Cities.

• 2 min. read • grade level: 14

First mention of. Gen. 4:17¹⁷And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. (Genesis 4:17).

Designed for habitations. Psa. 107:7, 36⁷And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. (Psalm 107:7)
³⁶And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation; (Psalm 107:36).

Often built to perpetuate a name. Gen. 11:4⁴And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. (Genesis 11:4).

Often founded and enlarged by blood and rapine. Mic. 3:10¹⁰They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. (Micah 3:10). Hab. 2:12¹²Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity! (Habakkuk 2:12),

BUILT

Of brick and slime. Gen. 11:3³And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. (Genesis 11:3).

Of stone and wood. Psa. 102:14. Ezek. 26:12¹²And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise: and they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses: and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water. (Ezekiel 26:12).

Of brick and mortar. Ex. 1:11, 14¹¹Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. (Exodus 1:11)
¹⁴And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigor. (Exodus 1:14).

On solid foundations. Ezra 6:3³In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits; (Ezra 6:3). Rev. 21:14¹⁴And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Revelation 21:14).

With compactness. Psa. 122:3³Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: (Psalm 122:3).

Often of a square form. Rev. 21:

Beside rivers. Psa. 46:4⁴There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. (Psalm 46:4). Psa. 137:1¹By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. (Psalm 137:1).

On hills. Matt. 5:14¹⁴Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (Matthew 5:14). Luke 4:29²⁹And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. (Luke 4:29). Rev. 17:9⁹And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. (Revelation 17:9).

In plains. Gen. 11:2, 4²And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. (Genesis 11:2)
⁴And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. (Genesis 11:4). Gen. 13:12¹²Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. (Genesis 13:12).

In desert, places. 2 Chr. 8:4⁴And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath. (2 Chronicles 8:4). Psa. 107:35, 36³⁵He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings. ³⁶And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation; (Psalm 107:35‑36).

In pleasant situations. 2 Kin. 2:19 Psa 48:2²Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. (Psalm 48:2).

Arranged in streets and lanes. Num. 22:39³⁹And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjath-huzoth. (Numbers 22:39). (marg.) Zech. 8:5⁵And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. (Zechariah 8:5). Luke 14:21²¹So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. (Luke 14:21).

Entered through gates. Gen. 34:24²⁴And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city. (Genesis 34:24). Neh. 13:19, 22¹⁹And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. (Nehemiah 13:19)
²²And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy. (Nehemiah 13:22).

Surrounded with walls. Deut. 1:28²⁸Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there. (Deuteronomy 1:28). Deut. 3:5⁵All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars; beside unwalled towns a great many. (Deuteronomy 3:5).

Often fortified by nature. Psa. 125:2²As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. (Psalm 125:2). Isa. 33:16¹⁶He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. (Isaiah 33:16).

Often fortified by art. 2 Chr. 11:5-10, 23⁵And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah. ⁶He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa, ⁷And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam, ⁸And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph, ⁹And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah, ¹⁰And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities. (2 Chronicles 11:5‑10)
²³And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives. (2 Chronicles 11:23). Psa. 48:12, 13¹²Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. ¹³Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following. (Psalm 48:12‑13). Jer. 4:45. Dan. 11:15¹⁵So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand. (Daniel 11:15).

Sometimes had suburbs. Num. 35:2²Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them. (Numbers 35:2). Josh. 21:3³And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the Lord, these cities and their suburbs. (Joshua 21:3).

WERE CALLED AFTER

The family of the founder. Gen. 4:17¹⁷And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. (Genesis 4:17). Jud. 18:29

The proprietor of the land. 1 Kin. 16:24.

The country in which built. Dan. 4:29, 30²⁹At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. ³⁰The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty? (Daniel 4:29‑30).

Numerous. Josh. 15:21²¹And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur, (Joshua 15:21). 1 Chron. 2:22²²And Segub begat Jair, who had three and twenty cities in the land of Gilead. (1 Chronicles 2:22). Jer. 2:28²⁸But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah. (Jeremiah 2:28).

Densely inhabited. Jonah 4:11¹¹And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? (Jonah 4:11). Nah. 3:8⁸Art thou better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea? (Nahum 3:8).

Often great and goodly. Gen. 10:12¹²And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city. (Genesis 10:12). Deut. 6:10¹⁰And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, (Deuteronomy 6:10). Dan. 4:30³⁰The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty? (Daniel 4:30). Jonah 3:3³So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey. (Jonah 3:3).

Often of great antiquity. Gen. 10:11, 12¹¹Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah, ¹²And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city. (Genesis 10:11‑12).

Often insignificant. Gen. 19:20²⁰Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. (Genesis 19:20). Ecc. 9:14.

DIFFERENT KINDS OF

Royal. Num. 21:26²⁶For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon. (Numbers 21:26). Josh. 10:2²That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty. (Joshua 10:2). 2 Sam. 12:26²⁶And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city. (2 Samuel 12:26).

Fenced. Josh. 10:20²⁰And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities. (Joshua 10:20). Isa. 36:1¹Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the defenced cities of Judah, and took them. (Isaiah 36:1).

Treasure. Ex. 1:11¹¹Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. (Exodus 1:11).

Commercial. Isa. 23:11¹¹He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the Lord hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof. (Isaiah 23:11). Eze. 27:3³And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord God; O Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty. (Ezekiel 27:3).

