Cities in Scripture were settled communities that could include villages, gates, markets, towers, and defensive walls. Israel’s cities served residential, agricultural, commercial, governmental, and religious purposes.
Definition
Cities were settled communities that could include fortified walls, gates, towers, streets, markets, public places, and nearby villages. Biblical cities ranged from small walled settlements to important royal or administrative centers. Some had suburbs or open pastureland, while others served as store cities or Levitical cities.
Biblical Usage
Cities appear throughout biblical history, from the city built by Cain and the early cities of Shinar to the fortified cities occupied by Israel. Scripture also distinguishes fenced cities, cities with suburbs, royal cities, and cities of refuge.
Historical Background
Canaanite cities were commonly built on mounds or elevated spurs near water, with closely packed houses and defensive walls strengthened by towers. Villages often lay near and under the protection of walled cities. In Jewish cities, the stronghold, high place, broad place near the gate, market, and narrow streets were prominent features.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
The earliest notice in Scripture of city-building is of Enoch by Cain, in the land of his exile. (Genesis 4:17) After the confusion of tongues the descendants of Nimrod founded Babel, Erech, Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar, and Asshur, a branch from the same stock, built Nineveh, Rehoboth-by-the-river, Calah and Resen, the last being “a great city.” The earliest description of a city, properly so called, is that of Sodom, (Genesis 19:1-22) Even before the time of Abraham there were cities in Egypt, (Genesis 12:14,15; Numbers 13:22) and the Israelites, during their sojourn there, were employed in building or fortifying the “treasure cities” of Pithom and Raamses. (Exodus 1:11) Fenced cities, fortified with high walls, (3:5) were occupied and perhaps partly rebuilt after the conquest, by the settled inhabitants of Syria on both sides of the Jordan.
