Fenced Cities

VIEW:19 DATA:01-04-2020
The distinction between a "city" and a "village" in the Bible is, the former had walls. The village had sometimes a watchman's tower, where the villagers repaired when in danger. Such towers Uzziah built in the desert for the protection of husbandmen and cattle from marauding tribes (2Ch_26:10). David too had "castles" (1Ch_27:25). Argob in Bashan, Og's kingdom, E. of Jordan, had "three-score cities fenced with high walls, gates and bars, beside unwalled towns a great many" (Deu_3:4-5); all which Israel took. (See ARGOB.) Villages in the Hauran sometimes consist of houses joined together and the entrance closed by a gate for security against Arab marauders.
"Build" often means "fortify" (2Ch_11:5-10; 2Ch_16:6; 1Ki_15:17). The defenses consisted of one or more walls with battlemented parapets and towers at intervals (2Ch_32:5; Jer_31:38), whereon were war engines, also a citadel or tower, the last resource of the defenders (Jdg_9:46; Jdg_9:51; 2Ki_9:17; 2Ch_26:9; 2Ch_26:15). Ninety towers crowned the oldest of Jerusalem's three walls, fourteen the second, sixty the third (B. J., 5:4, section 2). The tower of Hananeel is mentioned Jer_31:38; Zec_14:10; Neh_3:1, where also is mentioned "the tower of Meah," "the tower of the furnaces" (Neh_3:11), "the great tower that lieth out even unto the wall of Ophel" (Neh_3:27). An out-work is meant by the "ditch" or "trench," possibly a wall lining the ditch (1Ki_21:23; 2Sa_20:15).
"The castle" of Antonia was the citadel of Jerusalem in our Lord's time; it served also to overawe the town, the Roman soldiers occupying it (Act_21:34). Canaan's "cities fenced up to heaven" were leading causes of the spies' and Israel's unbelieving panic (Num_13:28; Deu_1:28; Deu_9:1-2). These the Israelites "rebuilt," i.e. refortified (Num_32:17; Num_32:34-42). So fenced was "the stronghold of Zion" that it remained in the Jebusites' hands until David's time (2Sa_5:6-7). Samaria yielded to the mighty hosts of Assyria only after a three years' siege (2Ki_17:5; 2Ki_18:10).
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
By Andrew Robert Fausset, co-Author of Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's 1888.


Fenced Cities. That is, cities fortified or defended. The fortifications of the cities of Palestine, thus regularly "fenced," consisted of one or more walls, (sometimes of thick stones, sometimes of combustible material), crowned with battlemented parapets, having towers at regular intervals, 2Ch_32:5; Jer_31:38, on which, in later times, engines of war were placed, and watch was kept by day and night in time of war. Jdg_9:45; 2Ki_9:17; 2Ch_26:9; 2Ch_26:15.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
By Dr. William Smith.Published in 1863


See FORTIFICATION.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.





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