Prison
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 39:20–23). 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 69:33; Ps 79:11; Ps 142:7). Samson was confined in a Philistine prison (Judg 16:21, Judg 16:25). In the subsequent history of Israel frequent references are made to prisons (1 Kgs 22:27; 2 Kgs 17:4; 2 Kgs 25:27, 2 Kgs 25:29; 2 Chr 16:10; Isa 42:7; Jer 32:2). Prisons seem to have been common in New Testament times (Matt 11:2; Matt 25:36, Matt 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 12:4, Acts 12:5).
From Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897), by Matthew George Easton.
