tradicted by I Kings 7:12, which puts it into the complex on the Temple hill, and by 10: 16 f., which shows that the shields borne before the king were kept in it. The last three buildings, as well as the Inner and the Middle Courts, were included in the Outer Court, or the Great Court, which surrounded all of Solomon's buildings (I Kings 7:12). This was SITE OF THE HOUSE OF THE FOREST OF LEBANON inclosed with a wall of three layers of hewn stone, on top of which was a structure of cedar beams. In regard to its gates we have little information. There must have been a North Gate corresponding to the North Gate of the Inner Court. Apparently the two openings were regarded as forming a single gate, and one name served for them both. There must also have been an East Gate corresponding to the East Gate of the Inner Court, and a South Gate leading to the City of David. These, however, are never mentioned. In II Kings 11:16 II Chron. 23:15 we read of the Horse Gate. Jer. 31:40 locates this near a corner of the city on the east. Neh. 3:28 shows that it lay on Ophel over against the Temple. Josephus (Ant., ix, 7:3) suggests that it opened upon the Valley of Kidron. Accordingly, it must have been situated near the southeast corner of the Temple inclosure. Its name shows that it was the gate through which the chariots and horses of the king gained access to the open country. 3. Millo.-In I Kings 9:15; 11:27, it is stated that "Solomon built Millo and closed up the break in the city of David his father." Since Millo was already in existence in the time of David, and was used by him as part of his fortification, this statement must mean merely that Solomon strengthened Millo. Probably the rampart which had served as the northern defense of the City of David was used by him as the southern defense of the new palace-quarter which he built on Ophel. CHAPTER VIII SOLOMON'S WALL In II Sam. 5:9 we are told that David built the wall of the City of David. In I Kings 3:1 we are told that Solomon built the wall of Jerusalem round about (cf. 9:15). This indicates that “Jerusalem” is a larger idea than "City of David." Nowhere is it said that David inclosed Jerusalem, nor that Solomon increased the area of the City of David. This wall of Solomon cannot be identified with the outer wall of the Great Court of the Temple, since that is included in the building of the Temple that is also mentioned in these passages, and since such a wall could not be called "the wall of Jerusalem." It cannot have been a new wall on the east, since additional fortification in that direction was unnecessary, and since in the time of Hezekiah Jerusalem was still touched on that side by the fields of Kidron (II Kings 23:4). The new wall, therefore, must have inclosed the western hill, which was the only direction in which the city could expand. Additional evidence in favor of this view is found in the statement of I Kings 3:1, that Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter into the City of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem round about. This implies that the City of David was the only fortified place until the wall of Jerusalem was built; but after it was finished, it was possible for his wife to leave the City of David. In I Kings 8:1=II Chron. 5:2 we are told: "Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers' houses of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the City of David, which is Zion." Here Jerusalem is contrasted with the City of David. The City of David is the place where the Ark has been kept; it is to be brought up out of this but it is still to remain in Jerusalem. |