Fenced Cities
Fausset's Bible Dictionary [1]
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 ( 2 Chronicles 26:10). David too had "castles" ( 1 Chronicles 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" ( Deuteronomy 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" ( 2 Chronicles 11:5-10; 2 Chronicles 16:6; 1 Kings 15:17). The defenses consisted of one or more walls with battlemented parapets and towers at intervals ( 2 Chronicles 32:5; Jeremiah 31:38), whereon were war engines, also a citadel or tower, the last resource of the defenders ( Judges 9:46; Judges 9:51; 2 Kings 9:17; 2 Chronicles 26:9; 2 Chronicles 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 Jeremiah 31:38; Zechariah 14:10; Nehemiah 3:1, where also is mentioned "the tower of Meah," "the tower of the furnaces" ( Nehemiah 3:11), "the great tower that lieth out even unto the wall of Ophel" ( Nehemiah 3:27). An out-work is meant by the "ditch" or "trench," possibly a wall lining the ditch ( 1 Kings 21:23; 2 Samuel 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 ( Acts 21:34). Canaan's "cities fenced up to heaven" were leading causes of the spies' and Israel's unbelieving panic ( Numbers 13:28; Deuteronomy 1:28; Deuteronomy 9:1-2). These the Israelites "rebuilt," i.e. refortified ( Numbers 32:17; Numbers 32:34-42). So fenced was "the stronghold of Zion" that it remained in the Jebusites' hands until David's time ( 2 Samuel 5:6-7). Samaria yielded to the mighty hosts of Assyria only after a three years' siege ( 2 Kings 17:5; 2 Kings 18:10).
Easton's Bible Dictionary [2]
1 Chronicles 27:25 2 Chronicles 32:5 Jeremiah 31:38 Nehemiah 3:1 12:39 Zechariah 14:10 Nehemiah 2:8 3:3,6 Judges 16:2,3 1 Samuel 23:7
The Hebrews found many fenced cities when they entered the Promised Land ( Numbers 13:28; 32:17,34-42; Joshua 11:12,13; Judges 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 Samuel 5:6,7; 1 Chronicles 11:5 ).
Several of the kings of Israel and Judah distinguished themselves as fortifiers or "builders" of cities.
Smith's Bible Dictionary [3]
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, 2 Chronicles 32:5; Jeremiah 31:38, on which, in later times, engines of war were placed, and watch was kept by day and night in time of war. Judges 9:45; 2 Kings 9:17; 2 Chronicles 26:9; 2 Chronicles 26:15.
