City

A large walled centre of population providing security for its inhabitants. The OT often uses the term as a symbol of the security of heaven.

Types of city

Ancient cities

Genesis 4:17, Genesis 10:10–12

Fortified cities

Numbers 32:34–36; Deuteronomy 9:1; Joshua 10:20, Joshua 14:12

Royal cities

Joshua 10:2; 1 Samuel 27:5; 1 Chronicles 11:7

Cities of refuge

Deuteronomy 4:41–43, Deuteronomy 19:1–13

Cities were frequently large

Deuteronomy 1:28; Jonah 3:2–3 See also Deuteronomy 6:10, Deuteronomy 9:1; Nehemiah 7:4; Jonah 4:11

Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying: ‘The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the heavens. We even saw the descendants of the Anakim there.’”

“Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message that I give you.” This time Jonah got up and went to Nineveh, in accordance with the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, requiring a three-day journey.

Cities were surrounded by walls

Deuteronomy 3:5; Ezra 4:12; 2 Corinthians 11:32–33 See also Deuteronomy 28:52; Joshua 2:15; 1 Kings 3:1, 1 Kings 4:13; 2 Chronicles 33:14

All these cities were fortified with high walls and gates and bars, and there were many more unwalled villages.

Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring its walls and repairing its foundations.

In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas secured the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp.

Cities were places of security

Numbers 32:17 See also Joshua 10:20; 2 Chronicles 11:5–12, 2 Chronicles 14:6, 2 Chronicles 17:2; Jeremiah 4:5

But we will arm ourselves and be ready to go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them into their place. Meanwhile, our little ones will remain in the fortified cities for protection from the inhabitants of the land.

Cities could fall

2 Samuel 5:7; Nehemiah 1:3; Jeremiah 51:58 See also Deuteronomy 20:12, Deuteronomy 20:19–20; 1 Kings 16:17–18; 2 Kings 25:1–4; Isaiah 13:19; Jeremiah 32:24–25; Amos 5:9

Nevertheless , David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David).

And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Babylon’s thick walls will be leveled, and her high gates consumed by fire. So the labor of the people will be for nothing; the nations will exhaust themselves to fuel the flames.”

The holy city

Psalm 48:1–2 See also 1 Kings 11:36, 1 Kings 14:21; 1 Chronicles 11:7; Nehemiah 11:1; Isaiah 52:1; Jeremiah 25:29; Daniel 9:16; Matthew 5:35

A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, His holy mountain. Beautiful in loftiness, the joy of all the earth, like the peaks of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the great King.

City law

Leviticus 25:29–30

The city as a symbol

Of strength

Jeremiah 1:18

Now behold, this day I have made you like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land— against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.

Of heaven

Hebrews 11:10 See also Hebrews 11:16, Hebrews 12:22, Hebrews 13:14; Revelation 21:2, Revelation 21:20–27, Revelation 22:1–5

For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.