Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

pt. I. Cities of the Old Testament world. Cities of Mesopotamia: Mesopotamia : land between the rivers ; Ashur : fortified citadel of southern Assyria ; Babylon : city of Marduk ; Haran : city at the crossroads in upper Mesopotamia ; Mari : city if Zimri-Lim ; Nineveh : city of Ashurbanipal ; Nuzi : community of Hurrian customs and traditions ; Ur : city of Ur-Nammu -- Cities of Aram/Syria and Phoenicia: Aram/Syria & Phoenicia : Israel's neighbors to the north ; Byblos : Phoenician timber and shipbuilding center ; Carchemish : city of decisive battles ; Damascus : caravan center in the oasis ; Elba : monumental city-state of north Syria during the third millennium BCE ; Sidon : Phoenician seaport with dual harbors ; Tyre : citadel in the sea ; Ugarit : city of baal and center of Canaanite religion -- Cities of Anatolia: Anatolia : land bridge between the Fertile Crescent and the west ; Hattusas : citadel of Hittite culture, government, and religion -- Cities of Egypt: Egypt : gift of the Nile ; Akhetaton : capital of the Amarna age ; Avaris : capital during the Hyksos period ; Memphis : royal necropolis of ancient Egypt ; Pithom and Rameses : store cities and border fortresses in the eastern delta ; Thebes : city of temples, palaces, and tombs -- Cities of Palestine: Palestine : homeland of Israel ; Ai : citadel of terrace farming during the Iron age ; Ashkelon : harbor city of the Canaanites and Philistines ; Beersheba : traditional southern boundary of ancient Israel ; Bethshan : city at the crossroads ; Dan : traditional northern boundary of ancient Israel ; Ekron : site of a major olive oil complex in the ancient near east ; Gezer : pharaoh's gift to Solomon ; Hazor : leading Canaanite city-state in the north ; Jericho : citadel of the Neolithic age ; Jerusalem : citadel of government and religion in ancient Israel ; Lachich : strategic center in the shephelah ; Megiddo : city of many battles ; Samaria : capital of the northern kingdom ; Shechem : city of alters, sacred pillars, trees, and temples.

pt. II. Cities of the New Testament world. Cities of Palestine: Palestine : land bridge between east and west ; Bethlehem : site of Jesus' birth ; Caesarea Maritima : seaport gateway to Herod's kingdom ; Caesarea Philippi : capital of Herod Philip ; Capernaum : home base of Jesus' Galilean ministry ; Gerasa/Jerash : an important Greco-Roman center on the king's highway ; Jericho : winter palace of Herod the Great ; Jerusalem : Herod's showplace of Greco-Roman building techniques ; Masada : fortified and recreation center of Herod the Great ; Qumran : religious commune of the Essenes ; Samaria-Sebaste : Herod's chief building enterprise in Samaria ; Sepphoris : hometown of Joachim and Anna, the parents of Mary ; Tiberias : city founded by Herod Antipas. -- Cities of the Roman world: The Roman world : setting for the spread of the early church ; Alexandria : home of the allegorical approach to scripture ; Antioch : where Christian doctrine was defended and debated ; Athens : city of gods and goddesses, monumental buildings, and temples ; Corinth : shipping link between Aegean and Adriatic ; Damascus : a city of the Decapolis ; Ephesus : leading seaport of Asia Minor ; Rome : chief city of the empire.

Publisher's description: This text is designed to introduce students of the Bible to the archaeology, geography, and history of many of the important sites of the Old and New Testament worlds. Many of these sites were centers for trade, religion, defense, culture, industry, and government. DeVries details the development of significant sites from villages and towns to cities, based on how the site could meet the essential needs of the people. The availability of water or arable land, proximity to trade routes, and easily defensible terrain were prime factors in determining a city's prominence. This study concentrates on the cities in Mesopotamia, Aram/Syria and Phoenicia, Anatolia, Egypt, and Palestine during the Old Testament period, and Palestine and the provinces of the Roman world during the New Testament period. Special attention is given to the geographical setting of the city, the history of its development, its relevance to the Bible, its distinguishing features, and any significant archaeological discoveries made at the site.