Castle

Castle in Scripture translates several Hebrew and Greek terms referring to fortified towers, citadels, or enclosures. The fortress on the hill of Zion captured from the Jebusites by David became his stronghold and the foundation of his royal city (1 Chronicles 11:7). Levitical cities had designated towers or strongholds (tirah) as secure residences (1 Chronicles 6:54). Genesis 25:16 uses the same word for the camps or settlements of Ishmael's sons. In the New Testament, the most significant "castle" is the Antonia Fortress, the Roman garrison adjacent to the temple mount in Jerusalem, into which Paul was carried by soldiers rescuing him from the Jewish mob (Acts 21:34–37). It was from the stairs of this fortress that Paul addressed the crowd in Hebrew.