Prisons

Antiquity of — Ge 39:20.

Kinds of, mentioned

State. — Jer 37:21; Ge 39:20.

Common. — Ac 5:18.

Dungeons attached to — Jer 38:6; Zec 9:11.

Were under the care of a keeper — Ge 39:21.

Used for confining

Persons accused of crimes. — Lu 23:19.

Persons accused of heresy. — Ac 4:3; 5:18; 8:3.

Suspected persons. — Ge 42:19.

Condemned persons till executed. — Le 24:12; Ac 12:4,5.

Enemies taken captive. — Jdj 16:21; 2Ki 17:4; Jer 52:11.

Debtors till they paid. — Mt 5:26; 18:30.

Persons under the king’s displeasure. — 1Ki 22:27; 2Ch 16:10; Mr 6:17.

Confinement in, often awarded as a punishment — Ezr 7:26.

Confinement in, considered a severe punishment — Lu 22:33.

Places used as

Court of the king’s house. — Jer 32:2.

House of the king’s scribe. — Jer 37:15.

House of the captain of the guard. — Ge 40:3.

Prisoner’s own house, where he was kept bound to a soldier. — Ac 28:16,30; 2Ti 1:16-18.

The king had power to commit to — 1Ki 22:27.

Magistrates had power to commit to — Mt 5:25.

Persons confined in

Said to be in ward. — Le 24:12.

Said to be in hold. — Ac 4:3.

Often placed in dungeons. — Jer 39:6; Ac 16:24.

Often bound with fetters. — Ge 42:19; Eze 19:9; Mr 6:17.

Often chained to two soldiers. — Ac 12:6.

Often fastened in stocks. — Jer 29:26; Ac 16:24.

Often kept to hard labour. — Jdj 16:21.

Often subjected to extreme suffering. — Ps 79:11; 102:20; 105:18.

Fed on bread and water. — 1Ki 22:27.

Clothed in prison dress. — 2Ki 25:29.

Sometimes allowed to be visited by their friends. — Mt 11:2; 25:36; Ac 24:23.

Might have their condition ameliorated by the king. — Jer 37:20,21.

Often executed in. — Ge 40:22; Mt 14:10.

The king had power to release from — Ge 40:21.

Magistrates had power to release from — Ac 16:35,36.

Keepers of

Strictly guarded the doors. — Ac 12:6.

Responsible for the prisoners. — Ac 16:23,27.

Put to death if prisoners escaped. — Ac 12:19.

Often used severity. — Jer 37:16,20; Ac 16:24.

Sometimes acted kindly. — Ge 39:21; Ac 16:33,34.

Sometimes entrusted the care of the prison to well-conducted prisoners. — Ge 39:22,23.

Illustrative of

Deep afflictions. — Ps 142:7.

Hell. — Re 20:7.

Bondage to sin and Satan. — Isa 42:7; 49:9; 61:1.