Keraia
1 Kings 9

1 Kings 9:15

Solomon’s Additional Achievements · 1 Kings 9:10–28
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Translations

Modern
This is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon imposed to build the house of the LORD, his own palace, the supporting terraces, and the wall of Jerusalem, as well as Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.
Traditional
And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the Lord, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.
Literal
And this is the matter of the forced labor that King Solomon raised to build the house of YHWH, and his own house, and the Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.
Latin
Hæc est summa expensarum quam obtulit rex Salomon ad ædificandam domum Domini et domum suam, et Mello, et murum Jerusalem, et Heser, et Mageddo, et Gazer.

Original

Hebrew
English
This is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon imposed to build the house of the LORD, his own palace, the supporting terraces, and the wall of Jerusalem, as well as Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.

Notes

1 Kings 9:15

Solomon strengthened the supporting terraces on a slope of the southeastern ridge in the traditional City of David area of Jerusalem (see 2 Samuel 5:9) and the wall of Jerusalem. He also fortified the important cities of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.

Archaeological research shows that the walls and gates of all three cities have unique features from Solomon’s time. Hazor, in the north, served as a first line of defense against invasion. Megiddo, in the Plain of Sharon, also had important military significance (2 Kings 23:29–30; Revelation 16:12–16).

1 Kings 9:15–24

Solomon used forced labor to finish many construction projects (1 Kings 4:6; 5:13–18; 9:20–23; 12:4, 18–19; compare 1 Samuel 8:10–18).

Theme notes and profiles

Solomon

Events

Parallels

2 Chronicles 8:1–18

People

Solomon: Son of David, king of Israel, known for his wisdom

Places

Gezer: A Canaanite city, conquered by Joshua and later by David Hazor: Major Canaanite city conquered by Joshua Jerusalem: The capital of Israel, a holy city for three religions Megiddo: A strategic city in the Jezreel Valley Millo: A fortification in Jerusalem built by Solomon

Glossary

Baal-Hazor Beth-Horon Galilee Gezer Hazor Horse Joshua, Book of Kings, Books of First and Second Megiddo, Megiddon Millo Phoenicia, Phoenicians Slave, Slavery Warfare

Topics

Elijah: Consolation Given To Gezer: Fortified by Solomon Hazor: A City in the South of Judah Jerusalem: Fortified by Solomon Megiddo: Walled by Solomon Millo: A Name Given to Part of the Citadel of Jerusalem: King Solomon Raises a Levy to Repair Solomon: Builds Millo Tax: Personal Tribute: Often Exacted in Labour