The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 191

(Robinson, iii. 87, 88; Diet. Bib. i. 237 ; invariable designation of that pa.rt of tha Thomson, "Land and Book," i. 281, 611). ci:y in the Maccabees. But see Jos., B. J. v. It is possible, indeed, that it may have been 4. 1; Ant. xv. 11. 5; o.nd Porter, i. pp. 96, one of the II twenty cities" (ver. 11) given 109. Lewin (" Siege of Jerusalem," p. 256) to Hiram. And if this city, whether within identifies it wHh the grea.t platform on which or without the district of Galilee, were no- temple and palace a.like were built. But torions for its poverty or meanness, or con- the word yields a definite meaning in the spicuous by its bleak situation, we can at once understand why Hiram should transfer Hebrew(=t(i?9, 11 thefillingin"). Gesenius the name to the adjoining region, even if consequently understands it to mean, a that name, in itself, had no special signifi- rampart (agger) because this is built np and cance) unto this da.y. [See on eh. viii 8.) filled in with stones, earth, &c. And the Ver. 14.-And B1ra.m sent [M?~~l must be name would h.a.ve a special fitness if we might suppose that it was applied to that understood as pluperfect, 11 Now Hiram part of the wall of Jerusalem which crossed had sent," referring to verse 11. This the Tyropaeon valley. 'fhis ravine, which fact is mentioned to explain the gift of the practically divided the city into two parts, cities, viz., th.a.t they were in payment for would have been the weakest spot in the the gold he had furnished. The timber and line of circnmva.llation, unless it were partly stone and labour had been paid for in corn filled in-it is now completely choked up by and wine and oil. See on eh. v. 11) to the debris, &c.-and protected by special forti.fi. king siXscore talents or gold. [This sum cations; and, if this were done, and we can is variously estimated at from half a million hardly doubt it was done (see on eh. xi. to a million and a quarter of our money. 27), Hammillo," the filling in," would be its (Keil, in loc., and Diet. Bib. iii. 1734. It natural and appropriate name. And its equalled 3000 shekels of the sanctuary mention, here and elsewhere, in connexion (Exod. uxviii. 24-26). Keil, who, as we with the wall, lends some support to this have seen, interprets Cabnl to mean pledged, view] and the wall of Jerusalem [We learn says somewhat positively that these 120 from 2 Sam. v. 9 that David had already talents were merely lent to. Solomon to built Millo e.nd the wall. Rawlinson argues ena.ble him to prosecute his undertakings, from chap. xi. 27 that these repairs had and that the twenty cities were Hiram's se- been "hasty, and had now-filty years curity for its repayment. He further sees later-fallen into deco.y," and that Solomon in the restoration of these cities (2 Chron. renewed them. More probably the words viii. 2, where see note) a proof tl::it Solomon indicate an enlargement of the Tyropaeon must have repaid the amount lent him. rampart, and an extension of the walls. The " sixscore talents" should be compared See note there and on ch.a.p. iii. 1. with the 120 talents of eh. x. 10, and the Solomon, no doubt, wished to strengthen 666 talents of eh. x. 14.) the defences of the capital, on which he had Ver. 15.-And this 1s the reason [or man- expended so much labour, and where there ner, account, 1~":J, Keil: "Thi.s is the case was so much to tempt the rapacity of pre- with regard to," &o. The historian now datory neighbours] and Bazor [For the proceeds to speak of the forced lo.hour. The defence of the kingdom be built a chain of LXX. inserts this and the next nine verses fortresses "to form a sort of girdle round after eh. x. 22) or the levy [see on eh. the land" (Ewald). The first mentioned, v. 13, o.nd xii. 18) which Solomon raised; Hazor, was a place of great importn.nce in for to build [The punctuation of the A.V. earlier times, being the " heo.d of nll those is misleading. The Hebrew ho.s no break- (the northern) kingdoms" (Josh. xi. 10). It " which Solomon raised for building," &c.] stood on an eminence-as indeed, for the the house of the Lord a.nd his own house sake of security, did all the cities of that and lY.llllo [Heb. invariably, the Milla, as in lawless o.ge (ib., ver.13 marg.)-overlooking 2 Sam. v. 9; 1 Kings xi. 27; 2 Kings xii. Lake Merom. It was o.t no great dist,ince 20 ; 2 Chron. x.xxii. 6 ; LXX. .;, o.,cpa. The from the north boundary of Palestine, in import of the word is much disputed, but N:i.phtali (Josh. xix. 36), and being favoured Wordsworth he.a but slight warrant for say- by position, it wo.s strongly fortified-Hazer ing that it means fortress. According to means fortress-and hence Joshua made a some it is an archaic Ca.naa.nitish term, point of destroying it. It appears, however, 11 o.dopted by the Israelites when they took to bo.ve speedily regained its importance, for the town and incorporated into their own in Judg. iv. 2, 17 we find it as the capita.I nomenclature" (Diet. Bib. ii. p. 367), o.n of Ja.bin, king of Ca.nao.n. It was selected idea which finds some support in Judges by Solomon as the best site for a stronghold, ix. 6, 20. Mr .. Grove would further see in which should protect his northern border, it a uame for Mount Zion, drrpa being the and as commanding the approach from 192 THE FIRST BOOK OF KIN GS. [CH, IX, 10-28,