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.
And this is why King Solomon required forced labor from his people: to build the LORD's temple, his own palace, the Millo, the wall around Jerusalem, and the cities of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.
This verse explains that Solomon used forced labor from his people to fund his massive building projects, including God's temple and his own palace.
📚 Historical Context
Solomon ruled Israel during its golden age (around 970-930 BC) and undertook ambitious construction projects that required enormous resources and labor. The 'levy' mentioned here refers to forced labor conscription, where citizens had to work on royal projects for periods of time. The Millo was likely a fortress or supporting structure in Jerusalem, while Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer were strategic fortress cities that Solomon fortified to protect Israel's borders.
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