1
It took Solomon twenty years to build the Temple and his palace.
2
He also rebuilt the cities that King Hiram had given him, and sent Israelites to settle in them.
3
He captured the territory of Hamath and Zobah
4
and fortified the city of Palmyra in the desert. He rebuilt all the cities in Hamath that were centers for storing supplies.
5
Solomon also rebuilt the following cities: Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon (fortified cities with gates that could be barred),
6
the city of Baalath, all the cities where he stored supplies, and the cities where his horses and chariots were stationed. He carried out all his plans for building in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and throughout the territory that he ruled over.
7
Solomon employed at forced labor all the descendants of the people of Canaan whom the Israelites had not killed when they took possession of the land. These included Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, whose descendants continue to be slaves down to the present time.