Reference: Fenced Cities
Easton
There were in Palestine (1) cities, (2) unwalled villages, and (3) villages with castles or towers (1Ch 27:25). Cities, so called, had walls, and were thus fenced. The fortifications consisted of one or two walls, on which were towers or parapets at regular intervals (2Ch 32:5; Jer 31:38). Around ancient Jerusalem were three walls, on one of which were ninety towers, on the second fourteen, and on the third sixty. The tower of Hananeel, near the north-east corner of the city wall, is frequently referred to (Ne 3:1; 12:39; Zec 14:10). The gateways of such cities were also fortified (Ne 2:8; 3:3,6; Jg 16:2-3; 1Sa 23:7).
The Hebrews found many fenced cities when they entered the Promised Land (Nu 13:28; 32:17,34-42; Jos 11:12-13; Jg 1:27-33), and we may estimate the strength of some of these cities from the fact that they were long held in possession by the Canaanites. The Jebusites, e.g., were enabled to hold possession of Jerusalem till the time of David (2Sa 5:6-7; 1Ch 11:5).
Several of the kings of Israel and Judah distinguished themselves as fortifiers or "builders" of cities.
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Nevertheless, the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled and exceeding great, and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.
But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place. And our children shall dwell in the fenced cities, because of the inhabiters of the land.
And the children of Gad built Dibon, Ataroth Aroer, Atrothshophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, read more. Bethnimra and Bethharan fenced cities, and they built folds for their sheep. And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, Nebo, Baalmeon - and turned their names - and Sibmah also: and gave names unto the cities which they built. And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead and took it, and put out the Amorites that were therein. And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manasseh and he dwelt therein. And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the small towns thereof, and called them the towns of Jair. And Nobah went and took Kenath with the towns longing thereto, and called it Nobah after his own name.
and all the cities of those kings, with all the kings of them, Joshua took and smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed them as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded. But Israel burnt none of the cities that stood upon hills, save Hazor only that Joshua burnt:
Neither did Manasseh expel Bethshean with her towns, neither Taanach with her towns, neither the inhabiters of Dor with her towns, neither the inhabiters of Ibleam with her towns, neither the inhabiters of Megiddo with her towns, and so the Cananites went to and dwelt in the said land. But as soon as Israel was waxed mighty, they put the Cananites to tribute: but expelled them not. read more. In like manner Ephraim expelled not the Cananites that dwelt in Gezer, but the Cananites dwelt still in Gezer among them. Neither did Zebulun expel the inhabiters of Kitron, neither the inhabiters of Nahalol; but the Cananites dwelt among them and became tributaries. Neither did Asher cast out the inhabiters of Acco, neither the inhabiters of Sidon, of Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, nor of Rehob, but the Asherites dwelt among the Cananites the inhabiters of the land, and drave them not out. Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabiters of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabiters of Bethanath, but dwelt amongst the Cananites the inhabiters of the land. Nevertheless the inhabiters of Bethshemesh, and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them.
And it was told the Gazites, that Samson was come thither. And they went about and laid a wait for him all night in the gate of the city, but were still all the night, saying, "Tarry till the morning that it be day, and then let us kill him." And Samson took his rest till midnight, and arose at midnight took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two side posts, and rent them off, bars and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of a hill that lieth before Hebron.
Then went the king and his men to Jerusalem, unto the Jebusites the inhabiters of the land. And they said unto David, "Except thou take away the blind and the lame thou shalt not come in hither" - meaning thereby that David should not have come in thither. Nevertheless David took the hold of Zion, which is in the city of David.
Over the king's treasure was Azmaveth the son of Adiel. And over the treasure of the fields, in the cities, villages and castles, was Jonathan, the son of Uzziah.
And he went to lustily and built up the wall where it was broken, and made towers above upon, and yet another wall without, and repaired Millo the city of David, and made many darts and shields.
And letters unto Asaph the lord of the king's wood, that he may give me wood for beams to the gates of the palace, which are hard on the house and hard on the walls of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into." And the king gave me according to the good hand of God upon me.
And Eliashib the high priest gat him up with his brethren the priests, and builded the Sheep-gate. They hallowed it, and set up the doors of it: even unto the tower of Meah hallowed they it, namely unto the tower of Hananel.
But the fishport did the children of Hassenaah build; they covered it and set on the doors, locks and bars of it.
The old gate builded Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they covered it, and set on the doors, locks and bars of it.
and to the port of Ephraim, and to the Oldgate, and to the Fishgate, and to the tower of Hananel, and to the tower of Meah, until the Sheepgate. And in the prison gate they stood still,
Behold, the days come, sayeth the LORD, that the city of the LORD shall be enlarged from the tower of Hananel, unto the gate of the corner wall.
Men shall go about the whole earth, as upon a field: from Geba to Rimmon, and from the south to Jerusalem. She shall be set up, and inhabited in her place: from Benjamin's port, unto the place of the first port, and unto the corner port: and from the tower of Hananel, unto the king's wine presses.
