siege ramp against it.

Ezekiel 4:2

Then lay siege against it: Construct a siege wall, build a ramp to it, set up camps against it, and place battering rams around it on all sides.

All Scripture References (11)

2 Samuel (1)
2 Samuel 20:15

And Joab’s troops came and besieged Sheba in Abel-beth-maacah and built a siege ramp against the outer rampart of the city. As all the troops with Joab were battering the wall to topple it,

2 Kings (1)
2 Kings 19:32

So this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: ‘He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow into it. He will not come before it with a shield or build up a siege ramp against it.

Isaiah (1)
Isaiah 37:33

So this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: ‘He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow into it. He will not come before it with a shield or build up a siege ramp against it.

Jeremiah (3)
Jeremiah 6:6

For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Cut down the trees and raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; there is nothing but oppression in her midst.

Jeremiah 32:24

See how the siege ramps are mounted against the city to capture it. And by sword and famine and plague, the city has been given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What You have spoken has happened, as You now see!

Jeremiah 33:4

For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the houses of this city and the palaces of the kings of Judah that have been torn down for defense against the siege ramps and the sword:

Ezekiel (4)
Ezekiel 4:2

Then lay siege against it: Construct a siege wall, build a ramp to it, set up camps against it, and place battering rams around it on all sides.

Ezekiel 17:17

Pharaoh with his mighty army and vast horde will not help him in battle, when ramps are built and siege walls constructed to destroy many lives.

Ezekiel 21:27

A ruin, a ruin, I will make it a ruin! And it will not be restored until the arrival of Him to whom it belongs, to whom I have assigned the right of judgment.’

Ezekiel 26:8

He will slaughter the villages of your mainland with the sword; he will set up siege works against you, build a ramp to your walls, and raise his shields against you.

Daniel (1)
Daniel 11:15

Then the king of the North will come, build up a siege ramp, and capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will not stand; even their best troops will not be able to resist.