Cities: Different Kinds of Treasure
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In biblical times, cities were not only centers of population and governance but also hubs of commerce, culture, and spiritual life. The Bible often references cities in the context of treasure, both material and spiritual, highlighting the diverse kinds of wealth associated with urban centers.

Material Treasures

Cities in the ancient Near East were often repositories of great material wealth. The Bible frequently mentions treasures in the context of cities, illustrating their economic significance. For instance, the city of Tyre is described as a place of immense wealth due to its trade and commerce. Ezekiel 28:4-5 states, "By your wisdom and understanding you have gained your wealth and amassed gold and silver for your treasuries. By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, but your heart has grown proud because of it."

Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, was another city renowned for its treasures. King Solomon's reign is particularly noted for the accumulation of wealth, as described in 1 Kings 10:14-23 , where the annual gold income and the opulence of Solomon's court are detailed. The temple in Jerusalem also housed significant treasures, which were often targeted by invading forces, as seen in 2 Kings 24:13 : "As the LORD had declared, Nebuchadnezzar carried away all the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king’s palace."

Spiritual Treasures

Beyond material wealth, cities in the Bible are often depicted as centers of spiritual treasure. Jerusalem, in particular, holds a special place as the spiritual heart of Israel. It is the city where the temple was built, serving as the dwelling place of God's presence among His people. Psalm 48:1-2 extols Jerusalem's spiritual significance: "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."

The New Testament also speaks of spiritual treasures in the context of cities. Jesus, in His teachings, often contrasts earthly treasures with heavenly ones. In Matthew 6:19-21 , He advises, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Symbolic Treasures

Cities in the Bible can also symbolize the ultimate treasure of God's kingdom. The Book of Revelation describes the New Jerusalem as a city of unparalleled beauty and wealth, symbolizing the eternal dwelling place of God with His people. Revelation 21:18-21 describes the city's construction with precious materials: "The wall was made of jasper, and the city itself of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were adorned with every kind of precious stone."

In summary, cities in the Bible are depicted as centers of both material and spiritual treasures. They serve as reminders of the wealth that can be amassed on earth and the greater, eternal treasures found in a relationship with God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Exodus 1:11
Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Secret of Its Greatness
... 'And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and ... In Egypt many store-cities
were needed because ... choice between two or three different kinds of letters ...
/.../duff/the bible in its making/chapter ii the secret of.htm

That the Scriptures are Divinely Inspired.
... are to have power over ten or five cities. ... with plants and flowers of all kinds;
while that ... and concealed in Genesis respecting the different kinds of souls ...
/.../origen/origen de principiis/chapter i that the scriptures are.htm

In Death and after Death
... 62:12, that there were 903 different kinds of dying ... First, burying-places were always
outside cities (Matthew 8:28 ... the widowed mother, whose only treasure was to ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 10 in death and.htm

Translated from the Greek.
... He assigns the presidency over five or ten cities. ... of being descended) from parents
of different kinds, [2940] so ... kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hid in a ...
/.../origen/origen de principiis/translated from the greek.htm

The Journey of the Three Holy Kings to Bethlehem
... able to distinguish herds of very different kinds of animals ... of these three parties
had faces of different colors ... the names of their countries and cities, but in ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xiii the journey of the.htm

John v. 14
... of them; and some proceed from different kinds of loose ... our] hardness and impenitent
heart, [we] treasure up unto ... lands, in the fields, in the cities, in a word ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxxviii john v 14.htm

The Immaculate Conception
... a tower which enshrined every treasure of the ... palaces like churches, and even into
whole cities. ... different species expressing the different kinds and different ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/ii the immaculate conception.htm

Sources of the Pentateuch.
... of these Mosaic books is of a very different sort from ... doubt that one of the two
cities built by the ... of division plainly showing between the two kinds of bricks ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter iii sources of the.htm

The First Theban Empire
... But the ancient royal cities of Kheops and his children ... his ancestors: the king at
several different times had ... in perfumes and rarities of all kinds had formed ...
/.../chapter iiithe first theban empire.htm

Matt. xxiv. 1, 2
... I say not unto nations and cities and people ... Seest thou numberless kinds of war,
new and strange? ... forth, fornication; and mark how many different punishments I ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxxv matt xxiv 1.htm

Resources
What were the cities of refuge in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.org

What were Admah and Zeboiim in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Why did Jesus mention Tyre and Sidon in Luke 10:14? | GotQuestions.org

Cities: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Cities

Cities of Refuge

Cities of Refuge of Christ

Cities of Refuge of the Hope of the Gospel

Cities of Refuge: (The Way To) Christ

Cities of Refuge: Afforded No Asylum to Murderers

Cities of Refuge: Design of

Cities of Refuge: Names of

Cities of Refuge: Required to Be: Easy of Access

Cities of Refuge: Required to Be: Open to all Manslayers

Cities of Refuge: Strangers Might Take Advantage of

Cities of Refuge: Those Admitted to not Protected Outside of

Cities of Refuge: Those Admitted to Obliged to Remain In, Until the High Priest's Death

