Solomon Fortifies Cities

In 1 Kings 9:15—28 it consists of brief historical and explanatory notes, but it contains some items of great value. The levy here referred to was mentioned in ch. 5:13, 14. This labor draft was first for the building of the Temple and then for the palace and other enterprises. The reference to work on the "Millo" is thought to be a citadel, terrace, or fortification in Jerusalem. Since David dwelt in the "fort," or "castle," of the old Jebusite city captured by him, later known as the "city of David" (2 Sam. 5:7, 9, 1 Chron. 11:5, 7), Millo was probably a strong place in the city when it was taken by David. It was probably situated at the northern end of the city. David (2 Sam. 5:9 1 Chron. 11:8) and Solomon (1 Kings 9:24 11:27) added to the early fortification, and later Hezekiah did additional work (2 Chron. 32:5). Others have explained Millo to be the earth filling along the eastern slope south of Moriah.

David greatly strengthened and extended the walls of the ancient Jebusite city, building "round about from Millo and inward" (2 Sam. 5:9). Solomon made further repairs and additions, closing up certain weak points of defense in the City of David (1 Kings 11:27). Later kings continued to make repairs and additions, till the wall eventually ran near the Valley of Hinnom at the south (Jer. 19:2), including a double wall at the southeast near the king's garden (2 Kings 25:4), a wall outside the City of David on the east, "on the west side of Gihon, in the valley" and which went "about Ophel" and was raised to "a very great height" (2 Chron. 33:14).

The gate at the northwest corner was an important gate called the "gate of the corner" (Jer. 31:38). It was a section of this northern wall, "from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits" (2 Kings 14:13), that was broken down by Jehoash of Israel during the reign of Amaziah. Uzziah repaired and strengthened the wall, building towers at the "the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them" (2 Chron. 26:9). The rest of the chapter lists other great accomplishments of Solomon.