Fausets
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" (De 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; 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 (Jg 9:46,51; 2Ki 9:17; 2Ch 26:9,15). 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; Ne 3:1, where also is mentioned "the tower of Meah," "the tower of the furnaces" (Ne 3:11), "the great tower that lieth out even unto the wall of Ophel" (Ne 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 (Ac 21:34). Canaan's "cities fenced up to heaven" were leading causes of the spies' and Israel's unbelieving panic (Nu 13:28; De 1:28; 9:1-2). These the Israelites "rebuilt," i.e. refortified (Nu 32:17,34-42). 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; 18:10).
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Nevertheless, the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled and exceeding great, and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.
But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place. And our children shall dwell in the fenced cities, because of the inhabiters of the land.
And the children of Gad built Dibon, Ataroth Aroer, Atrothshophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, read more. Bethnimra and Bethharan fenced cities, and they built folds for their sheep. And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, Nebo, Baalmeon - and turned their names - and Sibmah also: and gave names unto the cities which they built. And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead and took it, and put out the Amorites that were therein. And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manasseh and he dwelt therein. And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the small towns thereof, and called them the towns of Jair. And Nobah went and took Kenath with the towns longing thereto, and called it Nobah after his own name.
How shall we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our hearts, saying the people is greater and taller than we, and the cities are great and walled even up to heaven, and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.'
And we took all his cities the same season, for there was not a city which we took not from them; even three score cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. All these cities were made strong with high walls, gates and bars; beside un-walled towns, a great many.
Hear, Israel: thou goest over Jordan this day, to go and conquer nations greater and mightier than thyself: and cities great and walled up to heaven, and people great and tall, even the children of the Anakims, which thou knowest and of whom thou hast heard say, 'Who is able to stand before the children of Anak?'
And when all the men of the town of Shechem heard that, they entered into a stronghold of the house of their god Baalberith.
But there was a strong tower in the midst of the city, and thither ran all the men and women and all the citizens of the city and shut it to them, and got them up upon the top of the tower.
Then went the king and his men to Jerusalem, unto the Jebusites the inhabiters of the land. And they said unto David, "Except thou take away the blind and the lame thou shalt not come in hither" - meaning thereby that David should not have come in thither. Nevertheless David took the hold of Zion, which is in the city of David.
And thereto against Jezebel came the word of the LORD, saying, "Dogs shall eat Jezebel, under the walls of Jezreel.
And then the king of Assyria came throughout all the land, and came to Samaria and besieged it three years.
And they took it at the end of three years, which was the sixth of Hezekiah: that is to say the ninth year of Hosea king of Israel, was Samaria won.
Over the king's treasure was Azmaveth the son of Adiel. And over the treasure of the fields, in the cities, villages and castles, was Jonathan, the son of Uzziah.
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built strong cities in Judah: as Bethlehem, Etam and Tekoa; read more. Bethzur, Socoh and Adullam; Gath, Mareshah and Ziph; Adoraim, Lachish and Azekah; Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron: Which were the strong cities of Judah and Benjamin.
And then Asa the king took all Judah and carried away and stones and timber of Ramah wherewith Baasha was a-building: and he built therewith Geba and Mizphah.
And he built towers in the wilderness and digged many wells. For he had much cattle, both in the valley and also in the plain; and plowmen and vinedressers in the mountains and in Carmel, for he loved husbandry.
And he went to lustily and built up the wall where it was broken, and made towers above upon, and yet another wall without, and repaired Millo the city of David, and made many darts and shields.
And Eliashib the high priest gat him up with his brethren the priests, and builded the Sheep-gate. They hallowed it, and set up the doors of it: even unto the tower of Meah hallowed they it, namely unto the tower of Hananel.
But Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hasshub the son of Pahathmoab builded the other piece, and the tower beside the furnace.
After him builded they of Tekoa the other piece over against the great tower, that lieth outward, and unto the wall of Ophel.
Behold, the days come, sayeth the LORD, that the city of the LORD shall be enlarged from the tower of Hananel, unto the gate of the corner wall.
Behold, the days come, sayeth the LORD, that the city of the LORD shall be enlarged from the tower of Hananel, unto the gate of the corner wall.
Men shall go about the whole earth, as upon a field: from Geba to Rimmon, and from the south to Jerusalem. She shall be set up, and inhabited in her place: from Benjamin's port, unto the place of the first port, and unto the corner port: and from the tower of Hananel, unto the king's wine presses.
Smith
Fenced cities,
i.e. 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,
on which in later times engines of war were placed, and watch was kept by day and night in time of war.
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And then Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and took it, and slew the people that were therein, and destroyed the city and sowed salt in the place.
And he went to lustily and built up the wall where it was broken, and made towers above upon, and yet another wall without, and repaired Millo the city of David, and made many darts and shields.