Tower

Fortified walls for protection surrounded many OT cities. Observation towers were incorporated at strategic vantage points.  As the city gates were often vulnerable points in their defence systems the towers were adjacent to them so a larger number of defenders could fight the enemy.  In vineyards, towers were built for watching over the ripening crops.

In the Bible, the image of the tower is used frequently to describe the protection and place of shelter God offers us. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are safe” (Ps 18:2; Prov 18:10). God’s name represents His essential character and authority, being the equivalent to the Lord Himself. The Lord shows Himself faithful and trustworthy to all who confide in and depend on Him. When we call on the name of the Lord, we call upon God Himself (Joel 2:32; Act 2:21; Rom 10:13).

Early civilization who only had a common language began constructing a huge tower, which became known as the tower of Babel. However, God saw the pride in their hearts and confused the language, with the result that they could not understand each other and the building of the tower stopped (Gen 11:4-9).

See also: Babel, gates, Jesus/name of, protection, walls.