Suburbs
SUBURBS (מִגְרָשׁ, H4494, the area to which the city livestock could be driven out). Not, therefore, originally built-up areas in the modern sense of suburbs surrounding a city center, but open lands outside the walls of a city, which only later were built over as population increased or particular groups were forbidden to settle within the walls. Thus one finds a request for suburbs “for our cattle” (Josh 21:2) and reference to “the fields of the suburbs” (2 Chron 31:19).
That such an area of suburb or, in more modern terminology, “outfield,” played an essential part in the life and economy of the urban community in Pal. is shown by the inclusion of suburbs with each town apportioned to the tribes of Israel (Josh 21; 1 Chron 6). See City.