fenced cities

1 definition found

fenced cities - Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary :

  Fenced cities
  There were in Palestine (1) cities, (2) unwalled villages, and
  (3) villages with castles or towers (1 Chr. 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 (2 Chr. 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 (Neh. 3:1; 12:39; Zech. 14:10). The
  gateways of such cities were also fortified (Neh. 2:8; 3:3, 6;
  Judg. 16:2, 3; 1 Sam. 23:7).
  
    The Hebrews found many fenced cities when they entered the
  Promised Land (Num. 13:28; 32:17, 34-42; Josh. 11:12, 13; Judg.
  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 (2 Sam. 5:6, 7; 1
  Chr. 11:5).
  
    Several of the kings of Israel and Judah distinguished
  themselves as fortifiers or "builders" of cities.