The Definition of the word Prison

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 (69:33; 79:11; 142:7). Samson "was confined in a Philistine prison (Judg. 16:21, 25). In the" subsequent history of Israel frequent references are made to "prisons (1 Kings 22:27; 2 Kings 17:4; 25:27, 29; 2 Chr. 16:10;" Isa. 42:7; Jer. 32:2). Prisons seem to have been common in New "Testament times (Matt. 11:2; 25:36, 43). The apostles were put" "into the "common prison" at the instance of the Jewish council" "(Acts 5:18, 23; 8:3); and at Philippi Paul and Silas were thrust" "into the "inner prison" (16:24; comp. 4:3; 12:4, 5)."