Prison

From BibleWiki

The first occasion on which we read of a prison is in the history of Joseph in Egypt. Then Potiphar, "Joseph's master, took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound" (Gen 39:20ff). The Heb. word here used (sohar) means properly a round tower or fortress. It seems to have been a part of Potiphar's house, a place in which state prisoners were kept.

The Mosaic law made no provision for imprisonment as a punishment. In the wilderness two persons were "put in ward" (Lev 24:12; Num 15:34), but it was only till the mind of God concerning them should be ascertained. Prisons and prisoners are mentioned in the book of Psalms (Ps 69³³; Ps 79¹¹; Ps 142⁷). Samson was confined in a Philistine prison (Jdg 16:21ff). In the subsequent history of Israel frequent references are made to prisons (1 Kg 22:27; 2Kg 17:4; 2Kg 25:27ff; 2Chr 16:10; Isa 42:7; Jer 32:2). Prisons seem to have been common in New Testament times (Mt 11:2; Mt 25:36, Mt 25:43). The apostles were put into the "common prison" at the instance of the Jewish council (Acts 5:18, Acts 5:23; Acts 8:3); and at Philippi Paul and Silas were thrust into the "inner prison" (Acts 16:24; comp. Acts 4:3; Acts 12:4f).