The point of this verse is to make bricks so as to have a supply of bricks for repairing breaches in

the ramparts, or to build new fortifications inside when the outer ones are taken by the foe.

Although the King James Bible translates the Hebrew word "Malben" as brick-kiln the proper

translation is more likely brick mold in Nahum 3:14 and brick pavement in Jeremiah 43:9.

 Although there is no mention of any fire kilns in the Bible and there is no archaeological

evidence of such kilns in Israel, the wording of Genesisl 1:3, "They said to one another, 'Come,

let us make bricks and burn {them} thoroughly'" (NASB), gives the impression that fire was

used as a part of burning the brick thoroughly, possibly with a kiln of some sort. Since the

wording is not only "Come, let us make bricks" but also "and burn them thoroughly" it indicates

that this was a unique way of making bricks because these bricks were used to build the Tower

of Babel, which was no ordinary building. This tower construction was undertaken with the

intention of reaching the heavens and thus required more structurally sound construction. This

was going to be the tallest building ever built, "Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a

tower whose top {will reach} into heaven" (Genesisl 1:4). Because of the specific mention of

burning them thoroughly it can be assumed that the bricks used for this tower were intentionally

made to be strong, possibly stronger than the common bricks used at the time.

 Mud-bricks are unfired bricks made of clay that were commonly used in Biblical times.

This can be ascertained by a verse in Exodus where the Egyptian Pharaoh said, "You are no

longer to give the people straw to make brick as previously; let them go and gather straw for

themselves" (Exodus 5:7 NASB). Since straw was a common material used in mud-bricks, it can

be concluded that even the Egyptians and Israelites used mud bricks in the early 1300's B.C.,

prior to the Exodus in 1335 B.C. If there was any previous knowledge of brick kilns the

Israelites would presumably have used them. The Tower of Babel bricks referred to in