different from the ordinary prison in being more severe as a place of punishment. Like the Roman inner prison (
Acts 16:24 ), it consisted of a deep cell or cistern (
Jeremiah 38:6 ). To be shut up in, a punishment common in Egypt (
Genesis 39:20 ;
40:3 ;
41:10 ;
42:19 ). It is not mentioned, however, in the law of Moses as a mode of punishment. Under the later kings imprisonment was frequently used as a punishment (
2 Chronicles 16:10 ;
Jeremiah 20:2 ;
32:2 ;
33:1 ;
37:15 ), and it was customary after the Exile (
Matthew 11:2 ;
Luke 3:20 ;
Acts 5:18 Acts 5:21 ;
Matthew 18:30 ).
These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.