Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

After twenty years had passed since Solomon began building the Lord's house and his own palace, he turned his attention to fortifying the cities that Huram had given him.

He rebuilt the cities that Huram had restored to him and allowed the Israelites to settle there. He also conquered Hamath-zobah and established a stronghold there. In addition, Solomon built Tadmor in the desert and fortified all the storage cities he had built in Hamath.

Furthermore, he constructed Beth-horon the upper and Beth-horon the lower as fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars. He also built Baalath along with the other storage cities, chariot cities, cities of horsemen, and any other place he desired to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon, or throughout his entire kingdom.

As for the remaining Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites who had not been absorbed into Israelite culture, Solomon demanded tribute from their descendants until this day. However, he did not use Israelite men as servants in his construction projects but instead employed them as soldiers, high-ranking officials, leaders of chariots, and horsemen.

King Solomon appointed 250 chief officers to oversee the people. He also brought Pharaoh's daughter from the city of David to the house he had built for her, reasoning that she should not live in the house of King David since it was a sacred place where the Lord's ark had resided.

Every day, according to Moses' instructions, Solomon offered sacrifices on the altar he had constructed before the porch. He did so at regular intervals during the sabbaths, new moons, and special festivals that occurred three times a year: the feast of unleavened bread, the feast of weeks, and the feast of tabernacles.

Solomon followed the instructions given by his father David to establish the priestly courses and their duties. He also stationed porters at every gate as David had commanded in accordance with God's instructions. The priests and Levites remained faithful to their assigned roles and did not deviate from the king's commandments, including matters related to the treasuries.

When the Lord's house was completed, Solomon finished all his work, which had been carefully planned and executed over many years. He then traveled to Eziongeber and Eloth, coastal cities in Edom, where he sent ships with skilled sailors to Ophir. They returned with 450 talents of gold, which they presented to King Solomon upon their return.