Foundations for Christian Mission, Mentor's Guide, MG04

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F O U N D A T I O N S F O R C H R I S T I A N M I S S I O N

c. Ezek. 38.11

3. Biblical cities, although impossible to measure with our modern cities, were still significant and impressive for their time.

a. Jericho, archeology reveals it to be impressive, walls 17 feet high (1995 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia )

b. Hazor (northern Israel, 1700 B.C.) walls nearly 50 feet high, up to 290 feet thick, and the perimeter of the enclosed area over two miles around (Joel F. Drinkard, Jr. “Cities and Urban Life.” Holman Bible Dictionary. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 1991. Electronic Edition, Quick Verse for Windows 5.1 , Parsons Technology. © 1999.)

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4. Population of a typical city was between 1,000 and 10,000 people. (Jerusalem probably never grew larger than 25,000 at its peak during OT period.)

5. It appears that “cities and their villages” mentioned in Scripture suggests that some villages belonged to and were dependent upon cities (Josh. 13.23, 28; 15.32, 36, 41), and some villages grew because of population and importance into cities (e.g., Hazaraddar, Num. 34.4 which was Hezron and Addar, Josh. 15.3).

B. Characteristics of ancient cities

1. Relatively small, built with narrow, crooked streets, where markets and courts existed (Eccles. 12.4; Song of Sol. 3.2; Gen. 23.10; Ruth 4.1)