Pharaoh Conquers Gezer, Dowry for Daughter
- Dates
- 967 BC
Solomon marries the daughter of Pharaoh. This Egyptian king conqueres Gezer and gives it to his daughter as a dowry.
In detail
Gezer was an important Canaanite town, on a bastion extending out into the maritime plain, 6 1/4 mi. (10 km.) west—northwest of Aijalon, on the boundary of Ephraim (Joshua 16:3). The city was assigned to the Levites (Joshua 21:21), but was not taken at the time of the conquest (Judges 1:29), although it was tributary for a time (Joshua 16:10). It occupied a strategic position in the plain of Aijalon, an important pass, frequently used by the Philistines making their way to the central highlands.
It is mentioned on a number of occasions in connection with the battles of David (2 Sam. 5:25 1 Chron. 14:16 20:4). Gezer was taken by Pharaoh and given as a dowry on the occasion of the marriage of his daughter to Solomon. There are a number of records of grants of important territorial rights as dowries on the occasion of royal weddings in the ancient East.
Bible passages
- 1 Kings 9:15-16
15 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. 16 For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city, and given it for a present unto his daughter, Solomon’s wife.
Text of the King James Version.
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