cities Summary and Overview

The earliest notice in Scripture of city-building is of Enoch by Cain, in the land of his exile. #Ge 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, #Ge 19:1-22| Even before the time of Abraham there were cities in Egypt, #Ge 12:14,15; Nu 13:22| and the Israelites, during their sojourn there, were employed in building or fortifying the "treasure cities" of Pithom and Raamses. #Ex 1:11| Fenced cities, fortified with high walls, #De 3:5| were occupied and perhaps partly rebuilt after the conquest, by the settled inhabitants of Syria on both sides of the Jordan.