City

Ancient cities differ from modern cities. A city always had a high wall around it several feet thick and made of mud, stones, or brick. The wall protected the people from enemy armies and from robbers. Some well-known city walls in the Old Testament include Jericho’s walls, which were wide enough to have houses built into them, and the walls of Jerusalem, which were built and rebuilt many times. Nehemiah and some of the people of Israel who returned from exile repaired the walls of Jerusalem. New Testament cities also had walls. Paul escaped from those who tried to kill him by being lowered from the Damascus wall. He later preached in many cities in Asia Minor.

Cities had gates. Some cities had only one gate; large cities might have up to twelve. The gates were closed and barred at night. Some of those walls are still standing today. Streets in some cities were narrow and winding, without any fixed plan. Ancient cities were usually built to give protection to the farmers who worked in surrounding fields. The people went out to their fields in the daytime and returned at night to sleep. Most cities were built on hills because the people could see approaching enemies better. Cities were often built around a spring or a well because water was scarce in Israel.