Cities of Refuge: Those Admitted to Were Put on Their Trial

Cities of the Plain

Cities were Called For: The Country in Which Built

Cities were Called For: The Family of the Founder

Cities were Called For: The Proprietor of the Land

Cities were Frequently: Besieged

Cities were Frequently: Burned

Cities were Frequently: Depopulated

Cities were Frequently: Made Heaps of Ruins

Cities were Frequently: Pillaged

Cities were Frequently: Razed and Sown With Salt

Cities were Frequently: Stormed

Cities were Frequently: Wasted by Famine

Cities were Frequently: Wasted by Pestilence

Cities: A Great Defence to a Country

Cities: Afforded Refuge in Times of Danger

Cities: Ancient

Cities: Arranged in Streets and Lanes

Cities: Artificial Mode of Supplying Water To

Cities: Built in Desert Places

Cities: Built in Plains

Cities: Built in Pleasant Situations

Cities: Built of Brick and Mortar

Cities: Built of Brick and Slime

Cities: Built of Stone and Wood

Cities: Built with Compactness

Cities: Built: Beside Rivers

Cities: Built: Often of a Square Form

Cities: Built: On Hills

Cities: Built: On Solid Foundations

Cities: Church Triumphant

Cities: Densely Inhabited

Cities: Designated as Chariot

Cities: Designated as Merchant

Cities: Designated as Royal

Cities: Designated as Treasure

Cities: Designed for Habitations

Cities: Different Kinds of Chariot

Cities: Different Kinds of Commercial

Cities: Different Kinds of Fenced

Cities: Different Kinds of Levitical

Cities: Different Kinds of Refuge

Cities: Different Kinds of Royal

Cities: Different Kinds of Store

Cities: Different Kinds of Treasure

Cities: Difficulty of Taking, Alluded To

Cities: Entered Through Gates

Cities: Figurative

Cities: First Mention of

Cities: Fortified

Cities: Furnished With Stores

Cities: Garrisoned in War

Cities: Government of, by Rulers

Cities: Heavenly Inheritance

Cities: Infested by Dogs

Cities: Inhabitants of, Called Citizens

Cities: Numerous

Cities: Often Built to Perpetuate a Name

Cities: Often Deserted on the Approach of an Enemy

Cities: Often Fortified by Art

Cities: Often Fortified by Nature

Cities: Often Founded and Enlarged by Blood and Rapine

Cities: Often Great and Goodly

Cities: Often had Citadels

Cities: Often Insignificant

Cities: Often of Great Antiquity

Cities: Perishable Nature of

Cities: Prosperity of, Increased by Commerce

Cities: Protected at Night by Watchmen

Cities: Provided With Judges

Cities: Riches

Cities: Saints

Cities: Sometimes had Suburbs

Cities: Suburbs of

Cities: Surrounded With Walls

Cities: The Apostasy

Cities: Town Clerk of

Cities: Under Governors

Cities: Visible Church

Pentapolis

Related Terms

Store-cities (5 Occurrences)

Chariot-cities (3 Occurrences)

Treasure-cities (1 Occurrence)

Storage (7 Occurrences)

Shephe'lah (10 Occurrences)

Argob (6 Occurrences)

Siddim (3 Occurrences)

Castles (10 Occurrences)

Settlements (27 Occurrences)

Kiriath (34 Occurrences)

Adullam (10 Occurrences)

Suburbs (75 Occurrences)

Azekah (7 Occurrences)

Allotted (54 Occurrences)

Kiriath-jearim (17 Occurrences)

Shrines (40 Occurrences)

Kills (38 Occurrences)

Vicinity (18 Occurrences)

Kir'iath-je'arim (18 Occurrences)

Kohathite (18 Occurrences)

Cabul (2 Occurrences)

Cuthah (2 Occurrences)

Arvad (2 Occurrences)

Arvadites (1 Occurrence)

Stores (53 Occurrences)

Circuit (27 Occurrences)

Aroer (17 Occurrences)

Kedesh (12 Occurrences)

Shemesh (24 Occurrences)

Slayer (23 Occurrences)

Anakim (10 Occurrences)

Several (40 Occurrences)

Kohath (30 Occurrences)

Sennacherib (13 Occurrences)

Ko'hathites (19 Occurrences)

Killeth (23 Occurrences)

Kirjathaim (6 Occurrences)

Kirjath-jearim (17 Occurrences)

Kirjathjearim (17 Occurrences)

Baal-meon (3 Occurrences)

Beth-marcaboth (2 Occurrences)

Counteth (7 Occurrences)

Chephirah (4 Occurrences)

Calneh (2 Occurrences)

Conquered (20 Occurrences)

Crete (7 Occurrences)

Counts (15 Occurrences)

Aro'er (15 Occurrences)

Anathoth (16 Occurrences)

Ain (6 Occurrences)

Accidentally (5 Occurrences)

Ajalon (10 Occurrences)

Sepharvaim (6 Occurrences)

Suburb (5 Occurrences)

Smyrna (2 Occurrences)

Signed (8 Occurrences)

Salchah (1 Occurrence)

Survivors (49 Occurrences)

Salcah (4 Occurrences)

Salecah (4 Occurrences)

Smiting (76 Occurrences)

Shephelah (2 Occurrences)

Villages (106 Occurrences)

Village (21 Occurrences)

Kiriathjearim

Spoiled (69 Occurrences)

Surrounding (78 Occurrences)

Bashan (54 Occurrences)

Agrarian

City

Sodom (49 Occurrences)

Settled (112 Occurrences)

Sihon (34 Occurrences)

Calah (2 Occurrences)

Ammonite (22 Occurrences)

Ciccar

Clan (96 Occurrences)

Kartan (1 Occurrence)

Cities: Different Kinds of Store
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