Dict: easton - Prison

easton:

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" kjv@Genesis: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" kjv@Leviticus:24:12; kjv@Numbers: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 kjv@Judges:16:21-25). In the subsequent history of Israel frequent references are made to prisons (kjvKings:22:27; kjv@2Kings:17:4 kjv@2Kings:25:27-29; kjv@2Chronicals:16:10; kjv@Isaiah:42:7; kjv@Jeremiah:32:2). Prisons seem to have been common in New Testament times kjv@Matthew:11:2 kjv@Matthew:25:36 kjv@Matthew:25:43). The apostles were put into the "common prison" at the instance of the Jewish council kjv@Acts:5:18 kjv@Acts:5:23 kjv@Acts:8:3); and at Philippi Paul and Silas were thrust into the "inner prison" (16:24; comp. kjv@4:3; 12:4-5).