A Visual Guide to Bible Events

SOLOMON BUILDS UP HAZOR, MEGIDDO, AND GEZER

1 KINGS 9–11

As Solomon’s kingdom developed, there was the possibility of forgetting his intended relationship with the Lord. Moses had expressed this concern both for the people in general (Deut. 8:17–20) and for the king in particular (Deut. 17:16–17). Samuel also warned of this (1 Sam. 8:10–18). Thus building up Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer (1 Kings 9:15; see also 10:23) became a test of Solomon’s faithfulness—a test related to these cities for a reason.

Two geographic factors produced the wealth of Solomon’s kingdom: the size of the area he ruled and the location of the land he controlled. In the first case, Solomon had obtained economic control over a region that far exceeded the size of Israel at the time of either Saul or David. Solomon’s kingdom extended from the Red Sea to the Euphrates River and from the Syrian Desert to the Mediterranean Sea (1 Kings 4:21–24; 2 Chron. 9:26). For non-Israelite inhabitants of these regions, that meant paying tribute. Tribute resembled a tax but was more like protection money. Residents of Aram, Moab, Edom, and Phoenicia were required to pay tribute. In exchange, the army of Israel would not invade their land to demand additional payments from them. The tribute collected from this enlarged kingdom was the significant amount of twenty-five tons of gold Solomon received each year (1 Kings 10:14).

Megiddo. The gate complex of Megiddo is located at the bottom of the photo.

The second and more important geographic factor that produced Solomon’s wealth was the location of the land he controlled. Merchants wanted to bring their goods to market as quickly as possible. Because of Israel’s unique position between the Mediterranean Sea and the Syrian Desert, it became a land bridge that supported the movement of trade between Asia, Africa, and Europe. During the time of Solomon, Israel controlled long stretches of both the International Highway and the King’s Highway—international trading routes that moved across this land bridge. In addition, Solomon also tapped into the maritime skills of the Phoenicians, building two trading fleets. One sailed from Joppa into the Mediterranean Sea and the other sailed from Ezion Geber into the Red Sea (1 Kings 10:22; 2 Chron. 8:17–18).

By controlling so much land and building up cities along the International Highway such as Hazor near Lebanon, Megiddo in the Jezreel Valley, and Gezer on the Philistine Plain (1 Kings 9:15), Solomon was uniquely positioned to become extraordinarily wealthy. These three military stations established by Solomon required traders to pay a fee for passage. Markets for Israel’s surplus agricultural products like wheat and olive oil flowed north and were exchanged for construction-grade lumber in Lebanon (1 Kings 5:10–11). Every time products passed through Israelite land or hands, there was a profit to be made (1 Kings 10:28–29). Thus the size of Solomon’s landholdings and their location turned Solomon’s Israel into a wealthy country. It was said that in Jerusalem silver became as common as stones (1 Kings 10:27).

Building up Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer (1 Kings 9:15; see also 10:23) became a test of Solomon’s faithfulness for a reason. These cities, located along the International Highway, could be strategic centers to advance the message of the God of Israel. However, Solomon used Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer to accumulate vast wealth for himself in direct violation to the Lord’s instruction to Israelite kings (Deut. 17:16–17). Instead of using these cities to represent the Lord accurately and to be a blessing to all nations, Solomon built his own kingdom, promoted his own fame, and built high places for the detestable idols of his many wives (1 Kings 11:7–8). In the process of acquiring foreign wives and such enormous personal wealth, Solomon turned away from the Lord. This man, to whom the Lord had given unmatched wisdom, became foolish when he abused the blessing of the land and cities such as Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.

Kingdom of Solomon and major trade routes

The inhabited section of Hazor during the reign of Solomon (view looking northeast).