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 (Jer. 38:6). To be shut up in, a punishment common in Egypt (Gen. 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-Chr 16:10; Jer. 20:2;32:2;33:1;37:15), and it was customary after the Exile (Matt. 11:2; Luke 3:20; Acts 5:18, Acts 5: 21; Matt. 18:30).
