Cities. The earliest notice, in Scripture, of city-building is of Enoch by Cain, in the land of his exile. Genesis 4:17. After the confusion of tongues, the descendants of Nimrod founded Babel, Erech, Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar, and Asshur, a branch from the same stock, built Nineveh, Rehoboth-by-the-river, Calah and Resen, the last being "a great city."

The earliest description of a city, properly so called, is that of Sodom, Genesis 19:1-22. Even before the time of Abraham, there were cities in Egypt, Genesis 12:14-15; Numbers 13:22, and the Israelites, during their sojourn there, were employed in building or fortifying the "treasure cities" of Pithom and Raamses. Exodus 1:11.

Fenced cities, fortified with high walls, Deuteronomy 3:5, were occupied, and perhaps partly rebuilt, after the conquest, by the settled inhabitants of Syria on both sides of the Jordan.