big machines that people used to knock down walls or towers
## against it ##
"against Jerusalem
## to commence ##
"to begin"
## to pour out earthen mounds ##
Soldiers carried loads of dirt and dumped them onto the mound.
## earthen mounds ##
These were large dirt ramps that the king of Babylon built so that his soldiers could get onto the walls of Jerusalem.
## siege walls ##
These were dirt walls that the king of Babylon built around Jerusalem to make sure that no one escaped during the siege and to protect his men and equipment as they attacked Jerusalem.