What is a Citadel in the Bible? 
Citadel, castle, or palace. Historically, citadels are important buildings that have played a role in the development of nations. They were built as fortifications to protect cities from attack and to protect their rulers. Today, these structures are often used to protect important people or sites.
Citadel of Susa
Susa is a well-known city in the Ancient Near East. It is mentioned in the earliest Sumerian records as a city obedient to Inanna, the patron deity of the Uruk people. The Bible mentions Susa in the Book of Jubilees (8:21; 9:1) and the Bible refers to it as “Susan.”
Susa was a major political center in Elam during the 4th millennium BCE. Today, it is home to numerous ruins from different periods, providing evidence of the history of cultures in the region. UNESCO has recognized this site as a World Heritage Site.
Susa was located in what is now known as Iran. The modern town of Shush is named after the ancient city. Susa was a capital city of the Elamite Empire, which corresponds to the province of Khuzestan, Iran. It was also the capital of the Parthian Empire. Susa’s name is also mentioned in the Bible, including in the Book of Esther.
Three towers
During the 1st century BCE, King Herod refortified Jerusalem by building three huge towers to the city’s First Wall. Josephus Flavius recorded their names as Phasael, Mariamne, and Hippicus. These towers served as a protection for the large royal palace south of them. The city was then surrounded by walls that would prevent any invading force from entering the city.
Herod’s fortifications provided a well-protected, powerful fortress. They also played a crucial role during the First Jewish revolt against the Romans. During the revolt, an internal plot ignited fire in the fortress. The fire started in the tower of Antonia and spread to the rest of the palaces. The fire eventually consumed the upper parts of the three towers.
Royal palace
In the bible, a royal palace or citadel is described as a fortified building. The word is derived from the Latin word palatium, which originally meant “a building enclosed in a paling or fence.” The word “palatium” is used several different ways in the Authorized Version. It can mean “a lofty fortress, a palace, a fortified place, or a large building.”
The Bible mentions the Pharaoh’s palace many times. This is a reference to the palace of the Egyptian king, which was near the Nile. The Bible also notes that Moses was able to confront the Pharaoh in his palace three times, and was able to convince him to let the Israelites go.
Strategic role in first Jewish rebellion against Rome
The Citadel of Jerusalem played an important strategic role during the First Jewish Rebellion against Rome. Its location, combined with the fortifications it built to protect it, made it a formidable fortress. However, during this time, the Jewish leadership suffered internal conflicts, including a split between revolutionaries and moderates. The Zealots spread terror throughout the city, and the moderates tried to contain them. The Zealots also invited Jews from Idumea to join the revolt. While the Zealots were successful in conquering the southern part of the citadel, their revolt was ultimately sparked by the oppression of the Jews. Eventually, the revolt was quelled, and the Romans took Jerusalem.
The first Jewish-Roman war lasted from 66 to 73 CE. It was a major event that radically changed the Eastern Mediterranean. This conflict displaced many Jews, destroyed Jewish towns, and sacked the Temple. It also resulted in the destruction of the Jewish Temple and Jewish polity.
Time period
There are a few different time periods associated with a citadel in the Bible, but there is one example in the Book of Judges that stands out. When the Canaanite people were ruled by the Egyptians in the 12th century BCE, they built a citadel in the Land of Canaan. In this period, the Israelites were the Egyptians’ proteges. Similar Egyptian fortresses were found throughout the Land of Canaan.
The citadel of Jerusalem was also where a community of monks lived. The tower of Herod acquired its alternative name as the Tower of David during this time. The Byzantines, however, mistakenly identified the hill as Mount Zion and mistakenly thought that the palace of King David had been on it. Finally, in the First World War, British forces led by General Edmund Allenby captured Jerusalem.