1 Kings 9:19

19 He built towns as supply centers and constructed towns where his chariots and horses could be stationed. He built everything he desired in Jerusalem and Lebanon and throughout his entire realm.

1 Kings 9:19 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 9:19

And all the cities of store that Solomon had
In which were his magazines of corn, arms, and ammunition; and these were built in Hamath, ( 2 Chronicles 8:4 )

and cities for his chariots;
chariots of war, iron chariots, which were kept in times of peace, in case of necessity, of which Solomon had 1400, ( 1 Kings 10:26 ) ,

and cities for his horsemen;
of which he had 12,000, a standing cavalry:

and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem;
besides the temple and his own palace before mentioned; see ( Ecclesiastes 2:4 ) ,

and in Lebanon;
the house of the forest of Lebanon, which Junius on ( 1 Kings 7:2 ) thinks he built after he had taken Hamathzobah, a royal city of Lebanon; see ( 2 Chronicles 8:3 2 Chronicles 8:6 ) or fortresses on Mount Lebanon, which was the northern border of his kingdom:

and in all the land of his dominions;
where he might repair or fortify cities, or erect new forts for the safety of his kingdom; now for the doing of all this was the levy both of men and money raised, and of whom next follows.

1 Kings 9:19 In-Context

17 So Solomon rebuilt the city of Gezer.) He also built up the towns of Lower Beth-horon,

18 Baalath, and Tamar in the wilderness within his land.

19 He built towns as supply centers and constructed towns where his chariots and horses could be stationed. He built everything he desired in Jerusalem and Lebanon and throughout his entire realm.

20 There were still some people living in the land who were not Israelites, including Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

21 These were descendants of the nations whom the people of Israel had not completely destroyed. So Solomon conscripted them as slaves, and they serve as forced laborers to this day.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or and charioteers.