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 Genesis 12:15 ; 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, ( 3:5 ) were occupied and perhaps partly rebuilt after the conquest, by the settled inhabitants of Syria on both sides of the Jordan.