Streets and Roads in the Bible

As I thought about the roads we’ll travel in Uganda, I wondered about how they might be similar to the roads in Bible times. I found that the Bible describes many roads by using the words “roadside,” “main road,” and “along the road to” for what seems like the purpose of giving a setting or directions. Specific verses that describe the qualities of the roads and streets, however, were few and most seem to be figurative. I wonder why there are so few descriptions of the literal roads and yet streets and roads were used quite often in a figurative way.

Crooked roads (Isaiah 59:8)
Crooked roads that become straight (Luke 3:5)
Roads that branch (Ezekiel 21:19)
Street corners (2 Chronicles 28:24)
Street squares (Proverbs 5:16, Song of Solomon 3:2)
Wide roads that lead to destruction (Matthew 7:13)
Muddy streets (2 Samuel 22:43; Psalm 18:42)
Springs overflow in the streets (Proverbs 5:16)
Deserted roads (Leviticus 26:22)
Abandoned roads (Judges 5:6)

Based on the description of these roads from the Bible, I would expect the roads in Uganda to be very similar. Another important similarity is that Jesus never leaves us on those crooked roads, muddy roads, abandoned roads, and street corners. He calls us in to celebrate the wedding feast with him. Amen.