Chariot. 2 Chr. 1:14¹⁴And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 1:14). 2 Chr. 9:25²⁵And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 9:25).

Store. 2 Chr. 8:4, 6⁴And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath. (2 Chronicles 8:4)
⁶And Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion. (2 Chronicles 8:6)

Levitical. Lev. 25:32, 33³²Notwithstanding the cities of the Levites, and the houses of the cities of their possession, may the Levites redeem at any time. ³³And if a man purchase of the Levites, then the house that was sold, and the city of his possession, shall go out in the year of jubilee: for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel. (Leviticus 25:32‑33). Num. 35:7, 8⁷So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs. ⁸And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth. (Numbers 35:7‑8).

Refuge. Num. 35:6⁶And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities. (Numbers 35:6).

Inhabitants of, called citizens. Acts 21:39³⁹But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people. (Acts 21:39).

Prosperity of, increased by commerce. Gen. 49:13¹³Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon. (Genesis 49:13), with Deut. 33:18, 19¹⁸And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents. ¹⁹They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand. (Deuteronomy 33:18‑19). Ezek. 28:5⁵By thy great wisdom and by thy traffic hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches: (Ezekiel 28:5).

Artificial mode of supplying water to. 2 Kin. 18:17. 2 Kin. 20:20.

Infested by dogs. 1 Kin. 14:11. Psa. 59:6, 14⁶They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. (Psalm 59:6)
¹⁴And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. (Psalm 59:14).

Under governors. 2 Chr. 33:14¹⁴Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah. (2 Chronicles 33:14). 2 Cor. 11:32³²In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: (2 Corinthians 11:32).

Provided with judges. Deut. 16:18¹⁸Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. (Deuteronomy 16:18). 2 Chr. 19:5⁵And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city, (2 Chronicles 19:5).

Protected at night by watchmen. Psa. 127:1¹<<A Song of degrees for Solomon.>> Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. (Psalm 127:1) SoS. 5:7. Isa. 21:11¹¹The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? (Isaiah 21:11)

Furnished with stores. 2 Chr. 11:11, 12¹¹And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine. ¹²And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side. (2 Chronicles 11:11‑12)

Garrisoned in war. 2 Chr. 17:2, 19²And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken. (2 Chronicles 17:2)
¹⁹These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah. (2 Chronicles 17:19).

Often had citadels. Judg. 9:51⁵¹But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower. (Judges 9:51).

A great defense to a country. 2 Chr. 11:5⁵And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah. (2 Chronicles 11:5).

Afforded refuge in times of danger. Jer. 8:14-16¹⁴Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the Lord our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the Lord. ¹⁵We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble! ¹⁶The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein. (Jeremiah 8:14‑16).

Often deserted on the approach of an enemy. 1 Sam. 31:7⁷And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. (1 Samuel 31:7). Jer. 4:29²⁹The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein. (Jeremiah 4:29).

WERE FREQUENTLY

Stormed. Josh. 8:3-7³So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valor, and sent them away by night. ⁴And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready: ⁵And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them, ⁶(For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them. ⁷Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand. (Joshua 8:3‑7). Judg. 9:44⁴⁴And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them. (Judges 9:44).

Besieged. Deut. 28:52⁵²And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the Lord thy God hath given thee. (Deuteronomy 28:52). 2 Kin. 19:24, 25.

Pillaged. Isa. 13:16¹⁶Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished. (Isaiah 13:16). Jer. 20:5⁵Moreover I will deliver all the strength of this city, and all the labors thereof, and all the precious things thereof, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies, which shall spoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon. (Jeremiah 20:5).

Wasted by pestilence. 1 Sam. 5:11¹¹So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there. (1 Samuel 5:11).

Wasted by famine. Jer. 52:6⁶And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land. (Jeremiah 52:6). Amos 4:6⁶And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord. (Amos 4:6).

Depopulated. Isa. 17:9⁹In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation. (Isaiah 17:9). Ezek. 26:19¹⁹For thus saith the Lord God; When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover thee; (Ezekiel 26:19).

Burned. Judg. 20:38, 40³⁸Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise up out of the city. (Judges 20:38)
⁴⁰But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven. (Judges 20:40). Isa. 1:7⁷Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. (Isaiah 1:7).

Made heaps of ruins. Isa. 25:2²For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built. (Isaiah 25:2).

Razed and sown with salt. Judg. 9:45⁴⁵And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt. (Judges 9:45).

Difficulty of taking, alluded to. Prov. 18:19¹⁹A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. (Proverbs 18:19). Jer. 1:18,19¹⁸For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. ¹⁹And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee. (Jeremiah 1:18‑19).

Perishable nature of. Heb. 13:14¹⁴For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. (Hebrews 13:14).

ILLUSTRATIVE OF

Saints. Matt. 5:14¹⁴Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (Matthew 5:14).

Visible church. SoS. 3:2, 3. Rev. 11:2²But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. (Revelation 11:2).

Church triumphant. Rev. 21:2²And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:2). Rev. 22:19¹⁹And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:19).

Heavenly inheritance. Heb. 11:16¹⁶But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:16).

The apostacy. Rev. 16:10¹⁰And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, (Revelation 16:10). Rev. 17:18¹⁸And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. (Revelation 17:18).

Riches. Prov. 10:15¹⁵The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty. (Proverbs 10:15).

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