1Ki 9:15-24 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Kgs 9:15-24: 9:15-24 Solomon used forced labor to complete many building projects (4:6 ; 5:13-18 ; 9:20-23 ; 12:4 , 18-19 ; cp. 1 Sam 8:10-18 ). 9:15 Solomon strengthened the supporting terraces , which were on a slope of the southeastern ridge in the traditional City of David area of Jerusalem (see 2 Sam 5:9 ), and the wall of Jerusalem. He also fortified the key cities of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. Archaeological research shows that the walls and gates of all three cities have distinctive traits attributable to Solomon’s time. Hazor, in the north, was a first line of defense against invasion. Megiddo, in the Plain of Sharon, also had strategic military importance (2 Kgs 23:29-30 ; Rev 16:12-16 ).

Summary for 1Kgs 9:15-24: 9:15-24 ^a Solomon used forced labor to complete many building projects (4:6 ^b; 5:13-18 ^c; 9:20-23 ^d; 12:4 ^e, 18-19 ^f; cp. 1 Sam 8:10-18 ^g). 9:15 ^h Solomon strengthened the supporting terraces, which were on a slope of the southeastern ridge in the traditional City of David area of Jerusalem (see 2 Sam 5:9 ⁱ), and the wall of Jerusalem. He also fortified the key cities of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. Archaeological research shows that the walls and gates of all three cities have distinctive traits attributable to Solomon’s time. Hazor, in the north, was a first line of defense against invasion. Megiddo, in the Plain of Sharon, also had strategic military importance (2 Kgs 23:29-30 ^j; Rev 16:12-16 ^k).
9:16 ^l Gezer, west of Jerusalem, was not previously occupied by Israelites. It was conquered by the Egyptian pharaoh and given to his daughter as a wedding gift when she married Solomon. An inscription in the Amon Temple in Tanis, apparently depicting a victory by the 21^st dynasty Pharaoh Siamun (978–959 BC) against a Philistine campaign, suggests that Siamun was the pharaoh involved.
Summary for 1Kgs 9:17-18: 9:17-18 ^m Lower Beth-horon was an important defensive site for western Judah. Several cities in Canaan were called Baalath; the one here was probably also known as Kiriath-jearim (2 Sam 6:2 ⁿ; see Josh 15:9 ^o; 1 Chr 13:5 ^p, 6 ^q). Tamar was probably located in the southeastern quarter of the Holy Land (see Ezek 47:19 ^r; 48:28 ^s).
Summary for 1Kgs 9:20-23: 9:20-23 ^t Solomon’s conscripted slaves were made up of early Canaanite settlers; 550 chief supervisors, of whom 250 were Israelites, superintended the forced laborers (2 Chr 8:9-10 ^u; see 1 Kgs 5:15-16 ^v with 2 Chr 2:17-18 ^w).
9:21 ^x completely destroyed: See thematic note for Complete Destruction at end of chapter.
9:24 ^y The new palace Solomon built for ... Pharaoh’s daughter was separate from Solomon’s own residence because his palace was deemed holy, “for the Ark of the Lord has been there” (2 Chr 8:11 ^z). The place where the Ark resided was considered sacred, since it embodied God’s presence and sanctified its surroundings (Exod 25:22 ^aa; see also 2 Sam 6:7 ^ab; 1 Chr 15:11-13 ^ac).