This was an important stronghold in the southern part of the plain of Esdraelon. It commanded a pass between the plains of Sharon and Esdraelon. The city was assigned to Manasseh, but was not subdued at the time of the division of the land (Joshua 17:11-13). It is mentioned in the account of the battle between the kings of Canaan and Deborah and Barak (Judges 5:19). It was to Megiddo that Ahaziah fled when he was smitten by Jehu, and it was there that he died (2 Kings 9:27). It was also at Megiddo that the death of Josiah took place, as he endeavored to stop the forces of Necho of Egypt on his way north to the Euphrates (2 Kings 23:29). Megiddo has been thoroughly excavated. Among the ruins unearthed are stone stables, cement floored, for nearly 500 horses. These were at first assigned to Solomon’s time, but are now believed to be those of Ahab.

 This was an important Canaanite town, on a bastion extending out into the maritime plain, 6 1/4 mi. (10 km.) west-northwest of Aijalon, on the boundary of Ephraim (Joshua 16:3). The city was assigned to the Levites (Joshua 21:21), but was not taken at the time of the conquest (Judges 1:29), although it was tributary for a time (Joshua 16:10). It occupied a strategic position in the plain of Aijalon, an important pass, frequently used by the Philistines making their way to the central highlands. It is mentioned on a number of occasions in connection with the battles of David (2 Sam. 5:25; 1 Chron. 14:16; 20:4).

 This was an important city in the north, on high ground, near the former Lake Huleh. It had been the city of Jabin, head of the northern confederacy (Joshua 11:1).

 After Joshua’s great victory over this confederacy, he burnt the city (Joshua 11:13), and later signed it to Naphtali (Joshua 19:36). In view of the city’s importance, commanding a vital invasion route from the north, Hazor was fortified by Solomon. In the days of Pekah it was captured by Tiglath-pileser III (2 Kings 15:29).

 David greatly strengthened and extended the walls of the ancient Jebusite city, building “round about from Millo and inward” (2 Sam. 5:9). Solomon made further repairs and additions, closing up certain weak points of defense in the City of David (1 Kings 11:27).

 Later kings continued to make repairs and additions, till the wall eventually ran near the Valley of Hinnom at the south (Jer. 19:2), including a double wall at the southeast near the king’s garden (2 Kings 25:4), a wall outside the City of David on the east, “on the west side of Gihon, in the valley” and which went “about Ophel” and was raised to “a very great height” (2 Chron. 33:14). The gate at the northwest corner was an important gate called the “gate of the corner” (Jer. 31:38). It was a section of this northern wall, “from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits” (2 Kings 14:13), that was broken down by Jehoash of Israel during the reign of Amaziah. Uzziah repaired and strengthened the wall, building towers at the “the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them” (2 Chron. 26:9).

 The rest of this chapter consists of brief historical and explanatory notes, but it contains some items of great value. The levy here referred to was mentioned in ch. 5:13, 14. This labor draft was first for the building of the Temple and then for the palace and other enterprises.

 Thought to be a citadel, terrace, or fortification in Jerusalem. Since David dwelt in the “fort,” or “castle,” of the old Jebusite city captured by him, later known as the “city of David” (2 Sam. 5:7, 9, 1 Chron. 11:5, 7), Millo was probably a strong place in the city when it was taken by David. It was probably situated at the northern end of the city. David (2 Sam. 5:9; 1 Chron. 11:8) and Solomon (1 Kings 9:24; 11:27) added to the early fortification, and later Hezekiah did additional work (2 Chron. 32:5). Others have explained Millo to be the earth filling along the eastern slope south of Moriah.