Bible Dictionary
Battlement
A battlement was a low parapet built around a flat roof to prevent falls. Israelite law required such protection on houses, and the word can also describe a city-wall defense.
Definition
A battlement was a low parapet or protective wall built around a flat roof to prevent people from falling. It could also serve as a partition between buildings and, in one biblical usage, refer to the parapet of a city wall.
Biblical Usage
Israelite law required a battlement on every house. Jeremiah uses the term for a defensive parapet associated with a city wall.
Historical Background
Flat-roofed houses required a surrounding low wall for protection. The same general term could describe domestic roof parapets and fortification structures.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A parapet wall or balustrade surrounding the flat roofs of the houses, required to be built by a special law (Deut. 22:8). In Jer. 5:10, it denotes the parapet of a city wall.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Among the Jews a battlement was required by law to be built upon every house. It consisted of a low wall built around the roofs of the houses to prevent persons from falling off, and sometimes serving as a partition from another building. (22:8; Jeremiah 5:10)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>bat'-'-l-ment.</p><p>See FORTIFICATION; HOUSE.</p>